23 correct and still got Q40. What went wrong ?

Question

Hello,

I'm doing some practice tests over at Veritas Prep.

This were the results of the test : (Attached to the post)

Because I'm not able to finish a test on time, I tried some guessing technique.

I tried to answer the 19 first questions then guessed 20-28 and answered the rest.
For some reason I got a lot of very easy (considered) questions.

Can someone explain where did I go wrong and what should I try do differently. I do understand that I got some wrong answers but still,
For a reason unclear to me, most of the questions on that test were easy-medium.

Thanks,

abhimahna · Answer

Hi, If you see the algorithm followed in your attempt, the moment the difficulty level was increasing you were getting the questions wrong. So, It is not about getting many questions right. It is about getting the difficult questions right. I could see your algorithm tested you first at question 3 and then at question 12. You failed to get those correct, hence the exam threw easy questions for you. Also, getting wrong questions at a continuous flow won't let your algorithm move to the upper direction. I hope that helps. Thanks

newb1e91 · Answer

I see. 
What bothers me is that I had to answer 6 questions (7-11) for the algorithm to pass me for some harder questions.

For example there is a test where I answered only 16 questions correct and got a Q45. (results attached)
At this test I almost didn't drop from the 600 difficulty questions. (How so ?)

Another thing is that if you look at the first 10 questions, I think that I even got them worse at the Q45 exam.

Thank you.

Skywalker18 · Answer

Hi newb1e91 , GMAT is a Compute Adaptive Test - the next item or set of items selected to be administered depends on the correctness of the test taker's responses to the most recent items administered . So , it is never a good idea to guess so many questions in a row - 20-28 . From the examinee's perspective, the difficulty of the exam seems to tailor itself to their level of ability. For example, if an examinee performs well on an item of intermediate difficulty, they will then be presented with a more difficult question. Also , two people with similar overall accuracy might have vastly differing scores . So , you should improve your current ability to answer difficult questions . Also , you should stick to GMAT Prep tests as they are the most reliable indicator of the GMAT . Hope this helps!!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi newb1e91,

The scoring algorithm on the Official GMAT is far more complicated than most people realize. It takes into account a number of different factors - far more than just the number of correct and incorrect answers. Since that algorithm is proprietary, no GMAT company has an exact match for it, thus CAT scores can vary a bit based on the 'biases' involved in their respective designs.

A far more useful gauge would be to review each CAT and determine how many questions you SHOULD have gotten correct, but didn't (due to a silly/little mistake). Those mistakes are the things that you have to fix to score at a higher level.

Before I can offer you any additional advice for your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied?
2) What materials have you used?
3) Did you take each of these CATs in full (with the Essay and IR sections)?

Goals:
4) What is your goal score?
5) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
6) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
7) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

vikasp99 · Answer

i think you should take GMAT prep exam 1 because GMAT prep tests are the real indicator of your ability.

newb1e91 · Answer

Hello Rich,

As in our country, schools require only the quantitative part I'm studying and answering only that part of the exam.
I started studying using the official guide of GMAC (I have the 2016 and 2017 review).

After finishing the questions at the official book I moved to some CATs. Did the prep exams, the free exams at gmatclub and then purchased more exams at Veritas.

I have been studying for about a month and a half. The first 4 weeks (2-3 hours every evening, 4-5 days a week) then, for another two weeks for about 5-6 hours a day (during holiday).

I tried to cover the basics first, then move to CATs but am still not so successful on the hard Q's. Having silly mistakes and not able to finish the exam on time.

My goal score is Q47 though I never got past the Q46. The exam is tomorrow. I have to apply to school until may 31st and thus the hurry.

If I will not succeed I may take the exam again in a month or so. What should I try that time ?

Should I go through the basics again ?
Should I focus on taking more CAT's ?

Thank you in advance,
Sergey.

diegocml · Answer

Sorry to butt into your thread:

Not sure the Veritas' CAT resembles the real GMAT, but it's really interesting to see how one can achieve a Q40 just by answering easy to medium-difficulty level questions. Let alone a Q45 with a string of 5 wrong questions at the end.

newb1e91 · Answer

Hey,

I believe you may be right about the likeliness of the Veritas CATs to the real test.

This one test (attached) is obviously went south for me. It seems that after the third question the algorithm "stuck" at level 700+ even though I could not get my answers right.

Similar happened to me with answering a level 500 question wrong at the beginning of the test, I could never reach higher level questions .

I hope for the best at the real test.

Thanks for the reply,

Sergey.

diegocml · Answer

Indeed - the algorithm got pretty nasty with you on this test! Good luck on your real test!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Sergey.,

Since your Official GMAT is tomorrow, you should NOT try to do too much studying today (so NO CATs and NO 'cramming'). You would be better served by doing some light review and getting some extra rest - so that you can go into Test Day calm and ready to work. Once you have your Unofficial Results, you should post back here and we can discuss how you might proceed.

As an aside, are you certain that the Schools that you're interested in do not care at all about how you perform on the other sections of the GMAT (or the Overall Score)? There's a big difference between "we're PRIMARILY interested in the Quant Score" and "the ONLY thing we care about is the Quant Score."

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

newb1e91 · Answer

Hi Rich,

The local school I'm interested in don't care about the total score or the other parts of the GMAT, probably because the native language is not English. Of course I double checked online and with officials from the university by phone.

I'm going to post my score tomorrow after the test. Thank you for the help.

Thank you, 
Sergey.

newb1e91 · Answer

Hi Rich,

Eventually I got a score of Q43.
I checked another school in the area which is even closer to where I live and has a good management faculty.
This university requires a score of Q40 which I have. Of course there is a BA requirement as well, which I have, a BSc in software engineering.

For now, I'll leave the gmat and start my studies this October. Thanks for the directions and support.

Best regards, 
Sergey.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Sergey.,

If this particular School provides the type of degree that interests you, then it sounds like you're in the perfect position to apply. If you decide to continue your studies though, then you should post back here (or you can feel free to PM me directly).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

rajeevysr · Answer

My Friend,
Firstly, Dont be worried.
Preparing for a month's time considering the number of hrs posted by you with OG books is according to me not adequate for the following reasons.
1. Og book concepts given at the beginning of the book are superficial and Don't take you deeper.
2. To avoid tripping & silly mistakes you should not only systematically study each topic but also practice a good number of questions.
3. Even I felt while preparing that 1 month is good enough but honestly not.
4. When people who scored good testify of preparing 3 months or 6 months for this exam; we need to understand the need of such preparation. 
Dont worry you still have a month's time; try to take off from work as many days as possible in the begining and towards the exam dates.
In the begining days do marathon study of 3 - 4 hrs stretch with intermittent short brakes.
Repeat at least 3 or 4 such sessions a day.
Once you do that you will soon realize you are covering ground concept by concept; thus complete all.
After a week's such study; ~ 60 hrs of prep slow down and start practicing.
Towards the exam date; do a similar workout.

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23 correct and still got Q40. What went wrong ?

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