Got 3 RC passages in a row on GMATPrep, how abnormal is this?

Question

Title says it all, got 3 RC passages in a row which totally messed with my timing... I had to guess for like 6 questions at the end and ended up with a V38 instead of previous V42-44. My question to experts, how common is this? I've had 2 RC back-to back before but never three in a row, is this something to be aware of when going into the real test or is this an outlier?

GMATY14 · Answer

Not at all... Be ready for what gmat throws at you!

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EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi energetics,

What you experienced on this CAT is unlikely to happen on Test Day, so this is probably just a quirk of that particular practice CAT. That having been said, you have to be mentally prepared to face questions in any order (and in an efficient fashion) on Test Day - so if having 3 RC passages in a row screwed up your pacing on ALL of your Verbal questions, then there are probably some minor 'inefficiencies' in terms of how you take notes, 'dump' questions, etc. You still hit a V38 though, so even under an extreme situation you performed at a really high level!

Several years ago, I worked with a Client who claimed that his first 11 Quant questions on the Official GMAT were all DS - and that he was 'freaked out' a little by that. However, he kept his cool, did the necessary Tactical work (on his pad) and got through the Test without too much trouble (and he scored 710). You likely won't see back-to-back RC prompts on the Official GMAT, but the broader take-away is to not get upset by the order of the questions - you have an exceptionally strong Verbal ability, so stay calm and deal with the questions in whatever order they show up.

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

souvonik2k · Answer

Hi
In my opinion, it is unlikely that you will face such situation in the actual Gmat. But still be prepared for that, as sometimes you may get even two passages in a row that too within the first 10 questions.

KarishmaB · Answer

Though unlikely, however, 3 RC passages back to back are acceptable. The algorithm will work with N variables to figure out the next question to give you - if RC worked for it, RC it is. As long as half your questions are not RC, why let it bother you? The exact sequence of questions posed should be irrelevant. In fact, don't stop to analyse the sequence, the difficulty, the concepts tested etc for any question during the test. Just keep attacking one question after the other - only that is your job. Let the algorithm take care of the rest.

TheNightKing · Answer

I had a similar experience yesterday during exam 4.

Got 2 RCs back to back. Got a mild shock of wohoo one more RC but then eventually moved on.

P.S: If curious, I ended up with V37.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi energetics,

I agree with much of what has been said. Since it’s possible to see 3 RC’s in a row (regardless of how likely), you need to be prepared for anything that comes your way.

Consider this quote from “The Art of War”:

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable."

Feel free to reach out with further questions.

Good luck!

lightyear09 · Answer

Hey!

In my practice test 1, not only did I get 3 rc passages in a row, but they were also my first 11 questions (3+4+4). None from SC or CR were on first 11. Seeing questions only from my weakest area in the first phase of the test made me feel very demotivated.

It was a very terrifying experience and I ended up with a V30. I hope this never happens in the actual test.

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Got 3 RC passages in a row on GMATPrep, how abnormal is this?

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