gre time management – 91�ȱ� Blog

Time Management Tips to Score a 320+ in 91�ȱ�

Shruti Ganesh — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 17:33:39 +0000

The value of a great 91�ȱ� score to your graduate school applications cannot be underestimated. A 320+ in your 91�ȱ� is not only your ticket to some of the best schools out there, but in many cases also paves the path to full funding and scholarship opportunities.

So what is the secret to a good 91�ȱ� score? How can you conquer the 91�ȱ� and get admitted to your dream school?

The answer to those questions is deceptively simple – good time management skills. Master this, and you will master the 91�ȱ�. However, of course, this is easier said than done.

Why do students usually have problems managing time?

Lack of preparedness – Unsure of the concepts involved.
Lack of clarity in prioritizing questions – Spending a long time on one question.
Unfamiliar with the format of the test.
Nervous about the timer.

Learning good time management skills is the first and the most important step you must take in your 91�ȱ� journey. How can you do this? Rather than giving you some general tips, let me explain what you can do section-wise as you encounter them in 91�ȱ�!

Section 1: Analytical Writing

The first section in the 91�ȱ� is always the analytical writing (or AWA) section. Now, a large number of 91�ȱ� test takers make the grave mistake of skipping their AWA and using the allotted one hour to complete the other sections of the test, since the AWA does not directly affect the final 91�ȱ� score. However, a good score in your AWA has the ability to boost your applications, so we highly recommend that you do not skip it. The AWA has two essay tasks, the Argument task and the Issue task, both of which are designed to test your critical thinking skills and your ability to develop, articulate, and defend an argument. Of course, it is no mean feat to write an excellent essay in just thirty minutes, but there are ways you can still nail it.

How can you score above 4 in AWA? Get your strategy, tips and the ultimate guide to scoring above 4 in AWA! Download your AWA eBook now!

Take a minute or two to actually plan how you are going to go about writing your essays. This may seem like the very opposite of time management, but you will be surprised to know how many aspirants start their essays without a clear outline and then end up writing vague and irrelevant things.
Write the introduction in the last. Many students waste much time trying to write that perfect introduction. Once you have the body of your essay ready, writing your introduction will be much easier.
Keep it sweet and simple. Don’t try to use words and phrases you aren’t familiar or comfortable with. Simplicity is key. Write sentences that are succinct yet impactful. Be natural, be you.
Don’t overlook the importance of proofreading. When you are writing in a hurry, you may make some grammar or spelling errors. Give yourself a few minutes to proofread and edit.
Make your conclusion powerful by introducing the opposing viewpoint and then refuting it in a couple of sentences. This shows that you acknowledge the other side of the argument, but your argument is the right one.
Most importantly, practice, practice, and practice. Take many 91�ȱ� mock test as possible to acquaint yourself with the time constraints, and then get them evaluated by a teacher or a 91�ȱ� instructor.

Section 2: Quantitative Reasoning

The quantitative reasoning section of the test has two sub-sections of twenty questions each. The time allotted is 35 minutes for each section, which roughly means 1.75 minutes for each question. However, some questions could be completed in 30 seconds or less, while others, especially the Discrete Quant and Data Interpretation questions, will require some more work.

Target Time for Quant:

Target an average of 1.5 minutes per question. You can also try allocating time depending on the question type.

For example,

Aiming for a 170/170 in 91�ȱ� Quant? You only have to apply 5 techniques to reach that score! Wondering what these techniques are? They’re all compiled in one eBook by our experts! Download your 91�ȱ� Quant eBook now!

Expert Tips for Quantitative Reasoning:

A thorough mastery of relevant formulae and equations will make things considerably easy for you. Make sure you have these at your fingertips – it will prove extremely useful when you are in a time crunch.
Be quick, but be precise. Don’t make the mistake of simply skimming over the easy questions without verifying the answer. It is important to balance speed with correctness.
Don’t linger on one question, if you find it difficult. Remember that in the 91�ȱ�, all the questions carry equal marks. You can always flag the question and go back to it later if you have the time.
It is okay to let go of a couple of questions, but be sure you attempt the questions you do know the answer to, so if push comes to shove, you can skip the ones you had difficulty with.
If you are hesitant about leaving questions unanswered, then simply guess the answers. Wrong answers do not carry negative marks, so even if your guess is wrong, you will at least not be penalized for it.
Read the question properly to understand what is being asked. Some questions may look simple at first glance, but that may not be the case at all. For instance, you could be asked for the “value of the smallest prime factor of y” rather than just the “value of y.” If you cannot come up with a way to solve the question within the first 20 seconds, mark the question and move on!
Put your scratch pad to the best possible use. Rough calculations, tricky formulae, or a complex geometrical figure – whatever it is, writing or drawing it will help you de-clutter your mind.

