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ssky · 07-02-2008, 08:43 PM

Kaplan and PR and mnay others insists to take additional time to answer the initial 7-10 questions correct and if you are short of time then just make guesses in the end. You will score higher than if you spend equal amount of time for all questions.

The OG says its a myth and the computer will hone in to your real score no matter what.

Any comments or live experience?

texas2904 · 07-02-2008, 08:49 PM

Its my opinion that you shouldn't worry too much about the first few questions. The test seems to adapt quickly. You should focus on making sure your timing strategy, whatever it may be, allows you to finish the entire section. Its a bad idea to spend a lot of time on the first 5 questions if it means that you can't answer the last 5. Good luck.

ssky · 07-03-2008, 12:33 PM

This is exactly what the OG 11 says. But I had been practicing to spend twice the time (around 3-4 minutes) on the initial 10 questions. Now when I did the GMAT tests in the books (Kaplan, Barron, McGraw), you donot get the taste of CAT but when I attempted my first CAT test on the PR website (their free online tests) I found myself struggling i nthe end. Reason, wel if you answer the first few questions you are going to face similar difficult level questions meaning how are you going to make the time lost in the initial questions.

Kaplan and PR suggests to make guesses in the middle to makeup some of your timing. but I am kind of confused. Anyone else who might want to comment?

Another thing I noticed is that I normally compelete my Verbal well ahead of time. All the tests I have done so far I was able to finish verbal atleast 5 minutes before end of section. Am I doing something terribly wrong here? My average right answer % hovers around 70%.

Any more comments please.

texas2904 · 07-04-2008, 03:12 AM

The CATs will be a MUCH better gauge for timing.

For verbal, since timing is not an issue, look and see what type of questions you are good at and what you are bad at. For the ones you are bad/slow at, work on getting better and spend an extra few seconds if necessary.

I've already told you I think the test adjusts quickly. With that in mind, if you are on par for a 700 but run out of time with 5 questions left, each one will be scored wrong, and your score will go down a significant amount. In my mind, missing questions at the end is worse that making a careless error towards the beginning because as you will read in people's debriefs, it is possible to miss a few on quant and still get a score in the high 40s. My personal strategy for quant is to get through the section as quickly as possible without making careless errors. Normally I either barely finish or am forced to guess on the last 1-3 questions.

As for guessing, my strategy depends on how much time I have left. If I am ahead of schedule and reach a problem I can't solve, I will spend maybe 3 minutes trying to solve it before guessing. If I am behind schedule and can't figure out how to approach it after about 45 seconds, I will take an additional 30 seconds to make an educated guess then move on to the next question.

I know you've heard my opinion, but I'm just trying to help. Good luck.

07-02-2008, 08:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
ssky Confucius is thinking !! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: US Posts: 109	Importance of Initial Questions Kaplan and PR and mnay others insists to take additional time to answer the initial 7-10 questions correct and if you are short of time then just make guesses in the end. You will score higher than if you spend equal amount of time for all questions. The OG says its a myth and the computer will hone in to your real score no matter what. Any comments or live experience?

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07-02-2008, 08:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
texas2904 Eager! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 97	Its my opinion that you shouldn't worry too much about the first few questions. The test seems to adapt quickly. You should focus on making sure your timing strategy, whatever it may be, allows you to finish the entire section. Its a bad idea to spend a lot of time on the first 5 questions if it means that you can't answer the last 5. Good luck.

07-03-2008, 12:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
ssky Confucius is thinking !! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: US Posts: 109	This is exactly what the OG 11 says. But I had been practicing to spend twice the time (around 3-4 minutes) on the initial 10 questions. Now when I did the GMAT tests in the books (Kaplan, Barron, McGraw), you donot get the taste of CAT but when I attempted my first CAT test on the PR website (their free online tests) I found myself struggling i nthe end. Reason, wel if you answer the first few questions you are going to face similar difficult level questions meaning how are you going to make the time lost in the initial questions. Kaplan and PR suggests to make guesses in the middle to makeup some of your timing. but I am kind of confused. Anyone else who might want to comment? Another thing I noticed is that I normally compelete my Verbal well ahead of time. All the tests I have done so far I was able to finish verbal atleast 5 minutes before end of section. Am I doing something terribly wrong here? My average right answer % hovers around 70%. Any more comments please.

07-04-2008, 03:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
texas2904 Eager! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 97	The CATs will be a MUCH better gauge for timing. For verbal, since timing is not an issue, look and see what type of questions you are good at and what you are bad at. For the ones you are bad/slow at, work on getting better and spend an extra few seconds if necessary. I've already told you I think the test adjusts quickly. With that in mind, if you are on par for a 700 but run out of time with 5 questions left, each one will be scored wrong, and your score will go down a significant amount. In my mind, missing questions at the end is worse that making a careless error towards the beginning because as you will read in people's debriefs, it is possible to miss a few on quant and still get a score in the high 40s. My personal strategy for quant is to get through the section as quickly as possible without making careless errors. Normally I either barely finish or am forced to guess on the last 1-3 questions. As for guessing, my strategy depends on how much time I have left. If I am ahead of schedule and reach a problem I can't solve, I will spend maybe 3 minutes trying to solve it before guessing. If I am behind schedule and can't figure out how to approach it after about 45 seconds, I will take an additional 30 seconds to make an educated guess then move on to the next question. I know you've heard my opinion, but I'm just trying to help. Good luck.

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