Timing Challenge on Exam: Slow Start

Question

I have a unique challenge.

I was wondering if anyone is facing the same issue.

I am able to finish most questions in the time allotted. But, what I struggle with during the exam is the first few minutes and questions.

Here is what I mean. I will see questions 1, 2, and 3 and take over 3 minutes to complete (even SC questions). Even though they might be just 600 or 500 level questions. But once I get going, I will take the normal 2 minute.

This happens both during quant and verbal sections regardless of the topic.

I was wondering if anyone is facing the same issue. And if anyone can suggest a strategy. Thank you in advance.

yipmewmew · Answer

Hey, try doing a few warmup questions before the mock. I prefer to do them for whichever section of the test I am starting with.You can do the same.

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bb · Answer

I agree. Do you want to warm up unless you start with AWA/ IR. If you don’t warm up before the test, you are going to mess up in the first section.

Random fact - there are 3 section orders but 4 options for section order. All 3 of those seem to have no impact on the score regardless of whichever you pick. The 4th one would result in a higher score most likely and that’s AWA/IR verbal quant because you warm up and beat performance is in the middle.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

I had a student who would do a tutoring session to warm up before taking the GMAT. It was interesting to see how much more on point he was after we did a few questions together and he got warmed up.

yipmewmew · Answer

Hi  bb ,
While what you said about starting with awa/ir makes sense, what about the fatigue after 1 hour into the exam? 
Curious to know, have you actually heard from test takers that starting with awa improved their test performance and subsequently their score?

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Before you start a mock/exam, consider warming yourself up with a few EASY questions beforehand.

happypuppy · Answer

This is fairly common thing. Even computers take their boot up time before reaching the peak performance levels.

You can try solving a few questions before you start the exam, if you can manage this.

If you can't then start with IR, AWA first.

bb · Answer

I was remembering what I did, and I think I actually had a few questions I picked in advance to solve in the morning off. These were all questions I have attempted in the past. But I didn’t just points to ARV, because I remembered the answer, I actually went through the steps of solving the question and proving to myself how to solve it. This helped me remember some of the traps that caused me to make mistakes. So you get multiple benefits 👍

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kntombat · Answer

Rainman91 , I agree with what everyone is saying here.
Doing a few questions before starting the mock will definitely help you not lose those precious minutes while attempting those early questions.
In hindsight, I should have done the same, would have definitely improved my score and helped me save time too.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Shadman,

These issues seem to be some of the same issues that we discussed earlier this year (after you took your 2nd Official GMAT). Since it's been quite some time since then, I'd like to know a bit more about how you've been studying this year:

1) Over the last 3 months, on what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
2) Have you retaken the Official GMAT in 2022? If so, then on what date(s) and how did you score?
3) What is your current Score Goal and what are your current application plans?

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

Contact Rich at: [email protected]

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