Simple way to always control time during the quant part.

Question

Simple way to always control time during the quant part.

I had a lot of problems with timing and always wanted to check how much time I have. And usually I received advice to check time only per 10 questions by making simple calculations and compare result with timer. But for me it was too extreme, because during exam I am usually nervous and don’t have sense of time and I can spend much more time than allowed during 10 questions. I did a lot a lot of mock tests but sense of time transform to another form: I begin make quant part too fast and I start make a lot of careless mistakes because of this.

Finally I found solution that advices to write quantity of remaining minutes in the corner of each page. For me I decided to write remaining minutes after each question.
Before quant part we have one minute of instructions, during this minute I write numbers in each corner of each page: 73, 71, 69 and so on.

Attachment:

2015-08-10 23-46-57 Скриншот экрана.png [ 44.82 KiB | Viewed 19902 times ]

And then I just solve tasks in each corner from left to right (4 tasks per list).

So after EACH task I know how much remaining time should I have and I completely have no needs to make some calculations and spend precious seconds: all I need it is just look on timer and at the corner of page. So with this technic you are in full control of your time and you can apply all timing strategies with full understanding do you really need to skip one question or you just have a wrong feeling that you are out of time. Also you can control that you are not to fast and not make careless error. I prefer to be 3-5 minutes ahead of time just in case if I met some difficult task.

P.S. sadly but this technic is not applicable to verbal part because of different time needed for RC, CR and SC questions.

Update:
Nice trick with RC from Engr2012 who hear this trick from bb
"For verbal, I used to write down the time at which I would start an RC passage and see to it that I finish reading the passage+ answer all the related questions within 6-8 minutes (depending on the length of the passages)."

ENGRTOMBA2018 · Answer

Interesting approach, Harley1980 . I would say read through an article written by Stacey Koprince from Manhattan GMAT on time management https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/ ... nt-part-1/ https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... nt-part-2/ In my experience, it is not at all useful to keep a track of time for sets of less than 10 questions. I always used to look up the time once I finished 10,20,30 etc questions. This way you are not overly fixated on the time. For verbal, I used to write down the time at which I would start an RC passage and see to it that I finish reading the passage+ answer all the related questions within 6-8 minutes (depending on the length of the passages). Hope this helps.

Harley1980 · Answer

Hello Engr2012 . I am control freak, so for me my way works better

But I agree that for a lot of people is better not pay too much attention on time. So for one the best approach will be to try both methods and decide for oneself what is better personally for him or her.

ENGRTOMBA2018 · Answer

Its funny that you say this. Even for me, I deviated from what the experts say about time managament and even error logs. I personally did not create an elaborate error log but did scribble a few things as and when I used to do CR questions. So, yes I agree that you need to follow what you are most comfortable with and something that you know that you can replicate in the exam.

GMATinsight · Answer

If it's about opinion then I would suggest that one should always keep track of time during practice tests so that it doesn't make you conscious during the actual test scenario.

Not keeping the track of time just because it makes you conscious doesn't seem logical when the fact is you have to deal with the section within 75 mins so whether you like it or not, whether you finish test in 75 mins or not the section is going to end in 75 mins.

"To keep the track of time and still be relaxed" can be worked up on in various ways

My way is that I prefer to keep in my mind that I have Quant section of 30 Questions to finish in 60 mins. The benefit of taking test with this target is that you get sufficient time (15 mins) to attempt last 7 questions of the test which as per the feedback of majority tests takers are usually of medium difficulty level and also more important because any question left un-attempted will fetch higher penalty thank getting them wrong.

Finally it's all about practice and finding your comfort level along with being able to finish test in time. So I don't want to say that not keeping rack of time is bad idea for the people for whom it works but keep track of time is certainly better if you can make yourself comfortable with it.

In real world scenario we always get time deadlines to finish the work in daily, weekly, monthly yearly form. Deadlines which can't be ignored or overlooked at work... then why overlook time deadline here?

I hope it helps the reader to make their decision.

Harley1980 · Answer

Kudos to you for this really cool trick with reading comprehension I definitely will try it

ENGRTOMBA2018 · Answer

I believe I read it in a post by  bb  .

Harley1980 · Answer

Ok, this changed a lot, I edited my post and will initiate procedure of redeeming my kudos to you

Fedemaravilla · Answer

One question about this method:

So you use one side of paper to write for 4 questions only, so is it enough the space you have with the papers they give you?? How many papers do they give you at the exam, cause I don't know.

For Verbal part do they give you new papers?

Erjan_S · Answer

They provide with paper covered with a nasty plastic that supposed to be washable, but still leaving dirt on it....
So quant is 37 questions which would take 9.5 pages, do they provide enough paper, not sure...
But thanks for an idea, I will try to do during practice GMAT..

rajatbanik · Answer

Thank you for sharing this method, But don't you think you need 20 booklet pages during exam. Will the invigilator supply new booklet.

FutureHFM · Answer

Thanks for sharing, I will give it a try in my next study session!

dcummins · Answer

I'm curious to see who uses any of the strategies discussed above? Namely the RC strat of writing the time down at the start of the passage.

	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Target Test Prep - Save up to $599 $400 Discount + $99 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

Simple way to always control time during the quant part.

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards