From 770 in mock exams to 680 in real GMAT

Question

Hi all,

After 5 months of full dedication to GMAT preparation (including notes ranging from 730 to 770 in official mocks this week), today I got a 680 in the real exam.

I think it was not due to lack of preparation, nervousness, or even luck...I am not frustrated because of the score itself but rather because of not knowing what to do next (after getting high marks in the official mock exams, I thought I was ready for the challenge)

Have anybody of you had a similar experience? What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Best regards and thanks everyone,

Nicolás

lebron23Goat · Answer

simple bro. retake it. imo your non official software test dont matter. but if youre scoring higher on official mocks by a wide margin, which you are, retake it asap.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi HRNF,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day didn't go as well as planned. When these types of score drops occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day. If you can answer a few questions, then we should be able to figure this out:

1) What were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on the Official GMAT?
2) How did you score on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)?

When you took your CATs:
3) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
4) Did you take them at home?
5) Did you take them at the same time of day as when you plan to take your Official GMAT?
6) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
7) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?

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

HRNF · Answer

Hi Rich

Thanks a lot for your reply. I will answer your questions one by one:

1) What were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on the Official GMAT?: I do not remember exactly but they were close to Q46 V38
2) How did you score on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)? The last one (The only I keep records of) was Q50 V45

When you took your CATs:
3) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)? Yes, Excepting for the Essay
4) Did you take them at home?: Yes, I did
5) Did you take them at the same time of day as when you plan to take your Official GMAT? No, I did not.
6) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? No, I did not
7) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE? Maybe 2-3 of the verbal, not more than that

What do you suggest?

Best regards and thanks again

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi HRNF,

The extra information that you've provided is quite useful, as it helps to define what went wrong on Test Day. In real basic terms, you took your CATs in such a way that you were NOT properly training to face the Official GMAT - so you were not ready to face it on Test Day.

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your practice scores can become - and that's what happened here. By skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, seeing 'repeat' questions, etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.' By extension, your practice scores were not accurate.

Thankfully, this is a relatively easy set of problems to fix. The big question now is "how long will it take you to properly get 'used to' taking the full GMAT?" You'll certainly need a new set of practice CATs to work with (so you don't see repeat questions) and you have to put in the necessary time to train your brain (and body) for the FULL GMAT. You might also need to invest in some new GMAT training materials.

1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

HRNF · Answer

Hi Rich,

Thanks again for your help and your nice words

1) What is your goal score?: I would like to apply to some top 5 schools, so I guess 720+ would work
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School? Hopefully, first round of this year (~september)
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to? Top 5 schools in the US

Do you have any GMAT prep CAT-like material you would suggest?

Best and thanks again,

NM

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi HRNF,

While you're going to need some new CATs to work with, we have to work from the assumption that your 680 is the accurate assessment of your skills. You're actually closer to a 720+ than you probably realize, but you're going to have to make some changes to how you "see" (and respond to) the Test to hit your goal score. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam - so you CAN train to score higher. You also have plenty of time before the Round 1 application deadlines, so there's no need to 'rush' back in to retest.

1) What practice materials have you used so far (and which CATs have you used?)?
2) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

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

HRNF · Answer

Hi Rich,

Thanks again for your help

1) What practice materials have you used so far (and which CATs have you used?)? I have studied with the GMAT prep free CATS, + 6 official gmat exams in the older format
2) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week? I think that I could do 20-25 hours a week, with the goal of sitting for the exam in one month now (hopefully)

Best regards and thanks again

NM

AnonymousAndy · Answer

think someone is trying to sell you a course lol.

probably not what you want to hear, but I think you are have un-realastic expectations. You can get a 770 on a mock but can't expect the same.

although the official questions are the best, their scores are some what biased. If you are scoring 700+ but missing a lot of easy/medium questions, than it's not counted against you much on mocks vs. the actual test.

To get a Q50 on the actual test, you pretty much have to be spot on on all sub 600 and 600-700 level questions. Not saying those people answered each question correctly, maybe they made 1-2 errors, but they will tell you they knew the first 20 questions right out of the gate.

Just for comparison, I had the office guide 2016, there are 200+ PS questions, and I went well into the 200s before I missed a question, in DS I missed one out of the first 120 or so, in CR I missed one in the entire book and I still don't agree on the answer (I know you aren't suppose to argue with an official but I still don't agree with it).

Q46 V38 are around 70th percentile, and that's where the bell curve is around for those that study. To break into the Q50 and V40 range you need a lot of work and a solid understanding of concepts and unfortunately this can't be done in a month.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi HRNF,

I'm hoping that you can clarify some of the information in your prior post:

1) What study materials have you worked with?
2) When you say that you worked on 6 CATs in the "older format" - what do you mean exactly?

With a Q46/V38, you could potentially pick up all of the missing points that you're looking for in just the Quant section or just the Verbal section. Assuming that you would be able to maintain your skills in the 'other' section, you could opt to focus on one section for the next 3-4 weeks. If you'd prefer to work to improve in both sections though, then you would likely need 1-2 months - since there's a broader range of question types and Tactics that we'd have to review.

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

mcelroytutoring · Answer

It happens--just a small lapse in concentration, a few unlucky guesses, or a lack of sleep / other extenuating circumstances can all play a role. I've taken the official GMAT 5 times, and my scores have ranged from 700 to 770 (70-point range). I've also taken all 6 GMATPrep tests, and my scores have ranged from 690 to 790 (100-point range).

As long as you cancelled your score within 72 hours, your schools will never see the 680 on the school score report. Just take it again to prove your true ability--you are allowed up to 8 attempts at the GMAT in a lifetime.

-Brian

adkikani · Answer

HRNF

See if  this  post helps.
Also getting an ESR and sharing it for expert's views shall add two cents for your prep during retake.

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