GMAT Score

Question

Hello,

Following are the scores i got in two consecutive Mock tests that gave during the last two weeks.

Veritas prep - 550
Q38 and V28
Quants: Correct: 21 Wrong:10
Verbal: Correct: 24 Wrong: 12

GMAC Official mock - 620
Q42 and V33
Quants: Correct: 17 Wrong: 14
Verbal: Correct 21 Wrong: 15

How is this possible? i got more questions correct in my veritas test but scored lower than my official mock. Should i consider the official mock score or the veritas? i am confused as to where i stand. Please help.

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi Vignesh, obviously official mock tests are more representative.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

You ask a great question. Certainly, when you take practice tests from companies other than GMAC, you may find some variation in algorithms used and thus variations in your score. That said, when do you plan to take your next official GMAC practice exam?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vigneshvrk,

The scoring algorithm on the Official GMAT is far more complicated than most people realize - and it takes into account far more than just the number of correct and incorrect answers. The Veritas CATs are 'close enough' to the real thing that they will provide you with a relatively realistic score assessment (assuming that you properly take the CAT in a realistic fashion). The 'swings' in your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores could be due to a variety of different reasons, including the time of day you take the CAT, the section order you chose, the number of lucky/unlucky guesses and silly mistakes that you made (or did not make), etc. You might also be "winging it" on a lot of questions - meaning that you don't have set Tactical approaches to the Quant and Verbal section and you are doing what you think is best on a question-by-question basis. As such, it's tough to say what your actual 'ability level' is right now.

1) What is your overall goal score?
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
3) 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

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi vigneshvrk,

GMAC official mocks are the closest ones to the actual test. So, your score could range from 590 to 650 in the actual test. Having said that, were there any questions which you got correct by guessing in the official mock? It is important to consider these things as well because GMAT is an adaptive test and every question plays a key role in determining the score. To get an accurate prediction, I would suggest you to take another official mock. And even if you wish to take mocks in the future, I would recommend you to stick with the official ones as they are the closest. Hope it helped!!

vigneshvrk · Answer

Hey, I am planning taking the next mock in the next two days. I have my test scheduled on the 3rd of october.

vigneshvrk · Answer

Hey,

1. Goal is 700. As most of the Business schools that i have in my list have a minimum average score of 650.
2. GMAT is on the 3rd of October
3. I am from India and most Business schools have their deadline as December. So i would have to apply a little before that so that i dont leave everything for the last minute.

vigneshvrk · Answer

Hey, Thank you for the input. Appreciate it.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vigneshvrk,

Since we only have these two CAT Scores as reference, it would be questionable to assume that you improved 70 points in just 1 week and that you can consistently score 620+ at this point. The more likely possibility is that you may have gotten a little careless during that first CAT and got a little lucky on your 2nd CAT - meaning that your 'ability level' is in the high-500s right now.

Statistically-speaking, a Score Goal of 700 will likely require that you commit to least another 2 months of consistent, guided study - and you'll have to make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. However, an October 3rd Test Date is just 2 weeks away - meaning that you should consider pushing back that Test Date. There's no harm in taking the GMAT as scheduled, but if you really want a 700+, then you will almost certainly end up having to take the GMAT again later on, so you can avoid that additional expense by pushing back your Test Date (and you can do that now for free).

1) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

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

vigneshvrk · Answer

Hey,

I have given a total of 4 mocks. In the first one is cored 510 (magoosh), then second mock was 550(Veritas), 3rd was 620(GMAT official Test 2) and the 4th dipped to 530(GMAT official test 3). This has been the trend. So it looked like i was improving, which i was. I could see that in my practice test questions. I just think i got a little carried away that i improved and messed up the last mock. I am planning another mock the coming weekend. If the score still stays in the range of 500 or dips even more i might consider rescheduling. It is just a little hard to study when i have a full time job. But i am taking off the entire next week. So let's hope i dont mess it up too much. And i understand that 700+ is a little bit of a leap at this point, but i have always experienced that if i had a higher target, i would atleast achieve a little lower than that. Which is also acceptable currently. So i will update the post once i give my next mock. Thanks for the help.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vigneshvrk,

