Timed Sets - OG vs. CAT discrepancy

[rustom.hakimiyan]

Hi All,

Need some advice on strategy - My instructor asked me to do the Appendix A problems for the relevant strategy guide(which definitely helped), I feel like I comprehend the questions/explanations very well but when it comes times to take the CAT, i'm scoring very poorly.

After taking 3 CAT's, I've noticed that my timing is definitely an issue along with some content. I get stuck on problems I KNOW I can solve but they end up taking up too much which definitely has a domino effect on the remainder of the test. I've read the brilliant article "My timing is killing me" and I even create the chart on the top right but it doesn't seem to help much.

I'm thinking that doing random timed sets might help? Would love some feedback on if I should focus on timed sets and if so, what's the best way to do them? Pick random 10 questions and set a timer for 20 minutes?(if quant) What should I set for a time limit on verbal since there could be a discrepancy with a long RC passage etc?

Any help will be highly appreciated as I i'm having a hard time trying to find the disconnect!

Thanks!

[StaceyKoprince]

read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -to-do-it/

Sound familiar?

Doing even more problem sets is not going to help because you're going into this with the wrong mindset in the first place.

Read this (literally right now, then come back here):
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

Your focus is on trying to get everything right. As long as you do that, you'll never get the timing right... and you'll never get the score you want. You're taking the test as though the goal is one thing, when the goal is actually something else entirely. :)

Convince yourself of that. Learn what you're really trying to do (as described in that second article above). Until you buy into that, you're going to be banging your head against the wall.

Convinced now? Start doing what this article says:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

Try it out, then come back here with Qs!

[rustom.hakimiyan]

Hi Stacey,

I took my 4th practice cat yesterday following the mentality from the articles above - although my overall score didn't go up, I do feel like i'm a step closer when it comes to timing. I definitely felt like I had a better grasp on time, but still managed to drift off a few times(3+ minutes in CR).

How do you suggest I develop the "1 minute sense" without looking at the timer on the top right at all times.

Thanks!

[StaceyKoprince]

section 4 of the last article (time management) that I posted in my last post. :)