Last visit was: 02 Sep 2026, 13:32 It is currently 02 Sep 2026, 13:32
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
optiopossimus
User avatar
Joined: 07 Jan 2026
Last visit: 03 Apr 2026
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
1
Posts: 8
Kudos: 1
Don't understand GMAT scoring system 05 Feb 2026, 09:07
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi,

I'm trying to understand how my GMAT score is so low (565) from my mock exam. Here are my individual screenshots showing which questions I got wrong. Can someone help me understand how I can improve my score?
Attachments

Screen Shot 2026-02-05 at 13.01.40.png
Screen Shot 2026-02-05 at 13.01.40.png [ 289.96 KiB | Viewed 346 times ]

Screen Shot 2026-02-05 at 13.01.00.png
Screen Shot 2026-02-05 at 13.01.00.png [ 287.48 KiB | Viewed 344 times ]

Screen Shot 2026-02-05 at 13.00.34.png
Screen Shot 2026-02-05 at 13.00.34.png [ 293.62 KiB | Viewed 347 times ]

Screen Shot 2026-02-05 at 13.00.20.png
Screen Shot 2026-02-05 at 13.00.20.png [ 94.06 KiB | Viewed 354 times ]

User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 27 Aug 2026
Posts: 6,153
Own Kudos:
5,168
Given Kudos: 744
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 6,153
Kudos: 5,168
Don't understand GMAT scoring system 05 Feb 2026, 20:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
optiopossimus
Hi,

I'm trying to understand how my GMAT score is so low (565) from my mock exam. Here are my individual screenshots showing which questions I got wrong. Can someone help me understand how I can improve my score?
Show more
Hi optiopossimus,

The GMAT is an adaptive test, so you won't always see a clear connection between accuracy and score. Generally, instead of focusing on the algorithm, we should focus on the things we can control, like working on concepts, doing practice questions, and analysing our mistakes.
User avatar
ExpertsGlobal
User avatar
Experts' Global Representative
Joined: 18 Apr 2017
Last visit: 08 Jun 2026
Posts: 2,671
Own Kudos:
434
Given Kudos: 6
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 2,671
Kudos: 434
Don't understand GMAT scoring system 05 Feb 2026, 23:06
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello optiopossimus,

Scoring lower than what you were scoring in mocks is fairly common; many go through this. You just need to focus on prep.

- If you are feeling burnt out, take a few days off.
- However, making small sacrifices for a few months for (a) securing a good score and (b) getting some fine admits is a part of the game. As they say, if it were so easy, everyone would do it!
- Getting rusty with concepts is common; most candidates need to revisit the conceptual matter; bring in such 'consolidation phases', once every ~3 weeks, in your prep.
--- Developing a cheat sheet for revisiting such concepts may help.
- Weekends are a good time for taking mocks and analyzing them.

Advice, from a senior in your quest: Don't consider the prep a burden; it is a skill-enhancement opportunity. Make small sacrifices and work hard for a few weeks/months; the long-term dividends are totally worth it!

Cheers!

Experts' Global

optiopossimus
Hi,

I'm trying to understand how my GMAT score is so low (565) from my mock exam. Here are my individual screenshots showing which questions I got wrong. Can someone help me understand how I can improve my score?
Show more
User avatar
Edskore
User avatar
Joined: 29 Dec 2022
Last visit: 05 Aug 2026
Posts: 403
Own Kudos:
223
Given Kudos: 5
Posts: 403
Kudos: 223
Don't understand GMAT scoring system 06 Feb 2026, 02:53
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hey optiopossimus!

I looked at your screenshots and I think I can help clarify what's going on. Your 565 isn't about the scoring system being mysterious—it's actually telling you exactly where the issue is, and it's super fixable.

Here's what jumped out at me: your pacing charts show you spending 3+ minutes on several questions while rushing through others in under a minute. The GMAT Focus is adaptive, which means it's not just about right vs wrong—it's about demonstrating consistent performance. When you spend too long on one question, you're forced to rush later ones, and that creates a pattern the algorithm picks up on.

Your section scores tell the real story: Data Insights at 76th percentile is solid! But Verbal at 30th percentile is dragging you down. Look at your Verbal pacing chart—you're all over the place with timing. That inconsistency signals to the algorithm that you haven't mastered the fundamentals yet.

During my 725 prep, I had a similar pattern early on. What helped was the 2-minute rule: if I wasn't 80% sure of my approach within 2 minutes, I'd make my best guess and move on. Sounds counterintuitive, but getting 16 questions done confidently beats getting 10 perfect and 6 rushed guesses.

For Verbal specifically, try breaking down your practice by question type. Your 30th percentile suggests you're struggling with Critical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension timing. Drill those separately before mixing them in mocks.

You've got the raw ability (that 76th in DI proves it). Now it's about pacing discipline. Good luck!
User avatar
optiopossimus
User avatar
Joined: 07 Jan 2026
Last visit: 03 Apr 2026
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
1
Posts: 8
Kudos: 1
Don't understand GMAT scoring system 07 Feb 2026, 03:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thanks! That is what I thought too.

