Getting 50 percent of the questions right

Question

I'm aiming for a score around 640~. I've been having a lot of trouble with quant though, and after months, I'm still not there.

I'm practicing the 600-level questions and I'm getting about 50% of them right. From my understanding of the GMAT, you're only supposed to get 50% of the questions right in order to put yourself at that score level.

However, my error log shows my estimated score to be sub-450... I just started using the timer a couple days ago, and checked my error log stats today, and that was very discouraging to see.

However, it doesn't seem to jive with the understanding I have about how GMAT works. If I'm aiming for a low-mid 600-level score, should I not be able to attain that if I'm getting 50% of the 600-level questions correct?

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi fmcgee1,

I have an important question. Have you taken any GMAC practice exams? If so, what have been your quant scores? Also, since you are struggling with GMAT quant, you may find it helpful to read this article:

How To Increase Your GMAT Quant Score

fmcgee1 · Answer

I did do a GMAC mock exam a few months ago (after I had already studied for a few months before that, but clearly did not understand the concepts well enough). My total score was 500 and my quant score was 27 (very bad). I have been studying every day since, reviewing questions in depth and trying to understand GMAT logic and traps. I have definitely improved a lot since but definitely am still not ready to sit the exams. I just feel like after all this time, my score should at least be closer to 600 than the "sub-450" that this website is estimating me to be at

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi,

I can understand how it feels to get a low score after months of preparation. There are a couple of things I wish to bring to your notice.
Firstly, getting 50% of questions right doesn’t guarantee you a score of 650. GMAT is an adaptive test, so, to get a score of 640, you have to get the easy-medium questions right. To do that, your conceptual knowledge has to be strong.

And next, practicing ‘N’ number of questions doesn’t help you improve your score. There are high chances that you might repeat the same mistakes every time and this will eventually get you the same score. The actual problem lies in the method you use to solve the problem and it is the method you have to focus on.
I recommend you to fill the conceptual gaps you have and learn the right strategies to solve the questions. Use a standard resource for the preparation. The resource has to teach you the concepts as well as their application.

If you are open to suggestions, I would recommend you to check the online course of GMATWhiz. To brief you a little, GMATWhiz:

1. Offers you a personalized study plan which is adaptive in nature
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EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi fmcgee1,

Many GMATers become too fixated on the 'implied level' of the questions that they're working on - instead of what really matters: defining WHY they're getting questions wrong and becoming more efficient at approaching the overall Exam. It's also worth noting that just because a 3rd party describes a question as "600 level" does not necessarily make it so.

Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

1) How long have you studied in total? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) On what dates did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

fmcgee1 · Answer

Hi Rich,

I picked up the Princeton Review GMAT test prep books over a year ago and I started reading them to pick up a base understanding of the material. I barely remembered any of the properties of triangles at that point, and I don't think I had ever done a quadratic equation in my life...Math has always been a weak point for me and I stopped studying it as early as I possibly could in grade school. I had to relearn how to do long division. But I read through all the Princeton Review guides and did all the problems in the books. Around December 2019, I picked up the MGMAT guides and started studying more seriously, probably devoting 3 hours a day and tried to really understand the concepts, work through problems over and over again and drill the concepts in my head. I felt the MGMAT was more helpful than Princeton.

I did the GMAC mock exam, I believe around April 2020. I scored a 500 total - 27 quantitative, 32 verbal. I only took this one mock exam, and then felt very discouraged for about a week... That's when I spoke to one of my STEM friends, who advised me that I probably need to spend more time on the questions because I wouldn't thoroughly review them enough after I would get them wrong. I also was missing foundational knowledge (for instance, I didn't know how to do conversions - strangely, this was not covered in MGMAT, as far as I remember. I know how to do them now). I dropped the books at this point and have been focusing on the GMAT club forum questions only. I started with the 500-level questions only, and once I felt that I was getting too many of them right and they were too "easy", I started doing the 600-level questions. I switched to 600-level about 3 weeks ago. From April 2020-June 2020, I was probably studying about 3 hours a day. For the last month, I'd say I've been studying for more like 6-7 hours a day. I will review questions on these forums, work through them myself, and whether I get the answer correct or not, I then review the responses to try and understand other peoples' methods and how they are looking at the math. Just to deepen my understanding of the material. Also, when I don't understand something and I don't feel it's being explained adequately on the forums, I will watch Youtube videos or find explanations about math concepts on math websites. I only recently began using the timer, because I feel like I need to get used to the timer as well (it was causing a lot of anxiety for me when I did the mock exam - honestly, this probably also contributed to my low score because I was so focused on the timer that I could barely concentrate on the questions). I also started posting solutions myself, because I feel this helps me learn.

