Need a strategy to fix timing issue...

[a.madhur]

Hi,
I've taken 3 MGMATs so far and have scored as below:
1. 03/27/2010 - 610(46, 29)
2. 04/03/2010 - 570(43, 25)
3. 04/17/2010 - 560(39, 29)

Quantitative By Question Format & Difficulty
QuesFormat Total Right Wrng Blnk %C AvgTimeC AvgTimeWrong
PS 65 35 30 0 54% 2:34 0:57
300-500 2 1 1 50% 0:56 1:02
500-600 6 4 2 67% 1:30 1:29
600-700 16 11 5 69% 2:04 0:44
700-800 41 19 22 46% 3:11 0:57

DS 45 17 27 1 38% 2:25 2:23
500-600 1 1 0 100% 0:59 NA
600-700 12 4 7 33% 1:46 0:55
700-800 32 12 20 38% 2:46 2:54

Verbal By Question Format & Difficulty
QuesFormat Total Right Wrng Blnk %C AvgTimeC AvgTimeWrong
CR 42 21 21 0 50% 2:19 1:45
300-500 4 4 0 100% 1:32 NA
500-600 6 3 3 50% 2:24 1:38
600-700 14 7 7 50% 2:15 1:12
700-800 18 7 11 39% 2:48 2:07

RC 36 13 23 0 36% 1:49 1:39
300-500 1 1 0 100% 1:06 NA
500-600 7 3 4 43% 2:58 0:53
600-700 15 5 10 33% 1:42 1:13
700-800 13 4 9 31% 1:17 2:29

SC 44 21 20 3 48% 2:07 1:38
300-500 1 1 0 100% 2:21 NA
500-600 6 2 4 33% 1:01 1:58
600-700 15 8 4 53% 2:10 0:35
700-800 22 10 12 45% 2:16 1:52

I took each test without AWA but rest of the test conditions were met, so I understand that my verbal scores are inflated. Will take my next mock along with AWA.
What I have figured out so far is that my major problem is timing. I had always started my exams keeping in mind that I would take avg 2 mins each question but always got caught up in few ques, loosing track of time and hence ending up guessing around last 7-8 ques in a row (in each section).
I thought practicing would improve my timing and speed but after the last mock I was devastated and thought I might be missing something. At that point I started searching different forums and came across several articles/ posts on Manhattan forums, addressing similar and many other issues. After going through those posts and "GMAT uncovered guide", I figured out what we need to check ourself at following benchmarks:
Quant:
Q10: 55 min left
Q20: 35 min left
Q30: 15 min left
Verbal (assuming that one new passage starts within each quarter of the test):
Q10: 56 min left
Q20: 37 min left
Q30: 19 min left
I also understood that:
(i) getting three or four questions wrong in a row hurts the score more, on a per-question basis, than getting the same number of questions wrong but having them interspersed with correct answers - THIS MIGHT 'VE -VLY IMPACTED MY SCORE THE MOST
(ii) the biggest penalty of all is reserved for running out of time before all of the questions have been answered.

I’ve completed around 75% of OG12 and was able to answer them quite comfortably, except for SC. Thus for SC, I started with Manhattan SC guide and definitely feel a difference in answering the questions now. I have completed the first part (non-advanced) once and am redoing the first part. One thing to note here is that I never timed any of my questions :(

Now my questions:
1. When shall I take my next mock and more importantly what should I work on before I take my next mock? I'm currently practicing remaing OG ques and redoing Manhattan SC guide.
2. In one of the articles, I read "you absolutely must consider time management to be of equal priority with actual content..". What shall I do manage my time?
3. What should be done if I notice (during benchmark checks) that I’m running behind? Shall I randomly guess couple of questions to catch up with the benchmarks?
4. Is my strategy to fix my TIMING issue first correct? After fixing this I can reanalyze my problem areas.

I’m planning to write my exam sometimes in late June -early July (depending on my next few mock scores) and targeting a score of around 680-700. Is this score achievable in 2months?

