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Shwarma
Joined: 10 Sep 2023
Last visit: 25 May 2025
Posts: 208
Given Kudos: 65
Location: India
Schools: Tepper '27 Ross '27 Foster '27 Kellogg
GMAT Focus 1: 655 Q82 V83 DI84 
GPA: 4
Products:
26 Jul 2024, 06:42
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I have read conflicting things about this.
I believe this is an important strategy since the exam is sectionally adaptive
1. Last month on a GMATclub webinar, I heard an expert say --> order the sections from your strongest to your weakest.
But....... won't this make your weakest section difficult?
Quant is not my strong suit, I ordered in V--DI-Q
I got an 83 in DI
My quant section qs were significantly longer and tougher compared to when I take quant first
2. I read this 715 debrief, where the person said: that ordering in ascending order of strength worked for him coz
They could get their weaker sections out of the way when you are fresh, and then wing the strongest section in the end, when your mind is quite muddled.
Which of these two contrarian methods is optimal according to how the algorithm works and scores?
I believe this is an important strategy since the exam is sectionally adaptive
1. Last month on a GMATclub webinar, I heard an expert say --> order the sections from your strongest to your weakest.
But....... won't this make your weakest section difficult?
Quant is not my strong suit, I ordered in V--DI-Q
I got an 83 in DI
My quant section qs were significantly longer and tougher compared to when I take quant first
2. I read this 715 debrief, where the person said: that ordering in ascending order of strength worked for him coz
They could get their weaker sections out of the way when you are fresh, and then wing the strongest section in the end, when your mind is quite muddled.
Which of these two contrarian methods is optimal according to how the algorithm works and scores?
26 Jul 2024, 10:18
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Bookmarks
The best order varies from test-taker to test-taker.
If you are particularly weak in a section, it can be counterproductive to do that section after a very strong section because, as you mentioned, you'll start off your weak section with hard questions.
That said, doing a weak section before a strong section can make it a little harder to score high on the strong section because it will start with easy questions.
Still, doing the weak section first so that you don't see many hard questions on that section and thus don't have timing issues may be your best bet.
If you are particularly weak in a section, it can be counterproductive to do that section after a very strong section because, as you mentioned, you'll start off your weak section with hard questions.
That said, doing a weak section before a strong section can make it a little harder to score high on the strong section because it will start with easy questions.
Still, doing the weak section first so that you don't see many hard questions on that section and thus don't have timing issues may be your best bet.
26 Jul 2024, 10:24
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I think the benefit of this approach, section order approach that is, is mostly psychological.
I mean if you can eeek out a couple points out of it, absolutely do it and absolutely grab those but the reason the section order is offered in the first place is that GMAC has not seen meaningful changes in there regardless of the order of the sections.
I would say do what you feel most comfortable.
PS. I would say much bigger contributing factor and value for your test would be warming up before hand. I have seen people make mistakes on their first or second or third questions just because they were not warmed up and then answer perfectly. so make sure you do five or 10 questions before you start your test. Don’t worry about getting tired, it’s more important to warm up.
PS. if I were taking the test, I would probably naturally want to tackle my weakest section 1st but I can also potentially advise against it in case it doesn’t go as planned and you end up getting frustrated and giving up on the rest of the test. I took quant first and verbal second because that was the only way to do it and I thought I totally miserably failed my verbal. I would not have the emotional strength to put in really strong effort into quant because I thought I was doomed... so here’s the reason for you to start with your strongest section.
Posted from my mobile device
I mean if you can eeek out a couple points out of it, absolutely do it and absolutely grab those but the reason the section order is offered in the first place is that GMAC has not seen meaningful changes in there regardless of the order of the sections.
I would say do what you feel most comfortable.
PS. I would say much bigger contributing factor and value for your test would be warming up before hand. I have seen people make mistakes on their first or second or third questions just because they were not warmed up and then answer perfectly. so make sure you do five or 10 questions before you start your test. Don’t worry about getting tired, it’s more important to warm up.
PS. if I were taking the test, I would probably naturally want to tackle my weakest section 1st but I can also potentially advise against it in case it doesn’t go as planned and you end up getting frustrated and giving up on the rest of the test. I took quant first and verbal second because that was the only way to do it and I thought I totally miserably failed my verbal. I would not have the emotional strength to put in really strong effort into quant because I thought I was doomed... so here’s the reason for you to start with your strongest section.
Shwarma
Posted from my mobile device
