Gmat mock scores to gauge preparation level

Question

Hiii, i am giving 2 test series, 1 external and 1 official
In official, i have scored 740+ in last 2 tests( test no.3 and 4)
In external series, i am puzzled because my scores are oscillating. In 1 test i score 740+ and 2nd i score 690-680. I have given 10 mock with same pattern(1st with 740+,2nd with 690)
I am unable to decide my exact preparation level to book test dates
Please help!!!

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AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  Tusharjoshi573 . You should go by your official mock scores to tell when you may be ready, since those are the single best indicator of how you will likely perform on the real exam. You say your official mocks have been at 740+. If those performances represent honest efforts—i.e. you took each exam for the first time under similar-to-actual testing conditions and had not seen the questions before—and if those are scores you would be happy earning on the actual exam, then you are probably ready to take it. As for your decrease in performance on outside mocks, that is quite common. The material takes time to get used to, and some mocks run harder than the real test (e.g., Veritas Prep or Manhattan Prep mocks). All you can take at face value is the score you earn in first-attempt  official  practice exams. Treat the rest as a fun way to train.

Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

Tusharjoshi573 · Answer

Thanks a lot Andrew
I will follow official mock tests

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MBAaustralia · Answer

Official GMAT Practice tests for score gauging.

Use all other third party tests for helping to improve your timing.

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ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Tusharjoshi573,

As has been said, I would focus just on your scores from the official practice exams.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Tusharjoshi573,

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:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far? What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used?
3) On what dates (or approximate 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)?

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
5) 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

Tusharjoshi573 · Answer

Hii  EMPOWERgmatRichC 
Please find below replies to your specific queries

1. I am studying from Dec 2020
2. I have studied mainly OG and Manhatten prep books. Some help from youtube and gmat club. I have enrolled in Official mock test(complete 6 sets) and Experts' gmat prep mock series
3. I took first 2 official mocks in end of dec 2020. I scored 690 and 680(Q47,V36) in 1st and 2nd respectively.
I took 3rd and 4th mock in may 2021. I scored 740(Q49, V41) in 3rd mock and 750(Q50,V41) in 4th mock
I took 5th mock few days back and scored 760(Q49, V44)
For expert prep series, i have given 12 mocks till date with scores ranging from 710 to 670 in last 7 mocks

Goals :
1. Overall goal score is 760
2. My target colleges are Stanford, Columbia and Chicago booth and planning to apply in September 2021 rounds.

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EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Tusharjoshi573,

To start, since you are interested in some highly-competitive Schools, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. Those Experts should be able to answer your Admissions questions and help define the specific areas of your profile that could use some improvement. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

The scoring algorithm on the Official GMAT is far more complicated than most people realize. Since that algorithm is proprietary, no GMAT company has an exact match for it, thus CAT scores can vary a bit based on the 'biases' involved in their respective designs. While the most realistic CATs available are the 6 from GMAC, retaking a CAT that you've already taken is NOT a realistic way to assess your skills - since you will likely see some 'repeat' questions that you have already faced. Unfortunately, seeing even a couple of repeats can 'throw off' the Scoring Algorithm and impact your pacing, energy levels, fatigue, etc. (meaning that they would likely all appear to be better than they actually are). Thankfully, the CATs from Kaplan, MGMAT and Veritas are all 'close enough' to the real thing that they will provide you with a relatively realistic score assessment (assuming that you correctly take the CAT in a realistic fashion that matches the parameters that you will face when you take the Official GMAT) - so you can use any NEW CATs from any of those sources next.

Each CAT is really a 'measuring device' - when used correctly, it will give you a realistic score and help define your strengths and weaknesses, but it will NOT help you to fix any of those weaknesses. In addition, the process of taking (and reviewing) a CAT requires a significant amount of energy and effort - and takes time to 'recover' from. This is one of the reasons why you typically should not take more than 1 CAT per week - and your last CAT should be taken about 1 week before Test Day. From what you've described, you've taken far more CATs over the last 7 weeks than you probably should have - and if you are starting to tire out a bit, then that could be a factor in your varying Scores.

As an aside, the 760+ score is the 99th percentile - meaning that 99% of Test Takers never score that high on the Official GMAT. Thankfully, NO Business School requires a score that high - so it's important to realize that the score that you "want" and the score that you "need" to get into your first-choice School are not the same thing.

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

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