Quant timing

Question

Hi all,

I have been giving quant sectionals quite in number. Currently i am facing a very atypical issue. I get hung over a question in quant and take about 11 minutes and then i bomb the remaining questions. How do we tackle such situation.

I did get that question correct and remaining questions the easier ones i could not attempt due to time shortage. Any pointers will be much appreciated.

Please not the time line i follow , but i can never adhere :

10 -42
15-32
20-22
25-12

I keep struggling after every time frame illustrated above but i keep repeating to myself that ill cover up , but it just does not happen lol. Biggest plunder is i miss on the low hanging fruits.

Tagging experts  chetan2u   VeritasKarishma   nick1816

Best !

SSB

RetaketheGMAT · Answer

Hi

It sounds like you're letting the test control you -- rather than you controlling the test. Remember, if you're targeting a specific score on the GMAT, the right approach is to "architect" that score. That means managing your time and selectively skipping (ie. smart guessing) questions based on specific criteria as you tackle them.

No question is worth 4 minutes (let alone 11 min). You're bleeding time from questions that you know how to do in 2 minutes and costing your self lots of valuable points towards your total score.

The other key to quant time management is following strong in-test processes. Often a question takes longer not because you didn't know how to do it but there was a gap in the capture phase (meaning you missed critical information in the question) or visualization (so you didn't translate the question into a more workable form like a table). Working on those two steps (ideally with a GMAT coach) can significantly improve your timing and solve your core problem.

ShankSouljaBoi · Answer

Point taken. Thank you for your response. Ill try to cut down on my stubborn behaviour towards any particular question that's taking me time .

Best !
SSB

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi SSB,
 
First off, I would not say that you need to follow such a “strict” timing grid. Second, you need to also understand that you DO NOT need to be perfect on the GMAT. In other words, it’s totally OK to get a question wrong! With that in mind, if you are 4+ minutes into a question and you know that you are going down a rabbit hole, then you gotta guess and move on, OK? If you can do that, it will alleviate your timing issues. If you’d like some more timing advice, you may find it helpful to read this article:
 
 Timing Strategies For a Higher GMAT Quant Score

ShankSouljaBoi · Answer

Hi Scott,

Thank you for your response... ill try to be more flexible in my approach now.

Regards
SSB

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ShankSouljaBoi,

Back in early 2019, you described having similar pacing issues (back then it was the Verbal section; now it's in the Quant section, but it's highly likely that the two issues are related). You have a Score listed in your profile; is that from an actual Official GMAT - and did you have pacing problems when you took that Exam too? I ask because if you've been facing these types of issues for over a year, then you have likely developed some 'bad habits' during your prior studies that are are keeping you from scoring higher (and having proper pacing). By extension, that type of issue will take time to fix (and replace those 'bad habits' with new 'good habits').

Before I can offer you any additional advice for your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

1) Over the last 3 months, what type of study routine have you been following? How many hours do you typically study each week? 
2) What study materials have you used over the course of ALL of your studies?
3) Over the last 3 months, on what dates did you take each of your CATs and how have you scored on EACH of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
4) What is your overall goal score?

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

KarishmaB · Answer

You have already identified the problem. Now apply what you know is the solution. Losing an early point is sometimes necessary to win the game. Don't let your ego ruin it. Walk away after 3 or so mins.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

My pleasure.

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