Running out of time during Math section. Help!

[julikosh]

Hello all,

I am constantly running out of time during math section on practice exams. For some reason, all the calculations I need to do takes me long. Does anyone have an advice on how to improve my speed?

Thank you so much!

[wannabee]

Hi, I also have the same problems in quant..In average, there are still about 5-6 questions I need to finish when time's up..But in verbal, I could finish them faster, leaving about 5-10 minutes after I've completed all questions.

Yet, it's higher result in quant than the verbal..
Please, anyone, advise us on this matter???

thanks a bunch

[texas2904]

Sometimes you don't need to solve the problem to get the right answer. For DS, you just need to know if the information given is sufficient or insufficient.

[samratisking]

Originally Posted by julikosh

Hello all,

I am constantly running out of time during math section on practice exams. For some reason, all the calculations I need to do takes me long. Does anyone have an advice on how to improve my speed?

Thank you so much!

Hi julikosh,

You don't have to solve all the problems... Especially DS, in which you can get the answer by just thinking about the Data given.. Practise that and you will get used to it...

Thanks & Regards,
SamratisKing

[samratisking]

Originally Posted by wannabee

Hi, I also have the same problems in quant..In average, there are still about 5-6 questions I need to finish when time's up..But in verbal, I could finish them faster, leaving about 5-10 minutes after I've completed all questions.

Yet, it's higher result in quant than the verbal..
Please, anyone, advise us on this matter???

thanks a bunch

Try solving the DS questions without actually solving them completely.. I mean just see whether the data is sufficient or not.... That will help you on long run, especially in exams like GMAT..... For PS questions, try solving the questions using the diagramatic or statistical methods, based on the the type of question.....

Thanks & Regards,
SamratisKing

[wannabee]

I understand your point on DS, as I often try to solve DS, specially with Qs that ask the value. Only with yes or no questions, I could decide the suff/not suff by looking at the question and statements...

Thanks, I'll try to improve my speed on the 'asking value' questions as both of you suggested

[julikosh]

Thanks all for your replies!

What about those DS questions, in which, if you don't take it one step further it can lead you to the wrong answer? For example (and this is a very simplified example):

What is the value of x?
(1) x + y = 3
(2) -2x - 2y = 6

At a very quick glance, it looks like it is sufficient when we take 2 statements together. However, if we take time to solve it, we realize that together they are not sufficient. How do you know at which step it is sufficient to stop and save time?

Thank you, all, again!
julikosh

[ares666]

I have a similar problem with the quantitative part of the test, as far as math my background is not so good and nowadays I am trying to focus on this part of the test to hone my quantitative skills. Of course the way I am looking to improve is through practice.

[madangmat]

While solving the DS problems only to the extent necessary helps in improving the speed, this skill develops only when you have a proper hold of the concepts involved. Please ensure that you are thorough with the concepts tested, practise regularly and you will automatically witness your speed improving and so will your ability to do better in DS questions.

Bottomline : practise and practise

[Neo_On_A_Mission]

Hey....the tutorials are cool...thanks for sharing this!....excellent stuff