Section 3: Verbal Reasoning

Similar to the quantitative reasoning section, the Verbal section also consists of two sections of twenty questions each. However, the time allotted is 30 minutes for each section, which leaves you with about 1.5 minutes for each question. Of these forty questions, two will be Reading Comprehensions (or RCs), one short and one long, which will require more time than the other questions, so economize your time judiciously.

Target time for Verbal:

Expert Tips for Verbal Reasoning:

For 91�ȱ� verbal practice, try to read the newspaper every day. Circle the words or phrases you are unfamiliar with, and look them up later. This is the easiest and best way to improve your vocabulary.
Tackle the sentence equivalence and text completions first so you can focus on the RCs peacefully.
Make notes and pointers while reading the RCs. Make note of any names, words or dates that catch your eye. Use the analytical reading technique to master RC.
Again, since all questions on the 91�ȱ� carry the same marks, don’t spend too much of time agonizing over one question. Simply flag it and move on to the next question.
It goes without saying that a good command over 91�ȱ� vocabulary and grammar rules is indispensable to a great Verbal score, so work on these every day while preparing for the exam.
When in a serious time crunch, guessing is your best option. Try not to leave any question unanswered, but it is okay if you do.

Confused about your 91�ȱ� Verbal? Get the ultimate guide to cracking 91�ȱ� Verbal Download your FREE eBook now!

To conclude, time management and rigorous practice are the building blocks of a good 91�ȱ� score. If you follow these tips and practice every day without fail, there is nothing that can hold you back from a 320+ on your 91�ȱ�.

For more information and complete guidance for your 91�ȱ� preparation, download the complete guide to 91�ȱ� preparations.

What do you think about these tips? Let us know by commenting below!

The post Time Management Tips to Score a 320+ in 91�ȱ� appeared first on 91�ȱ� Blog.

7 ways to manage time in 91�ȱ� Quant

Shruti Ganesh — Sun, 29 May 2016 09:22:55 +0000

91�ȱ� is a test of not only your analytical/verbal reasoning capabilities and general aptitude but also a test of how good you are at managing time and dealing with situations under pressure. None of it more evident than 91�ȱ� Quant. With 40 questions to answer in 70 minutes (barring the chances that the experimental section is also a Quant one).

You need to:

Keep your cool. Don’t get too worked up or frustrated when you can’t figure out the answer to one particular question.
Have the right judgement to leave it in your first pass, move on to answer the rest of the questions and then come back and solve this question later on.
If you adamantly stick to one question, thinking you have to finish it before moving on to the next, you run the risk of messing up even the portions/sections that you know very well and end up scoring way below your expectations.

We understand that managing time might be difficult especially when you have the pressure of doing well in this exam at the back of your mind. But you need to understand that trying to hurrying up and haste will get you nowhere rather reduce your chance at getting top admits.
You certainly wouldn’t want that to happen, would you?

If the answer is an obvious NO, then check out the following tips that we have collected from personal trainers who have helped over 30,000 students score high in 91�ȱ�. So, sit back, relax and take notes.

1. Allotting numbers to questions and neat rough work

Try to put question number and do your rough work neatly. Proper rough work is very useful as it can save you a lot of time when you go back to the unanswered question. If your rough work/calculations are spread all over the place, it will be difficult to locate them. Starting the calculations afresh mean you will end up spending more than 2 minutes and which is very unwise.

2. The IGMO method to save time

The IGMO method is usually used by all top performers.

IGMO method stands for Intelligent Guessing and Moving On. IGMO method helps you answer the questions which you’re not so sure of, without wasting too much time. It saves you the time, effort and helps you look at the question from a different perspective later on.

The IGMO method requires you to:

Write all the questions in a piece of paper.
Calculate the answers to the questions corresponding to the question number.
If you are stuck on a question make an intelligent guess and move on
Come back to the question later on and solve it.

Remember you shouldn’t spend more than 2 minutes on one question.
You can give an intelligent guess by eliminating the options that totally violate the given conditions. Revisit those questions in the end.

This is what it looks like, when you mark a question and later on come back to answer it. It also shows a list of answered/incomplete questions.

