Bombed the GMAT after great mock scores, what should I do next?

Hi Nevo,

I have an important article for you to check out:

Why Was My GMAT Score Lower Than My Practice Test Scores?

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

It's a frustrating thing to happen, and one I can really relate to. I've been studying for the LSAT. In June I took the test for a second time. My practice tests had been very strong--if it were the GMAT, I had most tests 760 or above, and my last three were like a 790, 770, 780. I felt good.

In the middle of the test, I panicked hard on my weakest subject, and ended up getting about a 650.

Now, this doesn't sound quite like what happened to you--you didn't panic, it seems. You felt good during the test and were surprised it went poorly (...I knew my LSAT bombed).

But it got me thinking about a few things when it comes to test prep (or any skill).

1). I'm not as good at this as I want to be (i.e., I *never* hit the goal I want). This is how virtually everyone starts. Everything is stressful!
2). I hit my goal *sometimes*... but I also miss it often. And in general, I'm still pretty stressed.
3). I hit my goal with some regularity. But there's still the occasional faceplant. And in general, I'm still pretty stressed.
4). I hit my goal all the time. I still have the chance of face-planting; but, I don't generally feel stressed.
5). I virtually never fall short of my goal, and even when the pressure's on, I am totally in control, almost to the point of boredom for most of the assessment.

Sounds to me like maybe you're in 4, and just had a bad day.

The truth is, few test-takers needs to get to a 5 (that's where I am for the GMAT, because I've taught the thing for almost a decade now).

For people in one 4, or even 3, it's just kind of... take the test again. And then again if you need to. This is where I find myself on the GMAT, and I've just told myself, "Look, I have demonstrated that I can get the score I want. It will happen on some testday. I can't control which day that is, but if I just keep working, it will click."

That's not to say that you totally stop studying--there's probably still some stuff you can pick up here and there just to make yourself that much more consistent. But in general, it's like... Take the pressure off. You've built yourself to where you want to be. Learn what you can from your practice tests, but don't let one low score throw you too much when you still know you can get the score you want.

For what it's worth, it was your quant score that dropped most on the official test. Most likely, you made a few mistakes on easier questions that you usually wouldn't have made, and it just pulled that score down a little bit.

Thanks Reed, that is very insightful, happy you recovered from your LSAT.