Why Slowing Down Helped Me Ace the GMAT Verbal (And How You Can Too)

When I first started prepping for GMAT Verbal, my strategy was simple: Go fast. I raced through practice questions so I could spend more time on Quant and Data Insights. But after a few problem sets, I hit a wall—my accuracy was all over the place, and my confidence tanked.

Sound familiar?

Turns out, my mistake was obvious in hindsight: I’d been fighting the clock instead of training my brain. I’d:

• Pick answers because they “sounded right” (spoiler: they often weren’t).

• Get stuck between two choices, frantically re-reading the passage for clues.

• Finish questions quickly… only to realize I’d missed key details.

  
  

So I tried something different: I ditched the timer completely.

For each question, I gave myself 5+ minutes to:

1. Understand why I chose my answer (and why I rejected the others).

2. Spot patterns in wrong answers (e.g., extreme language, misused details).

3. Articulate the logic aloud (game-changer for Critical Reasoning!).

   
   

The result?

• My accuracy streak skyrocketed.

• I started recognizing traps before they trapped me.

• Paradoxically, my speed improved—because I’d trained my brain to work smarter.

  
  

Try This for 1 Week

1. Pick 5 Verbal questions/day (mix of CR, RC).

2. Block 30 minutes (morning/commute) to:

   • Take notes on why each answer choice works (or doesn’t).

   • No timer. Seriously.

3. Review mistakes first without checking explanations—train your brain to self-correct.

4. Log errors (e.g., “Assumed ‘some’ meant ‘all’ in CR”).

After a week, you’ll see the patterns—not just the problems.

Stuck? Email me at Claire@GMATnextstep.com or [book a free chat] to strategize!