Time management is an art and especially when it comes to managing your time for the GMAT preparation. Other than preparing well for the Quant, Verbal and DI section for the GMAT, time management is one similar key strategy and is a valuable skill that can actually make or break your GMAT success. For those who know how to manage their time for GMAT preparation can actually traverse the path of getting into your dream business school.
In this article we will be discussing the time management strategy for your GMAT exam prep. Before moving further onto this, let’s first understand the GMAT exam structure.
GMAT Exam Structure
GMAT preparation is an adaptive test which comprises of three sections:
| GMAT Sections | Number of Questions | Question Type | Time Limit | Score Range |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 MCQs | Problem Solving, Data Sufficiency | 45 minutes | 60-90 |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 MCQs | Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning | 45 minutes | 60-90 |
| Data Insights | 20 MCQs | Graphics Interpretation, Data Analysis, Integrated Reasoning, Two-Part Analysis | 45 minutes | 60-90 |
| Total | 64 Questions | – | 2 hours 15 minutes | 205-805 |
General Timing Strategies for GMAT Preparation
Questions on the GMAT are actually tough to answer and what makes it even more difficult is that you have to solve one question in less than 2 minutes and you have to rush to the other one. Thus, one way to score higher is of course by adopting the time management strategies which we will be discussing here. As far as general timing strategies are concerned:
- Solve GMAT practice questions in a timed manner just like you would do in the actual exam. It is not really about whether you are solving 10 questions or 1 question, but it is important to time yourself while solving questions.
- Try not to invest more than 2 to 3 minutes on a single question, unless you are solving the last one on the GMAT. Either make an intelligent guess or bookmark the question to come back to it later, but move on to the next. Following the timing plan while you are preparing for the GMAT is very important.
- Just know it for the fact that even your time management would not go according to what you have planned in most of the scenarios. You must know how to make quick changes and adjustments to your existing time management strategies, so that you don’t feel stuck.
- Attempt GMAT practice tests while you are in your GMAT prep phase as this will help you in guiding how to manage your time well.
- Make sure that you do not leave any questions unanswered as there is a negative effect on leaving a question unanswered on GMAT. Unanswered questions on the GMAT exam prep actually drops your score by 4 to 5 points, thus don’t leave a question unanswered and make sure that you submit every question.
Other Time Management Strategies for GMAT Preparation
Prioritize Question Type
As far as the GMAT scoring system is concerned, not every question carries equal weightage, thus it is in the best of your interest to identify such questions that are challenging, so that you can dedicate time wisely to those. It is vital to develop a sense of when to leave a question and move on to the next one.
Flagging and Reviewing
On the GMAT, you have the opportunity to flag a question for reviewing it later. It is an important feature, so students must use this wisely. Questions that are taking much time are to be flagged and then later you can come and check the marked questions if time permits. Mark genuine questions and avoid any unnecessary guessing for effective time management.
Quant Section Time Management Tips
- Common percent values, square roots and fractions etc are to be remembered well. This will help you by saving calculation time.
- Encountered a difficult question? If yes, then don’t freak out and try solving it using some other un-usual technique of backsolving etc.
- Get familiar with the question patterns and ways to approach it. This will again save you a lot of time.
- Apply what all other time saving techniques you know to get to the solution quickly.
- Avoid missing any important detail in the beginning of the question
- Practice every question type including arithmetic, word problems, probability etc.
Verbal Section Time Management Tips
- Take that extra time to read the Reading Comprehension passages before jumping otno answering the questions.
- Try using the elimination technique for answering verbal questions
- Draw a grid for 5 to 10 questions on a scratch paper in your break time and you can use it with difficult verbal questions
- Master scope, assumptions, inference and conclusions and if you can master these, then you can actually save a lot of time on the GMAT prep.
In the pursuit of GMAT success, the art of effective time management is to be learned by heart and this should be looked at as something more than a skill. Moreover, this skill can be honed with consistent practice and strategic planning.