Verbal - Taking too long on certain questions

[GomerPyle]

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So we have all encountered tricky verbal questions that you have to think long and hard about, and in the end you still are not 100% sure with your final answer. I feel like every passage has one or two of these, and I have noticed that these questions significantly hurt my overall timing. I find myself thinking for 1-2 minutes just on one question because I want to get it right, and I know I could if I put some time into it. Is it worth getting one question right but risk losing precious time?? For those of you that score well, how do you go through the tricky ones? Even if you are not comfortable with your answer, do you just move on or put some more thought into it??? It is hard for me to just go to the next question without being somewhat certain about the previous one. Is anybody else in the same boat yet score well??

I spend on average 10-10:30 per passage (sometimes I do get 8:30-9 min on a passage that was easy for me), but I have realized that spending too much time on certain problems is what is hurting me (not my reading speed). Does anybody have any advice?

 

[marcdagr8]

I worry more about losing concentration than losing time. Just don't stress out about getting every question right. Just POE it and pick an answer. Plus, the probability is that if you are spending a bunch of time on a question, you already got it wrong.

For the most part, when it comes to verbal you just have to know the right answer. Anything that messes with your flow and therefore disrupts your confidence, is going to cause you to get that question wrong, and maybe another 2 or 3. Just remember zen and the art of VR.

 

[GomerPyle]

I worry more about losing concentration than losing time. Just don't stress out about getting every question right. Just POE it and pick an answer. Plus, the probability is that if you are spending a bunch of time on a question, you already got it wrong.

For the most part, when it comes to verbal you just have to know the right answer. Anything that messes with your flow and therefore disrupts your confidence, is going to cause you to get that question wrong, and maybe another 2 or 3. Just remember zen and the art of VR.

Yeah, I find that sometimes I have better concentration than other times as well. I guess I got to zoom past a few questions even though I am not super comfortable with the answer? Is that what everybody else does??

 

[Ohyeah]

Yeah, I find that sometimes I have better concentration than other times as well. I guess I got to zoom past a few questions even though I am not super comfortable with the answer? Is that what everybody else does??

Yes. It's important to think things over, but get comfortable with skipping past these questions that really bog you down. All questions are worth the same amount of points; you could be using that time to answer multiple easier questions. It's uncomfortable, but practice just clearing your head and moving on.

Pick an answer choice, mark the question, and move on. Go back to these marked questions only if you have time at the end. Don't leave it blank; you may not get time to go back.

 

[GomerPyle]

Yes. It's important to think things over, but get comfortable with skipping past these questions that really bog you down. All questions are worth the same amount of points; you could be using that time to answer multiple easier questions. It's uncomfortable, but practice just clearing your head and moving on.

Pick an answer choice, mark the question, and move on. Go back to these marked questions only if you have time at the end. Don't leave it blank; you may not get time to go back.

Does this happen with you guys as well? I like that advice a lot - good point that it doesn't let you get to other easier questions!

 

[brood910]

Yes. It's important to think things over, but get comfortable with skipping past these questions that really bog you down. All questions are worth the same amount of points; you could be using that time to answer multiple easier questions. It's uncomfortable, but practice just clearing your head and moving on.

Pick an answer choice, mark the question, and move on. Go back to these marked questions only if you have time at the end. Don't leave it blank; you may not get time to go back.

This suggestion is obvious but at the same time really needed.
Even though I know this myself, I tend to spend ONE min on one question that Im stuck in.
Thanks for reminding me of this.

 

[Entadus]

Yes. It's important to think things over, but get comfortable with skipping past these questions that really bog you down. All questions are worth the same amount of points; you could be using that time to answer multiple easier questions. It's uncomfortable, but practice just clearing your head and moving on.

Pick an answer choice, mark the question, and move on. Go back to these marked questions only if you have time at the end. Don't leave it blank; you may not get time to go back.

+1

Best strategy!👍