Manage Your Score Expectations on the GMAT Focus Edition
It’s important to remember that, while you should do your best, you shouldn’t expect a certain score. The GMAT Focus requires not only conceptual knowledge but also well-honed timing strategies and mental and physical stamina. The majority of GMAT test-takers need months of studying and practice to master content and refine skills.
To illustrate, let’s consider the time limits for each GMAT Focus section. On average, a test-taker has a bit more than 2 minutes per Quant question, a bit less than 2 minutes per Verbal question, and 2.25 minutes per DI question. However, different questions naturally take different amounts of time. Part of hitting your score goal is knowing how much time you can spend on different question types.
A Reading Comprehension question, for example, may require more time on average than a Critical Reasoning question. Pacing yourself appropriately can significantly affect your GMAT Focus score. Even if you are already knowledgeable about GMAT content, don’t be surprised to encounter challenges during your first practice test.
Although it’s natural to hope to perform well, it probably isn’t realistic to expect a bullseye on your first shot. Furthermore, that expectation creates a lot of pressure. So what if you’re 100 points away, or 200, or however many? You’re new at this! That’s what a smart study plan is for!
Remember, this is the informational phase: what you need is an accurate baseline score. The important thing is that you have the information to create a strategic, efficient, and realistic GMAT study plan to reach your goal.
Warmest regards,
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep
