Why You Should Avoid Timed Verbal Practice Early in Your GMAT Prep
You do not want to start your GMAT Verbal preparation by jumping straight into full-speed timed practice. The reason is simple. To improve at the Verbal section, you must first develop the ability to see exactly what is happening in each question. That ability does not appear overnight. It is built through careful, untimed practice that allows you to fully understand the reasoning behind each correct answer.
When students begin their prep, I always recommend that they set the clock aside. The early stages are about learning to think like the test, not about racing the clock. The temptation to time yourself early can be strong, but in most cases, it works against you.
Why Timed Practice Early in Your Prep Usually Falls Short
One problem with early timed practice is that two minutes or less is rarely enough time for a beginner to properly analyze a question. Under time pressure, students often rush, make mistakes, and then either get the question right the second time or turn to the explanation to see what they should have done.
This is not how the GMAT works. On test day, there are no second chances or detailed explanations to guide you. If your practice process does not mirror the mental work required on the actual exam, you are not truly building the skills you need.
Another problem with early timing is that it offers an easy way out. When the clock runs out, it becomes tempting to guess and move on instead of pushing through the mental work required to reach the right answer. Over time, this habit limits your ability to build the analytical precision, logical reasoning skills, and mental stamina that high performance on the GMAT demands.
Learning the concepts behind a question type does not mean you are ready to answer those questions at full speed. The correct sequence is to first learn the concepts, then practice applying them without time pressure, and only then work on answering quickly.
Build Accuracy First, Then Add Time Pressure
In the early stages of your Verbal preparation, your goal should be to reach a point where you can consistently answer a given question type correctly without worrying about time. That may mean spending 20 or even 30 minutes on a single Weaken the Argument question in the beginning. This slow, deliberate process is not a sign of weakness. It is exactly the kind of practice that produces lasting skill development.
If you can consistently answer a certain type of question correctly without time pressure, you have established a solid foundation. From there, speed comes naturally as you continue practicing. Accuracy should be your first priority. Speed is a byproduct of mastery, not a starting point.
When you consistently reach high accuracy untimed, then—and only then—should you begin practicing at test pace. Trying to force speed before accuracy is like trying to run before you can walk. Build the skill first, then refine the timing.
Reach out to me with any questions about your GMAT prep. Happy studying!
Warmest regards,
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep
