(Updated) - Sacrifice 1 middle passage to Gain Time ?

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I was wondering if anyone has ever used this strategy on the GMAT?

I'm a slow reader and don't typically perform well on Reading Comprehension (and takes up alot of my time, which makes me guess alot at the end questions) --- likely lowering my score.

Has anyone ever blindly guessed the full 3 or 4 questions on the 3rd passage?

Dont read the 3rd passage, take ur chances with luck (on a section that u struggle on traditionally), bank the extra time (7-8mins) and move on to the other questions.

(I reason that I rather guess on 3-4 RC questions in the middle of the exam that I wont have a high percentage of getting correct, then guessing on 4-5 CR/SC questions I have a better chance at getting correct at the end if I had time to do it)

I will be trying this out on my 2nd MGMAT prep as seeing what my results are.
Last edited by The Duke on Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
Source: — Reading Comprehension |

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by The Duke » Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:24 am
#2 Manhattan GMAT test results

The 3rd Middle Passage occured at Question 23 (23, 24, 25) and I blindly guessed all 3 in under 24seconds total.
(8 seconds/question)

Based on the scoring percentile ... I was at 78% prior to Question 23.

Finished at 72% (after guessing the final 3 questions essentially) --- V32

Essentially I'm glad that using this strategy worked on this 2nd test, as it kept my Verbal score from dropping dramatically over the last 8-10 questions.

Using this Verbal strategy:

Test #1 21 Percentile .... Test #2 72 Percentile
Test #1 Verbal Score 20 .... Test #2 Verbal Score 34


No extra study between test both prep test.
Will try again and see my results on Test #3.

Im posting this here, so that perhaps others in my position, can see if utilizing this will help their score.

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by tanviet » Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:38 pm
I have the same problem. Normally, I can do 2 passages and have no time to do the 3rd passages. If we can do the 3rd passage, do till the 31st or 32nd question, and if we do well on math section, our score is close to 700 already. Suppose we get correct 27-28 questions of the first 32 questions.

Now, I try to speed up RC so that I can do the 3rd passage but I find no way. Anyone has any experience, please, help.