Hi Oz,
Some thoughts below:
Oz29xr8 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2024 10:45 am
When I take the exam should I focus on completing all the questions in each section?
Generally yes, this should be your goal. Every question you don't do is one less raw score point you can achieve. There are exceptions though (see below).
Oz29xr8 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2024 10:45 amI heard that you can still score high on the exam and do well on each section if you do not complete them. Is this information true?
Yes, this is true, although it does depend on your definition of "score high." You can only miss a question or two to score a 180, so immediately when you skip questions you start to lower your highest achievable score. Now, for many, that wasn't going to happen anyway, so the determination comes down to what I call the nexus of speed and accuracy. You have to find the fastest rate you can go in order to get as many question as possible, and for some that means not doing every question. Consider the following comparison:
Student #1 Student #2 Student #3
Questions completed in section
24
20
16
Accuracy Rate
50%
75%
100%
Total Correct Answers
12
15
16
Obviously, actual performance in a section depends on a variety of factors, and each student must assess their own strengths and weaknesses. Regardless, the message is the same: you
might benefit from slowing down and attempting fewer questions. The way to determine this? Create your own Pacing Guideline:
- Every test taker must have a plan of action before they start a section. As you practice, you should strive to determine your personal Pacing Guideline. For example, how many questions do you plan to complete in the first ten minutes? The first twenty minutes? How much time do you expect will have elapsed when you reach question #10? Question #20? Before you take the actual test, you should be able to answer these questions.
Oz29xr8 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2024 10:45 amAlso, as I continue to take practice exams, would it be helpful to take timed or untimed individual sections? I’ve thought about doing this as a way to practice speed and accuracy on each section type.
Personally, I like doing both, although I tended to do far more timed sections than untimed sections.
Oz29xr8 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2024 10:45 amAlso, is it helpful to take practice exams timed or untimed? I understand that time management is important, but accuracy is also important to me as well. I really want to perform well on the actual exam on test day. Please let me know what can be done. Thank you.
With full tests, I tend to do them exclusively timed, but then review them very slowly and carefully.
