5th Experimental Section For PTs? Forum

[Aspirant.]

Hi, I am trying to plan my prep but had some questions. 1. When doing full, timed PTs, how important is it to include a fifth experimental section? 2. What material should I use for the fifth experimental section for PTs 39-68 if I am going to exhaust 1-38 in their entirety drilling Cambridge packets? Thanks, any feedback is much appreciated.

[mindarmed]

Hi, I am trying to plan my prep but had some questions. 1. When doing full, timed PTs, how important is it to include a fifth experimental section? 2. What material should I use for the fifth experimental section for PTs 39-68 if I am going to exhaust 1-38 in their entirety drilling Cambridge packets? Thanks, any feedback is much appreciated.

(1) Yes, always use an experimental section when you PT.
(2) I'd recommend using the section you find most difficult as the experimental to simulate the worst case scenario on test day.

[Otunga]

And when you get an idea of what arrangement of sections is worst for you (mine is probably is RC, LR, LG, LR), then simulate that as much as you can. So the shittiest arrangement for me on test day would probably be RC, RC to start. So once I start testing with experimentals, that's what I'm gonna do. I also drilled four RC sections in a row the other day. Do stuff like this and you limit the bad contingencies of test day.

[Aspirant.]

(1) Yes, always use an experimental section when you PT.
(2) I'd recommend using the section you find most difficult as the experimental to simulate the worst case scenario on test day.

And when you get an idea of what arrangement of sections is worst for you (mine is probably is RC, LR, LG, LR), then simulate that as much as you can. So the shittiest arrangement for me on test day would probably be RC, RC to start. So once I start testing with experimentals, that's what I'm gonna do. I also drilled four RC sections in a row the other day. Do stuff like this and you limit the bad contingencies of test day.

What material do I use for the experimental though? I understand that you are advising to do material from my worst section, however do I pull it from the questions I have already drilled? What is the point of doing an experimental section that I have extensively drilled already?

[Otunga]

(1) Yes, always use an experimental section when you PT.
(2) I'd recommend using the section you find most difficult as the experimental to simulate the worst case scenario on test day.

And when you get an idea of what arrangement of sections is worst for you (mine is probably is RC, LR, LG, LR), then simulate that as much as you can. So the shittiest arrangement for me on test day would probably be RC, RC to start. So once I start testing with experimentals, that's what I'm gonna do. I also drilled four RC sections in a row the other day. Do stuff like this and you limit the bad contingencies of test day.

What material do I use for the experimental though? I understand that you are advising to do material from my worst section, however do I pull it from the questions I have already drilled? What is the point of doing an experimental section that I have extensively drilled already?

Well, it's still valuable, just not as valuable when it's not fresh material. You still are forced to build up stamina and get through that extra section. Use as much fresh material as you can for them, but don't purposely save stuff for experimentals if it means sacrificing materials you need for drilling. Drilling is more important at this rate. No point completing 5-section tests if you can't own a 4-section test.

[Aspirant.]

Well, it's still valuable, just not as valuable when it's not fresh material. You still are forced to build up stamina and get through that extra section. Use as much fresh material as you can for them, but don't purposely save stuff for experimentals if it means sacrificing materials you need for drilling. Drilling is more important at this rate. No point completing 5-section tests if you can't own a 4-section test.

Thank you this is what I wanted to know.