Lower on the Real GMAT than on Practice TestsThis is a scenario I have seen countless times on GMAT Club and in the forums. Some student has been preparing for months, diligently doing practice questions and taking practice GMATs (whether GMAT Prep or some other practice tests). The student felt the scores on the practice GMAT were either acceptable or pretty good. Then the student sits for the real GMAT, and scores maybe 50 or 100 points below the average score on the practice tests. The student, of course, is disappointed, bewildered, shocked. Many times, this student wonders whether this is unique occurrence, and asks, “Has anyone else experienced this??” Again, I and other experts who frequent the forums have seen this exact scenario play out more times than we could count.
Of course, it’s ironic that the student, falling into this predicament for the very first time, typically has absolutely no idea how frequently it happens. In my mind, the even sadder part is that a student who is properly appraised of this possibility can take concrete steps to avoid it, but these steps must be taken consistent for the months leading up the GMAT. These may do little to console the person who has already experienced a disappointing GMAT, although perhaps that person will benefit from applying this advice in a retake attempt . . .
For more on this article, see:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2014/lower-on-t ... ice-tests/Mike
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Mike McGarry
Magoosh Test PrepEducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. — William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939)