I reside in Canada, and plan to apply to John Molson and Schulich. I have a really good GPA so I'm not too concerned about getting an incredible GMAT score, I just want one around 640. I don't feel like my goal is too unrealistic. I think if I could at least get a 620, I would easily be accepted into John Molson and that's all I want.

I do feel like I have improved a LOT. I understand math more at this point in my life than honestly, I ever have before. To be honest, I'm kind of amazed at how much I know now... A year ago, I would have never been able to calculate how much a 20% tip would be in my head, or know how to move decimals around in my head and do quick math at a restaurant or a grocery store... Kind of sad, I know. But when I see what I am able to do now, or see how a lot of my friends can't do this kind of restaurant math, I am reminded of how much I have learned in the past year.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

I understand. When do you plan to take your next official practice exam?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi fmcgee1,

If it's really been 3 months since you last took a practice CAT/mock, then you should plan to take a new one sometime soon (perhaps this weekend). We need to properly assess your current skills, strengths and weaknesses - and the only way to do that is to take a FULL-LENGTH CAT under realistic testing conditions that match-up with what you will face when you take the Official GMAT. Once you have that Score, you should post back here (or you can feel free to PM me directly) and we can discuss the results and how you might best proceed with your studies.

Going forward, you have to be careful about confusing "quantity" of study with "quality" of study. I've never asked anyone to study 30+ hours a week - and while it's great that you might have the available time to study that much, with that number of study hours, you would run the risk of 'burning out' before Test Day (and that is something that we want to avoid). If you are going to try to study that much, then I suggest that you take one hour "off" for every two hours of study. For example, you could study for 2 hours, then stop for an hour, then study for another 2 hours, then take an hour off, etc.

In addition, it's worth noting that the Quant section of the GMAT is NOT a 'math test' - it's a 'critical thinking test' that requires lots of little calculations as you work through it. By extension, if you're taking a 'technical math' approach to most (or all) of the Quant questions that you face, then you are almost certainly making everything far more difficult than it needs to be. This is meant to say that you would likely find it beneficial to focus more on Quant Tactics, so that you can take advantage of the built-in patterns that appear every day on the Official GMAT.

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

fmcgee1 · Answer

Well I just did a practice exam and got a 730 - Q50, V39. I'm shocked because I absolutely do not think I should have gotten such a high quant score only studying 600-level questions... but I even got a few of the 700-level questions correct.

I'm really questioning whether this score will translate to a 730~ on the real GMAT. We will see.

I'm really questioning whether this score will translate to a 730~ on the real GMAT. We will see.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi fmcgee1,

If you're skeptical about this result, then we should first consider if there were any aspects to this practice CAT that would be considered unrealistic. To start, what "brand" of practice CAT was this? In addition, did you take this CAT before (and/or see any of the questions before)? If the answer is 'yes', then seeing even a couple of repeat questions could 'throw off' the Scoring Algorithm and lead to an inflated Score. Did you do anything that you can't do on Test Day, such as pause the test, take the sections untimed, take longer breaks between sections, use a calculator, etc?

In simple terms, the more your CAT-taking-process deviates from the specific parameters that you'll face when you take the Official GMAT, the more likely your Score is to be 'off.' That having been said, if this was a NEW CAT and you took it under strict conditions, then you may have honed all of the necessary skills over the last several months to have earned a 730.

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

fmcgee1 · Answer

Hi Rich,

It was an official GMAC practice test. I think I did recognize one of the questions - could this have thrown off my score that much?

Otherwise, I took the test under all the same conditions I'd face on test day. I didn't do the AWA section (last section though) because I wouldn't have gotten a score for that anyway.

Posted from my mobile device

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi fmcgee1,

You didn't quite provide the information that I asked about in my prior post - and those extra details are essential to defining whether this result might be 'inflated' or not. As such, I've posted some specific questions here:

1) Have you taken this specific practice CAT more than once?
2) The question(s) that you think you may have seen before - did you see it/them in the forums on this website or in a set of practice materials?
3) What time did you begin this CAT? Did you take the two 8-minute breaks?

In addition:
4) Have you been using any specific practice materials over the last 1.5 months or have you just been working through random questions/sets on GMATClub?

