Hades wrote:
Also another note, if you spend say 25 minutes on the first 10 and get them all correct, and have 50 minutes for the last 27 and due to the lack of time end up getting quite a few wrong, that will penalize you a lot more than say doing the first 10 in 15-20 and having more time for the last few
But again don't try to predict the algorithm... there is no substitute for learning the material inside out and mastering the difficult level questions.
I definitely agree with the last sentence. If I were not trying to learn, I would not be here.
Keeping learning aside, My point is that the test has to be fair in all respects. It is my opinion, you might disagree, that the test can be capricious and unfair to an extent that it affects scores.
Because every test taker takes the exam with different set of questions, can GMAT assure that the same test taker taking the test two times (with in a week and with out much preparation and assuming that other conditions are identical) the same score or with a 10 point difference ? If that's not the case the test is not 100% accurate and the whole percentile thing does not make sense.
I am not the first one to talk about this and will not be the last either. Just because I am trying to understand how things work does not mean that I am making predictions my priority. The reason why I want to know is this is because, a score of 47 and 48 on Q or as one reaches higher scores in Q/V, every single decision the test takes will affect your score. GRE does let you see the questions you got wrong. I have raised so many points and no one seems to respond to them. All that I hear is because "GMAT said so. Now go back to your book"
Do you guys think that schools such as Stanford, Sloan are accepting GRE just for fun? While attracting students in remote places is definitely a key goal in accepting GRE, there are issues bigger than that. Just wait and see in the next few years how many schools will join the parade behind stanford/sloan/Harvard. I believe 2013 will be a tad bit late for GMAC to get to the new pattern and start testing some thing else.