Help!!! Verbal timing strategy and math careless mistakes!!!

[michaell423]

Dear Experts,

My “judgment date” is coming in a few days and I have tried 3 GMATPrep exams so far with the results as below:

Exam Score Math Score verbal Score Verbal - CR Ave. time Verbal - RC Ave. time Verbal - SC Ave. time
650 47 33 39 2:48 24 1:41 35 1:19
700 45 40 42 2:12 35 2:34 41 1:02
700 48 37 37 2:29 32 1:42 41 1:31

Two major problems I found after reviewed those mock exams:

1, Bad timing on Verbal. I spent about 75-90 seconds on SC and 150 seconds on CR respectively on average, causing me sometimes have to skip on RC passage as a whole;
I really want to know where and how I can make SC within 60-70 seconds per question and make CR within 120-130 seconds per question? For SC, generally, I could figure out right answer immediately after I reviewed those wrong ones, so I think I don’t have the problem on the “knowledge” base but I don’t know how can I speed up a bit.

For CR, I do find 1-2 challenges questions I cant figure out the answer even when I spent quite a few minutes in my after-exam review session, but generally speaking I can pick up the right answer with given generous time, I did all the OG 13 and Verbal 2 CR twice but I have to spend about 3 minutes on each of the questions with correct rate on 90%, but again the real challenge to me is the time, I can not deeply comprehend the passage, build up the logic structure and split over those twisted answers within 120 seconds, I really appreciate it if there is any advice to me.

2, I made a lot careless mistakes over and over again on Math:
I made most of my mistakes on CR, always 6/10 and 4/10 on PS:
a) Overlooked the restriction on “different integers” on an question about median concept;
b) Ignored the possibilities of “multiple of integers” in a ratio problem;
c) mistakenly JUST chose a wrong answer after I figure out the right one;
d) Did not see that the graph already offers the value of the length of a square;
e) In DS, when evaluating (2), mistakenly add (1) into (2);
f) ......
Also, I always lack of time for 1 or 2 questions, I also need to improve my timing strategy on math.
There is nothing about concept, knowledge but purely on my mentality, how can I change that and make me more focus (I m even sitting in a very quiet environment), highly appreciate your advise!

[StaceyKoprince]

It sounds like your test was within a few days after your post (and that is now in the past). That close to the test, there's really nothing I can tell you besides: your score is not going to change much in a few days. Either keep the test date and just consider it a dry run, or postpone the test.

This is the heart of your problem:

generally speaking I can pick up the right answer with given generous time, I did all the OG 13 and Verbal 2 CR twice but I have to spend about 3 minutes on each of the questions with correct rate on 90%,

The problem: you are prioritizing getting things right over spending your time wisely. The test does NOT prioritize in that way - it's not actually testing you on whether you can get everything right.

Read this right now: http://tinyurl.com/executivereasoning

Seriously, don't keep reading here - go read that article and then come back.

The GMAT is NOT an academic test - it's not about how many you get right. Rather, the GMAT is testing whether you have the presence of mind to recognize when something is NOT worth your time, as well as the discipline to let those things go (guess and move on).

In other words, the test is trying to see how good of a business person you are, not how good of an academic you are. If you resist that mindset, then you aren't going to get the best GMAT score that you could get.

This can help you with timing:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/2013/ ... -to-do-it/
http://tinyurl.com/GMATTimeManagement

For SC, this is the standard process that helps you work efficiently:
http://tinyurl.com/scprocess

This talks about how to handle longer / harder SC:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... orrection/

For CR, I do find 1-2 challenges questions I cant figure out the answer even when I spent quite a few minutes in my after-exam review session

Then the remedy is to be able to identify these within the first 30-60 seconds of working on them, so that you can immediately guess and move on. :)

For CR, this is the standard process:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... g-problem/

And this talks about how to handle different CR question types (you need to know how to immediately recognize and handle the different types):
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... reasoning/

Finally, use this to help you learn how to minimize careless errors:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/2012/ ... -the-gmat/