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

fmcgee1 · Answer

Hi Rich,

Sorry about that! Thanks for taking the time to help me figure out if my score was inflated.

1. I did not take that specific CAT before. This CAT was part of the GMAC Official Practice Exams 3&4 that I purchased right before doing the exam.
2. The question that I saw before was on this forum. It was this one, and the first question on the exam actually (realizing that now, actually, makes me think that probably did inflate my score)  https://gmatclub.com/forum/at-a-souvenir-shop-all-posters-are-priced-equally-and-all-161654.html  However, it took me a while to realize that I recognized it, as I almost got it wrong.

There was also this one ( https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-a-rectangular-region-has-perimeter-p-inches-and-area-a-sq-160255-20.html ) which I recognized but did not remember the correct answer. I got it right on the exam too, but it was more of a guess that I took after plugging in numbers.

3. I started the CAT at 10 AM. I only took one 5-minute break, since my real exam is going to also be online and they are only allowing one 5 minute-break as well.

4. I have only been working through random questions on GMAT club for past 5-6 months.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi fmcgee1,

Unfortunately, seeing even a couple of 'repeat' questions can 'throw off' the Scoring Algorithm of a CAT and impact your pacing, energy levels, fatigue, etc. (meaning that they would likely all appear to be better than they actually are). You likely have improved a great deal during your studies, but I don't think that it's safe to say that you have gotten to the point that you can consistently score at the '730 level' just yet.

Since you're planning to take the At-home GMAT, it's worth noting that the 'format' of the Test is currently 'fixed' (Quant, then Verbal - with no break in-between, then an optional 5-minute break, then IR), so you should make sure to take your CATs under those same parameters going forward.

I suggest that you study as you see fit for the next week, then take a NEW CAT. Once you have that Score, you should post back here (or you can feel free to PM me directly) and we can discuss the results and any adjustments that you might make to your studies.

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

fmcgee1 · Answer

Hi Rich,

I had already signed up for the official GMAT online exam before my last mock, so I ended up doing the online exam this Monday. Results: 640 (Q37, V41). However, I had some major issues during the exam... my network connection kept shutting down, I kept getting kicked out of the exam, had to call support twice and didn't get the issues fixed for an hour and a half. The whole thing was really distressing and really affected my performance on the exam. I was so distraught that I just rushed through the rest of the exam, finishing both sections with quite a bit of time remaining. I also had to pee by the time I started the verbal section, so started rushing even more through verbal. Surprised I got V41, but I also have been studying sentence correction the last 2 weeks (that was my one weak spot during the last mock exam). I think if I hadn't nailed sentence correction the last few weeks, I would have gotten a much lower verbal score because of all the stress I was experiencing during the exam.

I am going to redo the exam in a test centre. I feel like Q37 is way too low, and I can get at least a 42-45 if I'm not so distressed. I do believe my original mock exam was inflated (Q50), but I can do better than Q37. I am happy though that I got my exact goal score! But I definitely feel I can do better at this point.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi fmcgee1,

I'm sorry to hear about the technical issues you faced on your Official GMAT - that must have been frustrating (and those issues almost certainly did impact your performance). I'm glad to hear that you hit your Score Goal though, as that should decrease any pressure that you might feel as you continue your studies. To that end, GMAC recently announced that GMATers will have the option to take the At-home GMAT a 2nd time (although it's not clear exactly when that will be formally allowed to take place - it's supposedly some time after September). Thus, you have options for your next attempt; depending on which one you choose, you should make sure to take your future practice CATs/mocks in the same format.

If you're interested in some new study materials, or Study Plan going forward, then just let me know (and you can feel free to PM me directly if you like).

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

fmcgee1 · Answer

Just redid the GMAT at the test centre yesterday. Total 700: Q47; V40. Very happy about it

thank you for your help Posted from my mobile device

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi fmcgee1,

That's outstanding news! This 700/Q47 is an outstanding overall Score (and a notable improvement over your prior 640), so you can comfortably apply to any Business Schools that interest you. From our prior conversations, it sounds as though you are in the perfect position to apply to the Schools that originally interested you. Given the strength of your GMAT Score, you might consider adding some Schools to that list!

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

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Great job!! Thank you for letting us know.

MittalTrishla · Answer

I'm aiming for a score around 700. I've been having a lot of trouble with quant though, and after months, I'm still not there.

I'm practicing the 600-level and 700 -level questions but I'm only getting about 50% of them right.

I took coaching as well and practiced numerous questions and did some mock as well but I am scoring around 500 only .

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