I made my first attempt at GRE 4 weeks ago, achieving a score of Q165 V163. The verbal score is irrelevant for the master’s programs of my interest (as long as it’s mid-150s +). But I REALLY need to bump up my Q score to 168+ because of the competitive nature of the programs I apply to.
I realize that the real issue I am having is speed. I ran out of time during the 2nd quant section of the official GRE 4 weeks ago. Same issue when I do GregMat Quant problems - I simulate a GRE section by attempting to do 15 GregMat questions within 23 minutes. Again, I am only able to make it through question #12~13 when the alarm sets off. (According to Greg, you are supposed to have 5 minutes left for final checking at the end).
I have reviewed my foundations by going through almost all PrepSwift videos and their exercises. I have practiced using different strategies (choosing numbers, skipping questions, etc.). And I am practicing my time management by simulating a GRE section with GregMat questions.
I feel like I have reached a plateau…any tips on what I can still do to make further improvements? Thanks a lot!
How are you skipping questions?
I would first read a question. If I can’t immediately conjure up a plan of attack, I’d skip and move on to the next one. These usually amount to 2~3 questions in a regular 15 question set. Then I come back to those 2~3 questions and there might be only 2~3 minutes left. At best I would have time to successfully tackle one of those questions, leaving the other 2 untouched.
So you’d skip in under 30 seconds?
For questions I feel that I cannot immediately tackle, yes. Probably under 30 seconds.
I believe my issue is that I can’t do problems (those that I do know how to do) fast enough. For one thing, I make silly arithmetic mistakes more than I’d like (perhaps because of my aging brain in its mid-30s). So I occasionally have to back track and redo calculations when I notice something is off - that’s easily 2+ minutes for one question.
That said, I tried yesterday doing some timed sessions using practice questions from the official quantitative strategy guide. Again, 15 questions in 23 minutes. Those questions seem easier than the GregMat questions, and I generally get ~3 minutes left to do a quick final review before time is up.
The trouble is that those old official questions are definitely easier than what the new GRE is dishing out nowadays, based on my own experience and general reddit consensus. So just barely being able to handle those questions within the time limit isn’t good enough for the real thing.
Yes, another problem I have is that I dont have good instinct for which strategy is most effective to tackle a question.
For example, I might see a question with an algebraic expression and I would try to manipulate it first, but after 30-40 seconds without making much headway, I would switch to a different strategy, say, testing numbers, then solve the question.
But those 30-40 seconds of attempting a failed strategy were wasted.
Maybe you need a review of strategy - you can use PrepSwift for that. That being said, I’m not fully convinced that you’re spending only 30 - 40 seconds.
Perhaps you are right. I wasn’t really timing myself. I will be making my 2nd attempt tomorrow. Worst comes to worst, I will do it a 3rd time.
Thanks for the continuing support by the way. Of all the other books and resources I have used, the Prepswift videos are the most efficient for reviewing key concepts and techniques.
Can you share your diagnostic report for the first test?
Here it is. Thanks! I didn’t know this report is available for free. Back in the day when I took GMAT, they made us pay for it.
I just made my 2nd attempt yesterday. I clicked the “next” button too quickly and missed my prelim scores…so I guess I will need to wait 10 days to find out how I did. But it felt much better this time. Being able to partially apply your time management techniques really helped. And your Greg Mat quant problems were MUCH better preparation for the type of questions you see on the actual GRE than the 5LB questions (which were too formulaic and straight forward).
Luck probably also played a role. The math questions are simpler this time around. And I can’t believe there’s only ONE vocab I didn’t know across all TC and SE answer choices in both sections! Definitely lucked out this time.
I am conservatively optimistic that I am able to get a Q168+. And also a few more pts for V as well, thought it’s not important. I will keep you posted. And however much I gain on the my Q score, it’s thanks to you.
1 Like
Scores have been released: Q170 V169 AW5.0.
Thanks Greg! I owe you one.
1 Like
