700-710 on MGMAT CATS, 660 on GMATPrep *sigh*

Question

I'm 6 days from the real deal and just had my hopes smashed by the GMATPrep. On my last three MGMAT CATs I've gotten a 710 (Q44,V42), and two 700s (Q46, V40). Today's GMATPrep was a 660 (Q45, V35)... I thought a 730-750 was in reach.

My Q is probably where it should be, maybe a little low given how hard MGMAT Q is supposed to be. Obviously, it's the V the concerns me. How I could drop so far from the MGMAT CAT scores is beyond me. Yeah, I was a tad nervous (even for the practice test), and I didn't feel very well rested (screw the 9am apt that I MUST take), but that far? UGGHHH. The real kicker is that when I went back over the problems I got wrong they were so obviously wrong I have no idea why I picked them the 1st time around. Note to self: slow the hell down (I had 3 minutes left at the end of the V).

This is more of a vent than anything else I suppose... I wouldn't mind hearing any advice if you guys have got any.

EDIT: I just moved the exam to the afternoon which I feel will work better for me. I sure hope so!

Cheers,
Aaron

GMATBLACKBELT · Answer

Not tryin to be rude, but did you happen to use the pause button during your MGMAT tests??? This would explain the scoring difference. It is very tempting to push the pause button.... if we only had this option during the real GMAT

UCLA720 · Answer

ummm... that totally just happened to me. I wanted to ask someone about this. My last 3 MGMAT scores were 680, 710, and 700 (verbal and quant about the same, low 40s) which I was told would be just fine for the real thing. This morning I just finished a GMATPrep exam and scored a 570!!!! What the hell? Now I am trying to figure out how to review all the problems...

Should I be concerned? I have 6 days left until the real deal as well!!!

GMATBLACKBELT · Answer

That is very strange. My scores went up by 70pts from MGMAT to GMATPrep. 640 vs. 710. 

Have you been working closely w/ the OG as well?

gmatmilitary · Answer

Hi Guys,

I had the same experience. Scored twice 700 on MGMAT and got 660 on Gmat prep. I noticed also that I did some very silly mistakes in Q at the begining of GMAT prep. Following emoryhopeful advise, I did some OG easy math question with objective of getting them all right.

Check my post here:

https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/t52074

I was able to lift my score GMAT prep score from Q45 to Q49 and my total score is now inline with MGMAT score.

Good luck! Let me know if this strategy works for you too.

dr908 · Answer

I scored a 660 on the last MG Cat i took a couple weeks ago, and I scored a 700 on the GMAT Prep a few days ago, though I feel my GMAT prep scould have been substantially higher (missed 10 of last 13 verbal questions - time management)

I think mental state is key. That said, read more into the mental state when you took the test than the score. Seems like you missed questions you normally would have gotten. I am sure you are fine. just relax and really focus. Take it again. You seem like a 700+ for sure.

combres · Answer

I took my 4th gmat prep on sunday, and I can't seem to break the 650 barrier. I had different RC passages and only about 5 total questions that were the same from previous tests and I thought I had done well. 

I did much better on the Q, even though I ran out of time, but did worse on the Verbal, which the opposite of how I have been doing. I find it really hard to figure out what I had screwed up on in the verbal since the gmat prep doesn't break down your weaknesses or tell you what difficulty of questions you didn't do well on. 

I was a little discouraged, but I decided to forget taking any more gmat prep tests and just focus on SC and some Q problems, since it doesn't really help you on weaknesses other than give you an idea of the length of the test. My test is this thurs. 

I had taken a test on sat. and tallied about 6 hours of working on the gmat for that day, so I think my brain was tired on sunday. 

How the gmatprep can score you without giving you explanations to problems you missed is beyond me. I guess they want you to buy their gmat 800 book, which I ended up doing, but mostly I have found these forums to be the best help in solving these problems. 


I am hoping things comes together on thurs and my brain is well rested. I actually haven't taken any practice tests with the AWA.

kidderek · Answer

You guys really shouldn't wait until the midnight hour to take the gmatprep. My suggestion has always been to take one about 4 weeks in advance and or when you feel you have learned all of the material conceptually. Thereafter, take the second gmatprep about a week or two before the test. If you have reached near your target score once already, then you'll be fine. It can be an off day.

MGMAT, from what I remember is very forgiving with its score. Questions are tough, but scoring is forgiving. 

If it's any solace to you guys, imho, GMATPrep is harder than the actual gmat.

Remember, GMATPrep is golden.

Toploader · Answer

Well, I'm back from the actual GMAT... scored a disappointing 650. My quant was awesome (47) and my verbal atrocious (34). I really feel like I know SC pretty damn well but I'm getting killed in RC and CR and I just can't put my finger on why.

Right now, I'm a little upset with MGMAT. Any way you look at it, I shouldn't be getting 40-44 on the MGMAT verbal and 34 on the real deal. That's just... silly. I feel like I should have taken the GMAT Prep earlier on and learned that valuable piece of info.

I'll be taking the test again and really attacking the CR and RC between now and then - without MGMAT materials. Ugghhh. What a pain in the butt!

UCLA720 · Answer

Yep. I took the GMAT and scored a very sad 620. I dropped in both quant and verbal, but only scored a 35 in Verbal on the real thing, when whith MGMAT I was scoring consistently around 43. And I too am pissed that I spent so much time working on MGMAT material and not focusing on the GMAT prep stuff. I am not sure I want to take it again... UGH! But I really want to get into either USC or UCLA, and I don't think my score will cut it for either!

Good luck fellow GMAT takers! This has been quite the process so far!

kidderek · Answer

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700-710 on MGMAT CATS, 660 on GMATPrep sigh

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