Bizarre GMAT score

Question

yesterday, I scored 450 Q36 V 12 on a real GMAT test. I am completely dumbfounded. Here is the story.

Quantitative part

After ther 3rd question, the computer started to bombard me with difficult questions. I know I did well on them. The "easier" questions started from the 20th onwards. I thought I was doing well and finished the test with 1 minute to spare. 

Analytical part

The first 10 questions included 2 SC and 2 RC. I know I was doing well( I am not that stupid). Then suddenly to my surprise I saw a 90 line RC in the middle of the test. The RC was quite boring, long and difficult to read. But I managed. 

On the previous GMAT exam I had scored 590 Q47V28. So, when I saw the 450( 10% percentile) staring right at my face I couldn't believe it! It is just impossible. Either, with age, I am going senile or I did really bad. I am confused. Has anyone heard of computer errors while scoring? Is it possible?

Avtar · Answer

I was able to answer 85% of the SC, RC and CR questions of the OG. ALso, I was able to answer 90% of the quantitative questions with full confidence. So two I believe there are two possibilites; I did bad or computer error. But the difference in the scores is too high. I was hoping for atleast 650ish.

Paul · Answer

Avtar, I'm sorry to hear about your story. I don't believe there could be a computer error as such with ETS. Has it been long between your two preparations? Did stress get at you? GMAT skills easily rust and although you might be strong in math/verbal today, it may not be so in a few months from now. You have to keep practising it and freshening it. I had 48Q in my previous attempt but even I feel rusted in math. I focused on Verbal in the last few months but will certainly have to go back to math. I'm not sure if you want to take the GMAT again but I would strongly suggest you to do so. Have a disciplined approach in terms of preparation. Set up a strategy and rigorously stick to it. I would sure like to see you participate more often in the forums.

crackgmat750 · Answer

Avtar:
Your whole expereince was bamboozling to say the least. Getting 85% questions correct in OG but ending with a 12 !!!!!!!!! scaled score is something I have never heard of. The way you have written your experience is a ample proof that your verbal skills are not that bad. moroever, you scored v 27 in your past GMAT attempt, and obvioulsy you studied more this time. I agree with what paul said that one's skills get rusty, as it happened with me in terms of maths... But frankly speaking your case is tooooooo extreme for any rational explanation.
Though It might not help, i would still urge you to write to ETS about this and request them to look into your scoring.
The bloody computer adaptive format continues to shock people across the world. I have no doubt in my mind that paper pencil based version was more accurate. I would love to convince ETS one day to change this computer adaptive format for good and replace it with something more credible. Till then, we have no choice but to fight with this necessary evil.

Avtar · Answer

I am thinking of writing to ETS regarding my test. The difference between my previous score and current is too much to ignore. Had I scored 550 or 570, then I would have thought that my verbal skills did not improve. Furthermore, acoording to the "myth", one need to correctly solve the first 12 problems in order to score around 45 in the quantitative part. Same goes with the verbal part. I did that. I saw difficult questions. Anyway, the saga goes on. I take the GMAT again in July. 

Avtar


PS:I would love to share the questions that I saw. Because of the Non Disclosure, alas! I cannot. However, The probability questions on the GMAT are quite easy compared to the questions on the forum. There were some weird looking equations asking for the unknown. Lastly, the I think that the best preparation for the GMAT is the OG.

Avtar · Answer

I am thinking of writing to ETS regarding my test. The difference between my previous score and current is too much to ignore. Had I scored 550 or 570, then I would have thought that my verbal skills did not improve. Furthermore, acoording to the "myth", one need to correctly solve the first 12 problems in order to score around 45 in the quantitative part. Same goes with the verbal part. I did that. I saw difficult questions. Anyway, the saga goes on. I take the GMAT again in July. 

Avtar


PS:I would love to share the questions that I saw. Because of the Non Disclosure, alas! I cannot. However, The probability questions on the GMAT are quite easy compared to the questions on the forum. There were some weird looking equations asking for the unknown. Lastly, the I think that the best preparation for the GMAT is the OG.

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