Analyze the Mock

Question

Hi Fellow Gmatters,

I would be grateful if anyone of you could guide me as to how to analyze the mocks?

and what should be the next steps

Arro44 · Answer

Hi mate,

very justified question, analyzing mocks is very important as they are one of the best ways to gauge your weaknesses.

Could you specify which mock you mean? E.g. full test (Q/V/IR) or GMAT Club Quant/Verbal only?

Best regards,
Chris

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi saurabh9gupta,

After taking each CAT, it's important to do a full review of your performance (with the goal of defining WHY you got questions wrong). While a full Mistake Tracker would provide more detail, there are some basic questions that you should look to answer after you take each CAT (and the more specific you can be with your answers, the better).

After reviewing each section of this CAT, how many questions did you get wrong....
1) Because of a silly/little mistake?
2) Because there was some math/verbal that you just could not remember how to do?
3) Because the question was too hard?
4) Because you were low on time and had to guess?
5) In the Verbal section, how many questions did you "narrow down to 2 choices" but still get wrong?

Beyond 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

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi saurabh9gupta,

Could you clarify your question? Once I have more information, I’d be happy to provide some specific advice.

saurabh9gupta · Answer

Hello  ScottTargetTestPrep  and  EMPOWERgmatRichC .

I took GMAT Prep Mocks and below is the snapshot of my scores.

GMATPrep #1 - QA-47 VA-30 -- 640
GMATPrep #2 - QA-49 VA-30 -- 660
GMATPrep #3 - QA-50 VA-33 -- 690
GMATPrep #4 - QA-49 VA-29 -- 640

I am not able to find the cause of my stagnant Verbal Score. I would be grateful if anyone of you could help me.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi saurabh9gupta,

To start, when you took the GMAT earlier this year, did you use any of these 4 Official GMAC CATs during your prior studies? I ask because if you did use them before (even when the GMAT was in the older, longer format), then you likely saw some 'repeat' questions when you took these 4 CATs again. Unfortunately, seeing even a few 'repeat' questions can 'throw off' the Score Algorithm and impact your pacing, energy levels, fatigue, etc. and can lead to 'inflated' score results. If that's what happened here, then the results might not be accurate and your analysis of those results might lead you to focus on areas when you should actually be working on different areas.

Beyond that point, what GMAT study materials have you used this year to help you prepare for the Verbal section? What 'steps' do you go through when dealing with a typical RC, SC or CR prompt?

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

saurabh9gupta · Answer

Hi  EMPOWERgmatRichC

Thank you for your answer.

When I took the paper earlier this year, I just practised the 2 free mocks and scored 610-620.

For Verbal, I studied every thing from Manhattan Guides.

SC - I find the splits in the options and then reject them 1 by 1.
CR - I read the question prompt and then pre-think the answer before selecting one.
RC - I make 1-2 Shorthand notes while reading the passage and then answer the questions.

I only practice from the OG (for verbal).

I guess you might be right that the scores might be inflated and that is why I want to ask, what should i do?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi saurabh9gupta,

If you did not take CATs 3 and 4 before - and you did not see any of the questions previously (for example, in a practice set or in the forums here) - and you took those CATs in a realistic fashion that matches what you'll face on Test Day - then we have to assume that those two CAT scores are an accurate assessment of your current skills. Going forward, you will want to use CATs that you have NOT taken before (re: with questions that you have NOT seen before).

"Review" is an exceptionally important part of the GMAT training process; your ability to define WHY you're getting questions wrong is essential to defining the areas that you need to work on (and the specific things that you need to 'fix '). As such, you should plan to go through each CAT that you take, question-by-question. I'd like to know a bit more about your last CAT (GMAT Prep #4). While a full Mistake Tracker would provide a lot more information, there are some basic questions that you should be able to answer (and the more EXACT you can be with your answers, the better):

After reviewing each section of this recent CAT, how many questions did you get wrong....
1) Because of a silly/little mistake?
2) Because there was some math/verbal that you just could not remember how to do?
3) Because the question was too hard?
4) Because you were low on time and had to guess?
5) How many Verbal questions did you 'narrow down to 2 choices' but still get wrong?

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

saurabh9gupta · Answer

Hi EmpowergmatRichc

Thank you for your informative post.

I have not reviewed my last test (prep #4). I just took the test, saw the marks, noted them down and closed the browser.

I intend to take the test again because I feel I was not in the right state of mind to take that test.

What do you say?
1. Shall I take it again and then analyze it?
2. Shall I copy the performance snapshot and then take it (I am not sure if they allow this)? This way I would know that on which questions I marked the wrong answer and on which ones I marked the correct answer in my second attempt.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi saurabh9gupta,

You should be able to go back and review that CAT result, question-by-question - and perform the analysis that I suggested. You should NOT retake that CAT (for the reasons that I described in my prior post)

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

saurabh9gupta · Answer

Ok  EMPOWERgmatRichC . i will do as you have suggested.

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