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Keeping Track of Time and Knowing When to Move On

Problem Solving — algebra and arithmetic (GMAT Focus Edition)
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Keeping Track of Time and Knowing When to Move On

by soneill8 » Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:32 pm
I'm taking the test a week from today (Saturday Feb. 4th) and am facing the not-at-all unique problem of running out of time on Quant.

Since I've spent a good deal of time brushing up on my math skills and learning some new ones (permutations, etc) I find that I spend too long trying to solve a problem that I know I can solve, and even though I do usually then get it right, I look up to find I've spent six minutes on it. This leads to the inevitable rush through the remaining problems. After taking Manhattan tests, which nicely show how long you spent on each problem, the level of difficulty of each problem, and the percentile you were hitting upon answering that problem, I've determined that I regularly hit 99% on the Quant section, only to drop down 65-75% by the end of an incorrect streak due to running out of time.

I think I've essentially bottomed out on what I can learn in terms of math, though I will continue to look for tricks in specific problems, but I have read several posts about knowing when to give up because a particular problem is taking too long. Also, I tend to lose track of time when I work on these longer problems.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to A) keep track of time specifically when working on more complex problems, and B) determine when enough is enough, make an educated guess, and move on. I never seem to realize a problem is going to take too long until four minutes in.

Thanks!
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by Mike@Magoosh » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:22 am
Hi, there. I'm happy to share my two cents on this, FWIW. :)

First of all, I will say: one of the most elusive aspects of math is elegance. All the great mathematicians were known for their elegance, and all the great mathematical theorems, the ones "from the book" as Erdos would say, are elegant. Yet, this is the hardest thing to communicate to a math student --- how to be elegant, how to move toward the answer with speed and precision.

One thing I would say --- take the problems you have already solved, and look for alternative solutions. For example, if you solved a problem in a Manhattan GMAT book, then compare your solution to theirs. Take problems that you solved and that took you 6 minutes, and post them online, or search for them online, and see if you can find alternative solutions. It's actually a perfectly legitimate post here on BTG to say: look, here's a problem, I know the long way to get the answer, can anyone show me a shorter way? I realize you only have a week, but perhaps if you see enough examples of alternate solutions, you will start to see patterns.

Relatedly, it's always important to remember there are always two levels in solving a math problem. One is simply what is mathematically legal vs. not legal. For example, in the very simple problem 2x - 5 = 7, it would simply be mathematically illegal to add 5 to the left side without adding it to the right side. Probably, at this point in your studies, you are not too much of anything that's outright mathematically illegal. ----- The second level is: what is strategic and what is not. Again, in the equation 2x - 5 = 7, it would be perfect mathematically legal to multiply both sides of the equation by 73, but that would be a woefully nonstrategic thing to do. In a ridiculously easy equation like 2x - 5 = 7, the steps are probably on automatic pilot already, but with more complicated problems, see if by studying solutions you can articulate strategies. It might be helpful to force yourself to write down, say, the steps for solving a quadratic. The more you can be thinking, not only on the level of mathematically right & wrong, but also mathematically strategic vs. nonstrategic, and the more you can learn and be conscious of these strategies, the more efficient you will be.

Finally, as far time management, a hokey suggestion. The test-giving people are nit-picking about not allowing you to have a calculator, a cell phone, anything that beeps, anything that has an on/off switch, etc. My wacky suggestion ---- do you know those little plastic sand-filled hourglasses? They often sell them in kitchen supply stores. Buy one of those and start practicing with it. They are typically one minute timers, so you should get one full run, then flip it, then another full run --- two minutes. If you get absorbed and forget about the timer, then as soon as you remember to check the hourglass, consider yourself out of time --- guess and move one. It will take practice to remember the timer as you are working, but I believe that is something you could take into the GMAT, and I think the test-giving stormtroopers will not have a problem with it.

I hope that's helpful. If you have any questions about what I've said, or if you'd like me to expand on anything, let me know.

Here's a free video that may help clarify a few things about exponents.
https://gmat.magoosh.com/lessons/216-intro-to-exponents

Good luck!

Mike :)
Magoosh GMAT Instructor
https://gmat.magoosh.com/
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by soneill8 » Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:33 am
Thanks Mike!

I have been trying to work on finding shorter ways to solve problems. Luckily my boyfriend took the GMAT last year and did really well, and since he's strong in math I'm getting him to show me short cuts.

I really like the timer idea. I will have to look into getting one of those.

Otherwise, this week I'm getting back to practicing with the GMAT Prep tests instead of Manhattan. I believe they usually run slightly easier math-wise.

I'll let you know how it goes after Saturday!
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by Mike@Magoosh » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:53 pm
Good luck on Saturday!

May the Force be with you. :)

Do let me know how it goes.

Mike :)
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by Jim@StratusPrep » Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:44 am
For those still prepping.. A good way to improve you time is to cut yourself off at 3 minutes. Statistically your success rate falls to one that is comparable to guessing when you spend more than this amount of time. This usually save 8-9 minutes on people's exams..
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