Accuracy of Kaplan Diagnostic test

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Accuracy of Kaplan Diagnostic test [#permalink]

02 Mar 2012, 16:22

Hello,

I just started preparing for the GMAT this week and took the free practice test on Kaplan. Here is my breakdown:

Overall: 700
Overall Percentile: 90
Quant Percentile: 94
Verbal Percentile: 78

Q 30/37 (81% correct)
V 22/41 (54% correct)

My question is, how it possible to only get 54% of the questions correct in Verbal and still get a 700? I realize the CAT adjusts the difficulty based on how I answer, but I did not do well on the "hard" questions in the verbal section (only 46% right according to the post-test report). Shouldn't my overall, and Verbal score be much lower?

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Re: Accuracy of Kaplan Diagnostic test [#permalink]

02 Mar 2012, 22:18

In short, yes, you can get a low percentage of the problems right and still end up with a good verbal score.

The GMAT is a computer test, and if you're only getting about half of the very hard problems right, that means you found your baseline level of ability, and that is a very good thing. Take more tests and practice on your weaker areas to improve your baseline over time.

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Re: Accuracy of Kaplan Diagnostic test [#permalink]

03 Mar 2012, 16:25

Hi hpak,

There are a few things that go into that score.

First is that the test is, indeed, adaptive. If you do very well on the initial questions, you will rapidly be rewarded with challenging problems--problems that are hard to get correct, but that have a large impact on your score when you do due to their difficulty.

Second is the fact that your percentile scores are a little misleading. The Verbal section follows a very regular bell-curve in terms of it's score distribution, meaning that your 94 %ile score is quite respectable, but several points off from the maximum. Conversely, the Math section is much more skewed to the extreme, and in all likelihood your 90 %ile score represents a larger raw score than on your verbal section, and therefore a larger proportion of your 800 points.

I hope this helps clear up any confusion--let me know if you have any more questions!

Eli
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Accuracy of Kaplan Diagnostic test

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