@Jessica73 Likewise!

Congrats!

I have this same issue! Won't let me submit

@Lili Thank you!

@Mikey Thank you so much.

@KevinLin Hi, and thank you for your comment. I definitely think I spend more time on all questions across the board on the real tests. There have been LG-style questions I spend too much time on and consequently for other LR q's I have to choose one and move on, finding I never get to sit with the questions in a focused manner the way I do on PTs. My first below avg attempt I was too neurotic about time, trying to move quick, and spiraled, barely having time for the last hard science passage. My second below avg attempt, I focused on being calm and maintaining composure, but consequently still found myself not having as much time as I needed for the last few LR questions in those sections, regardless of feeling really solid about the first 18ish. In RC, my second time I went in order of # of questions in the passage, hit the science one with two extra paragraphs and unique q-types, and spent an excessive amount of time there to have to quickly guess on two in order to do the first passage, which I saved for last. I thought nerves were my issue, but even when trying to not be nervous, I still was frantic near the end for each section.

@TabithaTomlinson Hi! Yes, I do, and don't have the timing problem on my PTs. I've attributed it to the RC being harder on these newer, real tests, but I know that's just cope. How did you resolve this problem?

Hi! Does she work for a specific company?

@fomconnicotine Maybe late to reply, but where did you find this list?

Hi! Understand this question and struggle, but I promise it is doable and you've got this. I work full-time M-F with an hour ish commute, so generally my 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM are working and traveling. I study every evening for ~2 hours, more if I'm awake enough, otherwise I'll take an hour to go to the gym or do something else, which in and of itself is conducive to building the discipline this test requires! I PT on the weekends and also study as much time as I can on the weekends. It has unfortunately meant saying no to a lot of social plans, but in the end it is all worth it. As others have said in this thread, there are positives to balancing the test with working FT, and you can get into a rhythm. We've all got it! <3

Count me in!

@RishabhRaj Hi! There aren't many explanations but I've been googling the questions and finding explanations on Powerscore or GMAT Club (lol), and then also using the ask a tutor function and they've gotten back to me very quickly! I think naturally some of the older LR/RC can be a little bit...bizarre? Like they're just worded differently at times/have some ACs that wouldn't be worded like ones on the newer exams, but I think if anything that's extra practice in deciphering odd language and I think it has helped more than hurt me!

I'm in the same boat as you. I've started drilling with the older PTs, and honestly I think it has helped! Some of the RC passages are quite interesting and difficult, too. I've also started to reuse anything that I last saw over 2 months ago, and I remember less than I thought I would. If I find myself looking at ACs for what I "remember" it being or not being, I just ask for a new passage/section, etc.

Same, struggling with these tests in the 150s. If anyone sees anything about how to do better please LMK :(

Hi! Here are a few things that I've found, or have heard from others, to be beneficial:

1. If going quickly/"at time" produces a lot of wrong answers, go slow to go fast. Everyone says that, but it can truly cause a perspective shift, especially in RC where minute details are often the focus of ACs. Read line by line, connect every sentence to what came before and after; read within context, and not focusing on the content so much as the structure of the passage, and how everything serves other pieces (like analyzing the ingredient spread for baking a cake, and then main point q's/etc will ask you to reflect on the cake itself, but usually still in a manner that will highlight prominent ingredients). For LR, also go slow on the stimulus: don't move on to the questions until you know you really understand what it was saying (especially when the language is super convoluted, repeating it to yourself in your head in a manner that helps you better make sense of it). Have an idea of what the right answer may be when you go into the questions sometimes. Practicing asking yourself helps build the muscle, too!

2. Drill targeted weaknesses, or go back to the core curriculum/foundations for question types that you struggle with most -- and get at finding these weaknesses through #3,

3. Thorough blind review of every PT and section. This is tedious, but keeping a wrong answer journal of everything you get wrong, asking yourself why you gravitated towards the wrong answer, what was correct about the right one that you didn't realize, etc., really helps in the long run, and you'll find yourself avoiding similar mistakes.

4. Be mindful of the circumstances in which you're practicing. Often times, long evenings after work, or bright and early in the morning, I wouldn't perform at my best, and would get super upset about it, not being pragmatic about the circumstances in which I was doing prep.

Hang in there, you've got it! Be kind to yourself and keep focusing on q-types and general things that you find yourself still stuck on. Ask yourself why you got the ones you got wrong, wrong; believe in the fact that next time, it won't happen again. Rooting for you!

Hi! wondering if you have advice on timing/not missing small details in RC/generally staying grounded despite test pressure

@Senator94 would love to participate too!

Hi!! Yes, let's make a chat!

Hi! Sending you luck and warmth here, friend, and do not panic. This happens to almost all of us for a number of different reasons.

For one, maybe you've taken these PTs in different conditions - tired, stressed, etc. It sucks how much these auxiliary things impact our performance but they really do! As another note, were they older vs. newer PTs? Were they featuring more or less questions of the types that you excel at vs. struggle with? What kinds of mistakes were common to the tests, what was different? This is just another learning experience for your prep, as opposed to proof you've mysteriously gotten worse - we've been there!

Also, usually when we focus on one thing at the "expense" of others (like doing more RC over LR; drilling one type consistently) there can be some fluctuations in other aspects, which as I've seen is also just all part of the process. It will all come together soon!

Would greatly appreciate a lesson like this that more broadly goes into the weeds of something like AC (A) vs (D) on #2 -- like an overarching conditional reasoning primer / the way you guys diagram in Kick It Up, etc!

@KevinLin Thank you!!