The reason why my verbal reasoning is all over the place is due to the reading comprehension questions. I know that we're given one large text which will cover several questions so I spend a good 2-3 minutes reading through the text first so that I know the arguments, premises, perspectives etc. in the text. That is why in the first question, I spend 2-3 minutes then in the next few questions, I spend less than 1-2 minutes because I know where to find the answer. Maybe I should change my tactic in reading comprehension then. It's probably the same for critical reasoning - before I read the question, I read through the whole text first before reading the question.
Edskore
Hey optiopossimus!

I looked at your screenshots and I think I can help clarify what's going on. Your 565 isn't about the scoring system being mysterious—it's actually telling you exactly where the issue is, and it's super fixable.

Here's what jumped out at me: your pacing charts show you spending 3+ minutes on several questions while rushing through others in under a minute. The GMAT Focus is adaptive, which means it's not just about right vs wrong—it's about demonstrating consistent performance. When you spend too long on one question, you're forced to rush later ones, and that creates a pattern the algorithm picks up on.

Your section scores tell the real story: Data Insights at 76th percentile is solid! But Verbal at 30th percentile is dragging you down. Look at your Verbal pacing chart—you're all over the place with timing. That inconsistency signals to the algorithm that you haven't mastered the fundamentals yet.

During my 725 prep, I had a similar pattern early on. What helped was the 2-minute rule: if I wasn't 80% sure of my approach within 2 minutes, I'd make my best guess and move on. Sounds counterintuitive, but getting 16 questions done confidently beats getting 10 perfect and 6 rushed guesses.

For Verbal specifically, try breaking down your practice by question type. Your 30th percentile suggests you're struggling with Critical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension timing. Drill those separately before mixing them in mocks.

You've got the raw ability (that 76th in DI proves it). Now it's about pacing discipline. Good luck!
Show more
User avatar
optiopossimus
User avatar
Joined: 07 Jan 2026
Last visit: 03 Apr 2026
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
1
Posts: 8
Kudos: 1
Don't understand GMAT scoring system 07 Feb 2026, 03:19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thank you, this is all really helpful.

I've been studying 7-8 hrs a day for the last 2 weeks, 7 days a week which probably hasn't been helpful. I took yesterday off and I feel much better.
ExpertsGlobal
Hello optiopossimus,

Scoring lower than what you were scoring in mocks is fairly common; many go through this. You just need to focus on prep.

- If you are feeling burnt out, take a few days off.
- However, making small sacrifices for a few months for (a) securing a good score and (b) getting some fine admits is a part of the game. As they say, if it were so easy, everyone would do it!
- Getting rusty with concepts is common; most candidates need to revisit the conceptual matter; bring in such 'consolidation phases', once every ~3 weeks, in your prep.
--- Developing a cheat sheet for revisiting such concepts may help.
- Weekends are a good time for taking mocks and analyzing them.

Advice, from a senior in your quest: Don't consider the prep a burden; it is a skill-enhancement opportunity. Make small sacrifices and work hard for a few weeks/months; the long-term dividends are totally worth it!

Cheers!

Experts' Global


Show more
User avatar
optiopossimus
User avatar
Joined: 07 Jan 2026
Last visit: 03 Apr 2026
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
1
Posts: 8
Kudos: 1
Don't understand GMAT scoring system 07 Feb 2026, 03:19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thank you, this is some good advice. I will just focus on the questions and try not to get too distracted.
AjiteshArun

Hi optiopossimus,

The GMAT is an adaptive test, so you won't always see a clear connection between accuracy and score. Generally, instead of focusing on the algorithm, we should focus on the things we can control, like working on concepts, doing practice questions, and analysing our mistakes.
Show more
User avatar
temporeincidunt
User avatar
Joined: 15 Jan 2026
Last visit: 21 May 2026
Posts: 74
Own Kudos:
15
Given Kudos: 23
Status:Student
Affiliations: Student
Location: India
K: R
Concentration: Economics, Entrepreneurship
Schools: IIM (A) IMD Kelley '26
GMAT 1: 220 Q58 V59
GPA: 4
WE:Asset Management (Accounting)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: IIM (A) IMD Kelley '26
GMAT 1: 220 Q58 V59
Posts: 74
Kudos: 15
Don't understand GMAT scoring system 07 Feb 2026, 06:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The GMAT is an adaptive exam, so accuracy doesn’t translate directly into a predictable score. Rather than worrying about the scoring algorithm, it’s more productive to focus on what we can control—strengthening core concepts, practicing questions consistently, and carefully analysing our mistakes.

optiopossimus
Hi,

I'm trying to understand how my GMAT score is so low (565) from my mock exam. Here are my individual screenshots showing which questions I got wrong. Can someone help me understand how I can improve my score?
Show more
Moderators:
gchandana
229 posts
MBAACCOUNT2025
General GMAT Forum Moderator
481 posts