When to start timed practice?

Question

when did you guys switch to giving timed practice tests? A stupid concern of mine is that if i score very well in untimed ones slowly, i’ll not be able to actually do a good job with time come test day

plus, ill also get a false idea of my understanding of a particular topic

plus, ill also get a false idea of my understanding of a particular topic

yc168 · Answer

Again, it depends. It depends on where you are in the preparation phase, and on how strong you are in each area.

If you are strong in, say quant, and can do each question on average in 2 minutes. Then you can start do timed practice now.

If it takes you 5 minutes to do a question right, then you know that your accuracy now is not going to translate to the same accuracy under timed test condition.

Since you have 6 month to prep, I’d suggest break down your prep by phases. In the first phase, do untimed practice with the objective to fully master each topic. Once you accomplish that, you start doing timed practice questions, in streaks, to work on timing and accuracy. In the third phase, do sectional and/or full practice tests.

Archit3110 · Answer

Do that whenever you practice question.. this will only help you in pacing

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi trishala98,

If you're asking about full-length practice tests, they should really all be timed.

As for practice questions or practice sets, there are different opinions, but  ideally, we'd want to  start  off with timed practice  (followed by an untimed pass on the same questions). Most of the students I work with are open to this, and they understand that maxing accuracy without a time constraint isn't very helpful.

Of course, test takers who are completely new to standardised tests may want the (false?) confidence boost that untimed-only can give.

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

If you decide to take an official mock, try to take it under exam conditions. If you're thinking of doing timed practice sets, a quick tip would be to leverage the online platform the Official-Guide 2024, for example, comes with. It allows you to customize the set and will automatically record questions you've attempted.

MartyMurray · Answer

In general, it makes sense to do timed sets once you're achieving high accuracy in a topic untimed, or flexibly timed.

At the same time, you can work on reducing your time per question at any point in your prep.

For instance, when you're working on Quant topic, you can note how long it's taking you to answer questions and look for ways to shave the time per question down, such as by taking fewer steps, minimizing the number of variables you use in translating a word problem, or using smart numbers.

Similarly, in Verbal and Data Insights, you can look for ways to be more efficient in answering questions. In Verbal, learning to quickly identify what's most essential about each answer choice can help you speed up. In Data Insights, learning to note key constraints or where information lies in a prompt can help you find the information you need more quickly.

Also, you could use the following rating system:

Level 1 - You knew basically how to answer a question you saw.

Level 2 - You got the question correct.

Level 3 - You got the question correct in the amount of time allotted for such questions on the test.

You can shoot for as many Level 3's as possible without cutting yourself off in answering any question.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi trishala98,

It's perfectly normal to worry about transitioning from untimed to timed practice, but here's how I'd suggest approaching it: Initially, you should prioritize accuracy above everything else. Doing untimed practice during your learning phase ensures you fully grasp the concepts and strategies.

This foundational understanding is crucial, as speed naturally follows accuracy and familiarity. Once you're comfortable and consistently accurate, typically after you've completed studying most of the material, you should shift to timed practice tests.

At this stage, timing becomes a skill you intentionally develop. Don't worry—your untimed accuracy won’t give you a false sense of security; instead, it builds confidence and clarity, which ultimately helps you speed up organically. By gradually introducing timing after solidifying your fundamentals, you'll smoothly bridge the gap between understanding the concepts thoroughly and performing efficiently on test day.

Lastly, here is an article with more advice:

How to Get Faster at GMAT Quant Questions

	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.
	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	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

When to start timed practice?

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