Question for Experts on GMAT Verbal Strategy (Running out of time)

Question

Hi Experts,

I find myself always finishing the GMAT Quant early, but really struggling to finish the verbal section on time.

Around question 20, I am usually at 30-25 mins, I know I should have much more time than that. I am currently scoring V32

I clearly need to miss some questions out to get my timing back, I have read some posts and I know that last questions are the most point giving, but I never end up finishing the verbal section on time and get penalised.

I took a MGMAT course and on that course someone suggested skipping one RC passage, but then I have read on here that RC questions are point giving. So I am not sure if that is advisable? If it is, should I be skipping a passage that appears in the middle of the test or the one that appears near the end?

Also, I noticed that I am spending way too much time on specific RC questions and weaken/Bold Face /Explain CR questions, sometimes I get them right, and sometimes I get them wrong, it's pretty hit and miss to be honest. Would it be worth skipping some of these questions?

Just really need some advice as my gmat is in less than a week and I just don't know what to do about my timing issues!

Please help!

Also unrelated to timing, I am currently scoring around 640 in Kaplan tests (Q48 V34 in my latest test) - Aiming for a 650+ in the actual GMAT next week, are the Kaplan tests realistic to GMAC or are the verbal/quant sections easier or harder?

Any advice is much appreciated, I really want to beat the GMAT.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi tanad,

Pacing problems do NOT exist on their own - they're the result of OTHER problems. Unfortunately, with less than a week to go before you take the Official GMAT, there's not much that you can do to make any big improvements to how you handle the Verbal section. There are some small adjustments that can be made though, so I'd like to know a bit more about how you're currently dealing with the Verbal section:

1) What is the average amount of time that you're spending on SC and CR questions? (Certain CATs include the information).
2) How many questions do you have to guess on to finish the section on time? Are you currently leaving any questions unanswered?

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

tanad · Answer

Hi Rich,

Answer 1: Approximately 1 min 10 seconds on SC (85% correct), and 2 mins 20 per CR (50% correct).

Answer 2: 8 questions were guesses. I skipped 4 RC questions so I got to the end in my last test. But usually I run out of time at around Q 38/39.

Thanks,
T

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Skipping a question is a good idea to be back on track, but that should be limited to 2 -3 questions spread across the test.
You should NOT skip a RC passage. The danger of getting all the questions wrong looms over your head. And if that happens, your score will surely take a beating.

The first 10 questions are the ones that should be given extra attention as they build your score.
As you have identified that you have a hit miss at some sort of questions, it would be better to skip those.

Regarding the CATs, GMAT Prep tests are the best predictor of your current standings.
How much did you score on those tests?
Did you take the CAT including AWA and IR?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi tanad,

If this data is consistent for each of your CATs, then your SC pacing is fine, but your CR pacing is a bit 'off' (a typical CR should take about 2 minutes on average), so you're losing some time when you deal with CR prompts. This means that you really have a big pacing problem with your RC passages and questions. "Your way" of dealing with RC is taking too long, so you'll likely need to learn some new Tactics to properly deal with RC reading/note-taking and the typical patterns in the questions (and wrong answer choices).

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

Ekland · Answer

Wait a little. How do you mean "typical patterns in the questions"? I'll benefit from an explanation of that. 
Thanks.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Nez,

All of that information/knowledge is something that you should be able to learn from a GMAT Course (it would be impractical to try to teach you all of that in just a series of posts and would also be impractical for you to try to learn it all that way).

1) What resources have you used so far?

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

Ekland · Answer

I've used a popular tutor in my local area; (Lagos, Nigeria) precisely. 
OG, Kaplan premier, GMAT 800, Advanced GMAT quant (Manhattan), are my books.
Currently registered with m-gmat 5 CATs, and interact.
The local tutor was quite good but very short validity per registration. unlike m-gmat with a year access. 
My first CAtest was 490. second was 560. Third is 620. I guess my level is just 600 at the moment.
But from liitle I've seen in gmatclub forum, I might be cracking the GMAT the hard way. I have serious issues with 700-evel questions. They look obscene. I don't even flow with my M-gmat Adv Quant text.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Nez,

You've made some nice improvements to your scores, but you're going to have to make some additional adjustments if your goal is to score 700+.

I have a few additional questions about your CATs:
1) What were the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on each of your CATs?
2) Have you taken the FULL CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?

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

Ekland · Answer

The 620 one was Q43, V33. no I R Essay no score
The 490 (the first) got me so scared I didn't see the details.
The 560 was Q36 V31 IR4 Essay (no score)
Seriously I have more trouble with quant in RC.
I haven't given my verbal prep up to a quarter of the time I spend in quant prep.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Nez,

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your scores can become. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.' Since it looks like the 560 was a FULL CAT, we should be using that score as a measure of your current ability. Right now, you don't need to work on 700-level questions because you're not at that level. You should be working on fixing all of the silly/little mistakes that you're making and honing your overall skills with the goal to raise this current score to a higher level.

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

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Question for Experts on GMAT Verbal Strategy (Running out of time)

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