710 and 600 score with the same number of incorrect answers?

Question

Hi, I took the first practice test two weeks ago and it was 710. Today I took the other one and it calculated the score as 600, although there is almost the same number of incorrect answers in each section. (1- V 12 Q 6 incorrect, 2- V 13 Q 5 incorrect) I know there is an algorithm and it calculates the score on a different basis, but I don't comprehend how such a range could occur? What could I do to perform as the first practice exam?

Thanks in advance

Thanks in advance

AjiteshArun · Answer

The GMAT is an adaptive test. The number of mistakes is not a very good indicator of final score.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi BatuhanKavlak,

The scoring algorithm on the Official GMAT is far more complicated than most people realize - and it takes into account far more than just the number of correct/incorrect answers. The differences in these two results could be due to a variety of different factors, but before we discuss those details, 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 study materials have you used so far?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

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

BatuhanKavlak · Answer

EMPOWERgmatRichC

Thank you for your interest!
I am not a native speaker and my level of English, I would say, is virtually advanced. I have been studying GMAT for 6 months, but only for one month I could really deep into it. I started with reading material from various sources that I found online and in the library of my university, and my first practice exam score was 530, 6 months ago. 2 months later it was 590 in free e-gmat CAT. Then I scored 630 in free Manhattan CAT, and scored 710 two weeks ago in the first exam again without remembering any of the questions. (6 months ago I thought parallelism were a geometric term) I compared 710-exam to 600-exam that I scored early today in terms of the incorrect answers, and I discerned that the problem was that I skipped quickly the first 10-questions threatened by the time restriction and missed six of them on the verbal section. On quant, two of them was incorrect thereby pulling my level to go down, in my opinion.

My goal is to hit 700+ level. My level of math is pretty much adequate to get into the 99th percentile. (I just need to be more careful.) On the verbal section, it is just mess and luck. Sometimes I can comprehend all of the passage at once and solve the questions quickly, sometimes I get in a vicious circle. It is as my brain denies the information. What I deduced from my experience, I should not look at the clock much for the first half of the questions and then solve the other in hurry. In this way, my confidence and attention are more contacted.

I think the problem of mine is trouble for every non-native speaker. If you had any suggestion, it would be great for us.
Thanks!

BatuhanKavlak · Answer

EMPOWERgmatRichC  
I don't know why I couldn't edit the post. I forgot the type the exam date. It is next week!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi BatuhanKavlak,

To start, retaking a CAT that you've already taken is NOT a realistic way to assess your skills. Seeing even a few 'repeat' questions can 'throw off' the Scoring Algorithm and impact your pacing, energy levels, fatigue, etc. (meaning that they would likely all be better than they normally would be). This 710 CAT score result is considerably higher than your other results - AND it's from a CAT that you took before - so unfortunately we cannot assume that that result is accurate.

If your Test Date is next week, then there likely is not much that you can do in such a short timeframe to significant improve your Scores. With a longer study timeframe though, then you could potentially improve a great deal. If your Exam is MORE than seven 24-hour days away, then you might consider paying the rescheduling fee to push back your Test Day (so that you can continue to study and hone your skills).

1) What is your exact Test Date?
2) What were the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH of your CATs?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
4) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Batuhankavlak,

As  AjiteshArun  mentioned, your GMAT score is based on not only the number of questions you answer correct/incorrect, but also the difficulty of those questions, among other things. Thus, your 600 score indicates that you probably answered some lower-level quant and verbal questions incorrectly. That being said, I see that you took two exams just two weeks apart. Are you in the process of wrapping up your GMAT studying? What is your score goal?

Also, you may find it helpful to read the following articles about  how to use practice tests in your GMAT prep and   how to score a 700+ on the GMAT .

If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out.

Good luck!

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