GMAT Prep Exam 1 and 2: verbal way lower on second attempt

Question

Folks, I'm writing the GMAT in a couple of days and I just wrote my second GMAT Prep exam with a disappointing result.

First exam:
640
Q43, V35
Q: 15 incorrect
V: 13 incorrect

Second exam:
560
Q40, V27
Q: 16 incorrect
V: 11 incorrect

I am really confused as to what happened to my verbal score on the second exam with less questions incorrect compared to the first. I know that it is adaptive so maybe the only explanation is those that I got wrong are "easy" questions. But the largest string of questions wrong in a row was 4, from Question 22-25, and only 2 incorrect after that (Question 29 and 35). I also got 4/6 wrong on the first 6 questions, and then Question 12 wrong.

I'm not trying to decode the algorithm but I still feel like it doesn't make sense. I was really hoping to stay in the 630-650 range and now this has completely sidetracked me with two days before my exam. Any thoughts or possible explanations?

Thanks
T.

TheEconomistGMATTutor · Answer

I think you answered your own question -- the 4 out of the first 6 wrong is likely what hurt your score the most.

TheMiszerak · Answer

I also had a similar experience with the two free practice tests. What was your real score?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi TheMiszerak,

Since the original post is over a year old, and the original poster never posted again after this one post, it's likely that you won't get a response from him/her.

At your scoring level, the GMAT becomes really 'sensitive' to little mistakes - getting just a couple of incorrect answers, in the wrong 'spots', can have a significant impact on your score.

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

TheMiszerak · Answer

EMPOWERgmatRichC

Thank you very much for your reply. It is true, I hadn't realized how complicated the scoring algorithm is. I should probably mention the fact that the day before I took GMAT Prep exam 1 I hadn't studied at all and just rested all day, whereas the day before I took GMAT Prep exam 2 I studied from 9 AM to 8 PM without breaks, so I was much more tired. I'm not going to study at all tomorrow and just rest all day.

My exam is on Monday, wish me luck!!

Thanks again, this forum is awesome!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi TheMiszerak,

If these two CAT score results are any indication, then you're in the perfect position to score at a really high level on Test Day. Remember that the GMAT gives you the score that you EARN, so you have to be ready and willing to work like crazy for the full 4 hours on Test Day. The good news is that the work is generally pretty straight-forward (and in some cases, it's rather easy); the bad news is that you have to do a lot of it and you have to maintain your commitment and work ethic straight through until the end.

I'm looking forward to hearing how Test Day went.

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

TheMiszerak · Answer

Hi EMPOWERgmatRichC!

You were curious to know how my official exam went, so here it is:

Overall: 760, 99th percentile
Quant: 49, 78th percentile
Verbal: 45, 99th percentile

Thank you for the support and have a great day!

Cheers!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

HI TheMiszerak,

That's outstanding news about your GMAT score! With a 760/Q49, you can comfortably apply to any Business Schools that interest you. Have you thought about which Schools/Programs you plan to apply to?

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

TheMiszerak · Answer

Hi EMPOWERgmatRichC!

Yes, I have. I was thinking of applying to the following (Sept 2016):

- Oxford, Master in Financial Economics
- Cambridge, Master in Finance
- London School of Economics, Master in Finance
- London Business School, Master in Financial Analysis
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Master in Finance

Any comments/suggestions?

Thanks!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi TheMiszerak,

You've listed some remarkably competitive Schools/Programs, so you have to make sure that you have a strong OVERALL application AND that you present yourself correctly. As such, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with (and possibly work with) an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of them here:

ask-admission-consultants-124/

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

TheMiszerak · Answer

Hi EMPOWERgmatRichC!

Thank you very much for the link, I'm sure it will prove useful. Moreover, the university I'm currently attending offers professional career advancement assistance. I will definitely resort to it!

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GMAT Prep Exam 1 and 2: verbal way lower on second attempt

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