The Two-Pass System
Pass 1: Bank wins
Solve easy/medium efficiently. If you hit your cutoff and you’re not close, guess and move.
The goal is to build a time reserve.
Pass 2: Smart investment
If you’ve banked time, selectively invest in questions you can actually convert.
Never donate 4 minutes to a question you’re unsure you can finish.
Cutoff rule:
Decision by ~20s → if no progress by ~60–75s, simplify or prepare to guess → hard cap ~2:30.
3 Common Time Sinks + Fix
1) Over-reading / rewriting
You spend too long parsing before starting work.
- Fix: underline the ask, list variables, start.
2) Computation addiction
You brute-force algebra instead of using structure.
- Fix: estimate, plug numbers, backsolve, simplify.
3) DS over-solving
You keep solving after sufficiency is already known.
- Fix: stop once you have sufficiency; don’t chase exact values.
The 24-Minute Timing Drill
| Phase | What to do |
|---|---|
| Setup | Set a timer for 24 minutes. Do 12 quant questions. Hard cap 2:00 per question (or your cap). Mark any question where you hit the cap. |
| Review | For each cap-hit: write “the earliest moment I should have guessed.” For each miss: 2-note error log (concept + decision). |
FAQ
Should I guess more on Quant?
Yes—strategically. A quick guess protects time for questions you can actually convert.
What’s a good target time per question?
Roughly ~2 minutes on average. Bank time on easier questions and cap time on traps.
Does the two-pass approach work on GMAT Focus?
Yes. Bank wins early, invest selectively, and avoid time sink spirals.