I know I have alreayd written a lot. Any help/ suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Madhur

[dapplegate]

The pattern I see is you're spending a lot of time on 700-800 level questions AND more often than not getting them wrong.

I've only taken one practice test, 640, and I had the same pattern of taking longer on my wrong answers. I too skipped the essays.

However, I never really came close to running out of time.

In regards to Quant, I do the following. I read the question and determine within about 30 seconds, with my knowledge & skill, if I can answer the question QUICKLY (2-3 minutes max). If the answer is YES, then of course work it out, and get it right!

EVEN IF you have the skill to answer it, and it will take you more than 3 minutes, try to eliminate answers within 2 minutes & then take your best educated guess - your gut.

If the answer is NO, I decide I'm not going for an answer... I'm going to eliminate as many answers I can within 1-2 minutes. I scan the answers, such as we do with sentence correction, to see if there are certain "breaks" the GMAT might be testing. I'll test, if I have the skill needed, certain possibilities - sometimes this will give you an answer that is "maybe right" or clearly let you eliminate it. Again, use your findings, gut feeling, and take an educated guess among the remaining choices.

[dapplegate]

For what it's worth, I think timing is the most important issue. The entire point of the test is to see how many questions you can get right at 'YOUR' level. Just because you 'COULD' answer ALL 700-800 level questions if given unlimited time resources, doesn't mean you 'SHOULD' answer them with time restraints.

Knowing your parameters for the test are the most important. Getting THROUGH the test is likely more important than knowing how to answer an 800 level question. You prove your worth by answering as many questions on your level as possible... if you aren't an 800 level scorer, you don't NEED to answer those questions completely - trying to answer questions above your level tend to give you less time to accurately assess questions on your correct level. That being said, based on the skill of a mid 600 level scorer, you should of course do a quick elimination (if you can) and give it your best educated guess.

[StaceyKoprince]

dapplegate makes some good points. I want to point out that it is certainly possible to finish the test on time, yet still have major timing problems. If you are spending too much time on 700+ questions and making up for it by speeding up on lower-level questions, even if you finish the test on time, you still have a major timing problem and aren't getting the score you could get.

a.madhur, answers to your questions are below. It sounds like you've done some good research so far; nice work.

1. Use this article to analyze your most recent MGMAT test; that will tell you what to work on before you take your next test:

http://www.beatthegmat.com/a/2009/09/23/evaluating-your-practice-tests

In terms of when to take it, that depends upon when you feel you have made progress on the things you identify as a result of the above analysis. Don't set some artificial date; leave it for when you can say, "Yes, I get this better now. I think I've made significant progress on my major weaknesses from the last test." (Note: one of those major weaknesses is timing, obviously.)

2. Here's an article on time management: http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2009/12/22/critical-skill-development-time-management

3. Great question! This is definitely a strategy you want to have worked out ahead of time.

Here's the basic rule: as soon as I discover that I'm more than 2m behind (or ahead), I do something about it immediately. (Less than 2m ahead or behind isn't a huge problem.) If I'm behind, the next time I see a question that seems extra hard within the first 15-20 seconds, I pick a random answer immediately and move on. If I'm still behind, I do that again the next time I see something extra hard (even if it's the very next one).

(Note: that's because, the first time you do it, you're probably going to get that question wrong, in which case there's a good chance you'll be able to do the next one. If you happen to get very lucky and get it right, then maybe you won't be able to do the next one - after all, the first one was already extra hard - so it doesn't hurt to skip the second one because you got lucky on the first one!)

4) YES! The timing issue is the major issue and it's also obscuring some of your strengths and weaknesses. You may have a low percentage correct in some category, but maybe that's because you did those too quickly and made careless mistakes. Maybe you actually know how to do those if you take normal time. So, good plan.

You're around 600 right now and you're hoping to improve by about 100 points in 2 months. This is possible, yes, though it might also take more time. Basically, it's not an unreasonable goal, but it also may take a bit more time.

[a.madhur]

Thank you Stacey and dapplegate for your evaluation and suggestions. Will definitely work on those and will update you with the progress.

Thanks again!
Madhur

[StaceyKoprince]

you're welcome!