EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote:
Hi pate13,
First off, a 700/Q49 is an outstanding score (it's right around the 90th percentile overall), so you really shouldn't have any "bad feelings" about this.
As far as what MAY have lead to a score drop, there are a variety of possible reasons:
1) GMAC has openly stated that your score on Test Day is within +- 30 points of actual ability, so you COULD have scored higher/lower just from a general statistical standpoint.
2) Your skill levels were measured by GMAT Company CATs that were not created by GMAC. If those CATs are even a little bit "off", then your scores wouldn't be 100% accurate.
3) There are always "variables" in how you take your CATs that will not "match up" with Test Day. There are obvious ones - skipping sections, taking the CATs on days/times that don't match the day/time of your GMAT, taking the CAT on a laptop instead of a desktop computer, etc. But then there are lots of little, subtle things too that might not be a match for what you experienced on Test Day.
4) At this scoring level, the GMAT gets really "sensitive" to little mistakes - just a couple of extra wrong answers, if they occurred in "bad" spots, could have accounted for the difference in score.
You now have a score that will likely make every Business School happy, so you've done well.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Rich, thank you for the reply. Your words are very kind. I don't necessarily think my score is "bad", but relative to how well I have performed on verbal in the past, I am very disappointed. However, I am very happy with my Quant score. My last 5 CATs have all been full simulations, and this test was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. So I am just confused more than anything. I sent a message to the GMAC to ask if an error in my score is possible. I will definitely be buying the enhanced score report that is available starting next month.
For now, I think I am going to take a break from the GMAT. I don't plan applying to business school for the next 3 years or so. I started early so I wouldn't have to cram my studying and test preparation. I haven't really done anything besides work and prepare for the GMAT for the past 3-4 months. A little breather my help me out. Plus, maybe there was an error in my score. Any other advise you can give is very appreciated.
Thanks again, Rich.