Can't find the disconnect?! Please help.

[russ9]

Hi All,

Need some advice on strategy - My instructor asked me to do the Appendix A problems for the relevant strategy guide(which definitely helped), I feel like I comprehend the questions/explanations very well but when it comes times to take the CAT, i'm scoring very poorly.

After taking 3 CAT's, I've noticed that my timing is definitely an issue along with some content. I get stuck on problems I KNOW I can solve but they end up taking up too much which definitely has a domino effect on the remainder of the test. I've read the brilliant article "My timing is killing me" and I even create the chart on the top right but it doesn't seem to help much.

I'm thinking that doing random timed sets might help? Would love some feedback on if I should focus on timed sets and if so, what's the best way to do them? Pick random 10 questions and set a timer for 20 minutes?(if quant) What should I set for a time limit on verbal since there could be a discrepancy with a long RC passage etc?

Any help will be highly appreciated as I i'm having a hard time trying to find the disconnect!

Thanks!

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

It might be possible that you are focusing on timing too early in your studies. You never mentioned your practice test scores, but you do say that you're "scoring very poorly." If this is the case, then it's likely that you have not yet learned all of the GMAT-specific strategies that will allow you to quickly answer questions. If this is true, then don't concern yourself so much with timing. Learn the concepts/content (thoroughly) first and then worry about timing.

The whole timing issue can easily hamper one's GMAT preparations. I wrote two articles for BTG about this:
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/06/ ... mat-part-i
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/07/ ... at-part-ii

Cheers,
Brent

[russ9]

Hi Brent,

Thanks for the response. I scored a dismal 500>600 and a 580.

-Russ.

[[email protected]]

Hi russ9,

Brent made some good points that I feel the need to echo: right now, you should be focused on GMAT specific content and tactics. Accuracy and speed should improve in time (as long as you take the necessary steps to make those improvements happen).

You still haven't answered the relevant question though...how long have you been studying?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[russ9]

Hi Rich,

I've been studying for a little over 2 months. The only reason why I think content is NOT the issue is because I can solve most of the 6-700 problems without the 2min restriction. Wouldn't that imply that my issue is with timing or maybe mastering the content somehow?

Thanks,
Russ.

[[email protected]]

Hi russ9,

First off, the idea that you're supposed to spend 2 minutes on each question is silly; sometimes you'll need to spend 3 minutes to answer a question (because it's designed to take that long, even if you're an expert) and sometimes you can answer a question in under a minute.

Most GMAT questions can be solved in a variety of ways, so while you seem able to answer most questions, "your way" might be one of the approaches that takes too long. In that sense, pacing isn't really the problem - your approach to answering the questions is. After 2 months of study, you should be able to figure out which questions take you too long. If it's only a small set, then you can concentrate on those and potentially solve the problem. But if most questions feel like they're taking too long, then you probably haven't learned the proper strategy and techniques to answer those questions the "fast way" (or maybe you have learned them, but you're not using them), so a change in prep will be required if you want to significantly raise your score.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[russ9]

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the feedback. It's a scary thought that my "approach" might be the problem. I'll go back to the books and see if I can find the issue.

Thanks for the input!
Russ.