<p>First, so I have heard many times that the first 10 questions of the quantitative section are the most important to getting a high score. Can someone (who maybe has gotten a 700+ score) tell me how much time is reasonable to dedicate to the first 10 questions? </p>
<p>My problem is that I am a really slow test taker, and on most practice tests I have taken, I usually only have time to get to the first 15-20 questions and then just randomly guess for the last ones. However, I have also sometimes not given the full amount of time I would LIKE to have given on the first 10 because I feel I'm taking absurdly too long, so I usually have ended up just guessing and moving on, even if i know I would eventually get the answer. Should I take more time on the first 10 to guarantee I get them all correct, even if I can get to LESS questions? And how much is TOO much time for the first 10? Perhaps, should I just take as long as I need on every question, and then at about 5 or less minutes just start making educated guesses? What is a good strategy?</p>
<p>On the last bunch that I have to guess on, is it best to guess, say, all B's? Or just random?</p>
<p>So far I've been getting in the 640-680 range. But I REALLY need to crack a 700. Preferably 750.</p>
<p>It's so demoralizing because I feel the questions are easy, but I'm just such a damn slow thinker and I panic VERY easily. I also often feel I don't see the easy tricks to doing the problems (for example: solving algebraically rather than just plugging in numbers) which contributes to my slowness. I probably solve most questions the hardest way possible. And I make stupid math errors frequently and so I have to redo many problems after I catch my mistakes. :(</p>
<p>It might help me not panic if I knew how much time others usually spend on the first 10. (or it might make me panic more! LOL) </p>
<p>I just took the GRE two weeks ago. I did better on the math than I had anticipated. A 730. I had not had math since high school, which for me, was a reeeally long time ago.</p>
<p>The advice I have is this: practice makes perfect. It will increase your speed, believe me. I bought an algebra text book, with an emphasis on applied algebra. It has been enormously helpful. You have to practice problems over and over and over. I have both the Barron’s and Kaplan’s GRE prep books. I also printed out the GRE Powerprep math review to study. It has also been very helpful. Also, believe it or not, youtube is helpful because there are a large number of sample questions there, and it is nice to have someone verbally teaching instead of reading text all the time.</p>
<p>I know it is pure drudgery, but the only way to score high on the math if you haven’t had math classes lately, is to really immerse yourself in it, and know all of the rules by heart.</p>
<p>I, too, take a long time to think about these problems. But I was able to finish all of the questions on the GRE, even though I felt rushed on some. On a few I basically guessed between 2 or 3 choices, after eliminating other choices.</p>
<p>You get 45 minutes for 28 problems. That parses out to a little over a minute and a half per question. I would advise to try to answer all of the GRE math. You will score higher than taking too much time in the beginning. If you are stumped on something, guess and go to the next one. That is what I did and I got the 730.</p>
<p>Time was my worst enemy when i took the GRE. I felt i was doing well but then i looked at the timer and 15 minutes had passed just like that! I started to rush and i even got stumped on one question which i ended up guessing on. I also guessed on the last 4 questions because i ran out of time and i ended up getting a 750 (my goal was 800 so im retaking it). </p>
<p>To improve all you have to do is practice, practice, and practice. I have been doing just that and now i finish all my practice sections way before time runs out. </p>
<p>I am a double major and one of my majors is applied math. While you would think that will help, it actually doesnt. Math majors have a certain way of tackling problems which require time, while most of the GRE questions have “tricks” that get to the right answer quick. I feel like its definitely worthwhile to learn some of these tricks, so buy a book on GRE prep.</p>
<p>As for me im taking the test again this Saturday in hopes of getting the 800. </p>