750 (50 Q 41 V) Math Timing Strategy Inside!

[imnickxu]

My strategy is very specific to my abilities, my goals, and my pitfalls.

I was discovering that many difficult math problems, especially Y/N Data Sufficiency questions were doable for me, but would take a lot longer than the recommended 2 minutes per problem. I also realized after several practice tests, that the raw number of questions that you miss really doesn't matter because the test is adaptive.

This leads to my strategy on math. I start off strong, trying to get myself into the 700-800 "bucket". In the middle, I let myself plateau meaning that if I encounter a question that will take a lot of time, I don't commit more than 2 minutes to before narrowing down and guessing. Theoretically, this will push me down slightly, but I might get the next question right, pushing me back up, hence a plateau. Doing this allows me to build up a "reservoir" of time. When I hit the last 10 or so problems, I tap into this reservoir, and try to get every problem correct spiking my score at the end.

I found this strategy to be superior to peaking in the middle, and then possibly falling off at the end because you're running low on time. Because the test doesn't care where you peaked at, it only cares what your score is at the END. Making it logical to make your peak at the end.

If you want to use this strategy I suggest practicing it and tailoring it to your needs, since it is pretty specific to mine. I thought it might be helpful though, especially for people who face a time crunch on math.

Cheers!

[gmat620]

Congratulations on your wonderful score !!

[maverick2000]

First of all congratulations of such a great score and all the best for the applications.

The strategy you mentioned worked for you very well but I am not really sure it is really effective or not. Because GMAT is adaptive test and it zeroes down into a score based on your ability as you progrss the test. So that means the more questions you get right in the earlier part of the test the more your score will be. Lets take an example, in one case, in Quant, you answer 3 questions incorresctly in 21-30 bracket. And in second case, you answer 3 questions incorrectly in 31-37 bracket out of 37 questions. You are likely to get better score in second case.

[El Cucu]

My strategy is very specific to my abilities, my goals, and my pitfalls.

I was discovering that many difficult math problems, especially Y/N Data Sufficiency questions were doable for me, but would take a lot longer than the recommended 2 minutes per problem. I also realized after several practice tests, that the raw number of questions that you miss really doesn't matter because the test is adaptive.

This leads to my strategy on math. I start off strong, trying to get myself into the 700-800 "bucket". In the middle, I let myself plateau meaning that if I encounter a question that will take a lot of time, I don't commit more than 2 minutes to before narrowing down and guessing. Theoretically, this will push me down slightly, but I might get the next question right, pushing me back up, hence a plateau. Doing this allows me to build up a "reservoir" of time. When I hit the last 10 or so problems, I tap into this reservoir, and try to get every problem correct spiking my score at the end.

I found this strategy to be superior to peaking in the middle, and then possibly falling off at the end because you're running low on time. Because the test doesn't care where you peaked at, it only cares what your score is at the END. Making it logical to make your peak at the end.

If you want to use this strategy I suggest practicing it and tailoring it to your needs, since it is pretty specific to mine. I thought it might be helpful though, especially for people who face a time crunch on math.

Cheers!

Congrats dude!
When you say "in the middle" you are talking about questions number 15-27?

[pgummi]

Congratulations !! Great score..
Also you made a great point peaking at the end of the test. I am finding myself in a similar situation. Couple of questions between 10 and 20 are really getting me bogged down.
Good luck with your apps !!

[imnickxu]

First of all congratulations of such a great score and all the best for the applications.

The strategy you mentioned worked for you very well but I am not really sure it is really effective or not. Because GMAT is adaptive test and it zeroes down into a score based on your ability as you progrss the test. So that means the more questions you get right in the earlier part of the test the more your score will be. Lets take an example, in one case, in Quant, you answer 3 questions incorresctly in 21-30 bracket. And in second case, you answer 3 questions incorrectly in 31-37 bracket out of 37 questions. You are likely to get better score in second case.

I think it really depends on what you're shooting for. If you're going for the 600-700 range then i agree with Princeton Review's strategy that you should spend more time in the beginning so that you establish this base. I was shooting for the 700-760ish range so this strategy made sense to me. Note that I'm not advocating "not trying" on the middle questions, just not over-committing.

If you're going for a 760-800 range then you have to be faster, and commit to pretty much every question.

In your example I think you are right if I miss those 3 questions in the middle consecutively. However I feel it would be more like Right, Wrong, Right, Wrong, Right, Wrong. So my adaptive score might like: 720, 710, 720, 710, 720, 710. Then I use the last questions to spike my 710 to my desired score.

Of course this is still speculative, no one knows the exact arcane formula that the GMAT uses =D

[pJackson79]

Congratulations! Great advice.

I think sometimes I find it SO hard to give up on those 700 level questions in the middle of the test that I want to answer. Refusing to give up really puts me in bad stead later on and this strategy is quite helpful. I am going to do this next prep test. Thanks!