91�ȱ� Quant Test Section

Are you up for some 91�ȱ� Quant Quiz to see how much you’ve prepared and how well you manage time? Click here>>

3. Don’t leave questions unanswered

There is no negative marking in the 91�ȱ� exam, so it is advisable to make a choice by intelligent guesswork rather than leaving a question unanswered. In a multiple choice question with one option to choose from four, your odds of getting it correct are 25%. So you have got nothing to loose. So answer all the questions. That doesn’t mean you will use rock-paper-scissors to decide the fate of the answers!

Our 91�ȱ� experts have worked out the appropriate amount of time you can spend on the different types of questions. It is listed as below:

Different types of questions in 91�ȱ� Quant

If you think there are only MCQs in 91�ȱ�, you may be in a bit of surprise! Yes, there are different types of questions that appear in 91�ȱ� Quant. Learn more>>

4. Spend less time on simple questions

Try to solve the simple questions in less time so that you can spend more time on questions of higher difficulty level and DI questions. Answering the questions that seem simpler will help you dedicate more time to questions that seem harder. Once you have practised hundreds of questions during 91�ȱ� prep, you will intuitively know which one is difficult and which one is relatively simple. Besides, with ample practice comes this ability of recognizing questions of similar nature that you have solved before. This greatly increases your speed.
The difficulty level of questions vary from 1 to 5. The level 1 and 2 questions can be should be answered in 30-60 seconds.
To give you a brief idea about the difficulty level, here are some questions with their answers:

Question 1
Question Type: Data Comparison
Difficulty Level: Level 2

ABC is a triangle right angled at A. Angle ABC and angle ACB is y° and z°, respectively.

x° is an exterior angle at point B of the triangle.

Quantity A: x
Quantity B: z

Options:
Quantity A is greater
Quantity B is greater
The two quantities are equal
The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

Answer:
Quantity A is greater

Explanation:
Given, ABC is a triangle right angled at A.
Angle ABC and angle ACB is y° and z°, respectively.
=> y + z = 90°
=> z = 90 – y
x° is an exterior angle at point B of the triangle
=> x + y = 180°
=> x = 180 – y
x = 90 + 90 – y
x = 90 + z
=> x > z
=> Quantity A is greater

Question 2
Question Type: Numerical Entry (No options required)
Difficulty Level: Level 3)
Set S contains the set of all non-negative integer n that is divisible by 6. If n < 100, what is the probability that a number chosen at random is divisible by 12?

Answer:
(9/17)

Explanation:
S = {0, 6, 12, 18, …, 96} => n(S) = 17
Set of all numbers that are divisible by 12 = A = {0, 12, 24, 36, …, 96}
=> n(A) = 9 Required probability = 9/17

Suggested question Timeline -91�ȱ� Quant

You should try and complete the exam in 30 minutes, which will allow you to go back and solve the unanswered questions in the last 5 minutes. You could even revise during those 5 minutes.

5. Use the on-screen calculator

It would consume more time for computing manually, so it’s better you take diagnostic tests and use the on-screen calculator as much as possible. Note that the calculator in 91�ȱ� is a BODMAS calculator which operates a bit different from the normal hardware calculators. Try to perform all the simple calculations in your mind without wasting your time typing in the numbers and waiting for the result. Do get used to this calculator during your practice phase.

You should be familiar with the following functions, depicted:

on-screen calculator – 91�ȱ� Quant

6. Beware of the exam situation

Now you should understand that exam hall might not be the ideal test taking environment that you thought it would be. The A/C might be working a tad bit slower or faster, hence cooling at different rates which can make you uncomfortable. The invigilators might be a tad bit too harsh. Apart from all that there might be some ambient noises that interrupt your concentration while answering the questions. Make sure that you eat properly before going for the exams. The pantry/food court of the exam center might not be too far to go to in those 5 minutes of break available. You have to keep all these things in mind while you take mock/full-length tests at your home.

7. Take care of the background timer

While you’re taking 91�ȱ�, you can’t carry your wrist watch along. So, the only way for you to keep track of time would be the time running in the background. Now, most test takers feel a great deal of difficulty in keeping up with the preset timer. So, you should ditch the trusty wrist watch and start using a stop watch to time your mock/full-length adaptive tests.

91�ȱ� Quant

Now that you are aware about the 7 ways to manage your time in 91�ȱ� Quant, you can read about 8 91�ȱ� Test Tips To Keep in Mind. These carefully assembled tips by experienced 91�ȱ� trainers can help you get the most out of your 91�ȱ� preparation Online.
What 91�ȱ� Quant topics worry you? Let us know in the comments below.

The post 7 ways to manage time in 91�ȱ� Quant appeared first on 91�ȱ� Blog.