With the inclusion of those other 2 CAT Scores, that extra data makes the 620 Score appear to be more of an 'outlier' relative to your other performances. GMAC has publicly stated that the Official Score that you earn on Test Day is within +/- 30 points of actual ability. Assuming a similar 'swing' in how your CATs function - and if we ignore the outlier - then your other 3 CAT score results show that you essentially performed the same each time (about 530 +/- a few points). You handle certain aspects of the GMAT consistently well, but you also make certain consistent mistakes. It is possible that you just had a 'bad day' when you took that 4th CAT, but if your Scores can 'swing' so significantly from Test-to-Test, then I would still suggest that you push back your Test Date (so that you can hone the necessary skills to CONSISTENTLY Score at a higher level).

After you've taken your next CAT, you should post back here and we can discuss the results and how you might best proceed with your studies.

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

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

How did it go??

vigneshvrk · Answer

Hey, I am taking it tomorrow. will keep you guys updated on the score.

vigneshvrk · Answer

Hey guys,

I took the test today and scored a 600, Q44 & V28. for some reason I could not concentrate a lot when i was answering verbal and missed a couple of RC questions. That could have contributed to the decline in verbal score.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vigneshvrk,

This Score isn't too surprising - and it's in the range of our prior discussions (if your current 'ability level' is in the high-500s, then a 600 would be one of the reasonably likely Score results). Your assessment about RC is almost certainly correct, since with a V28, you would have lost significant points in all 3 major Verbal categories (RC, SC and CR).

1) Are you still planning to take the Official GMAT on October 3rd or are you going to reschedule that Exam?

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

vigneshvrk · Answer

I was going to reschedule if the score was too bad. But now I am a little confused. Most of the schools that I am looking at don't have a lot of weightage on GMAT scores and their average score is around 690 so half my mind wants to give it a shot.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vigneshvrk,

GMAC currently allows GMATers a limit of 8 lifetime attempts at the Official GMAT - so there's no inherent 'harm' in taking the Exam on October 3rd. However, based on your recent practice CAT/mock Scores, it is NOT likely that you will hit your Score Goal. You could potentially learn a lot more about all of the various aspects of what Test Day involves by keeping that appointment, but that would be an expensive 'lesson' (assuming that you will have to pay to retake the GMAT again at some point). For practical purposes, you could save some time, money and energy by paying to push back that Test Date.

Factoring this recent Score into our prior discussions, it's still likely that you will need at least another 2 months of consistent, guided study to score at that higher level - and you'll have to make significant improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections. You still have plenty of time before the December application deadlines that you are considering, but you are going to have to be really efficient with your time going forward to hit your Score Goal AND have your applications ready to go before then.

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

vigneshvrk · Answer

I decided to postpone my test that i was supposed to have yesterday and scheduled it for November 21st, 2020. I am hoping to utilize this time and increase my mock score up to a 700 at least. Would appreciate all the help. Since i work a full time job, would appreciate any suggestions or techniques that you can throw my way.

vigneshvrk · Answer

For my prep till now i had given a mock from magossh, Veritas and the first 4 tests in the GMAt official prep. Currently i have the official test 5& 6. I want to keep this for the last as i have postponed my test to November. Could anyone please suggest any other test prep materials that i can get to practice mocks? Is the GMAt club CATs any good? Is there any other prep that gives good mocks? I wont be able to use veritas prep without paying for the entire prep as i have already used it. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi vigneshvrk,

A 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. To raise your scores, you have to learn the necessary Tactics and put in the proper practice and repetitions. The CAT will show you whether your studies are helping you to improve or not. 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 shouldn't take more than 1 CAT per week - and your last CAT should be taken about 1 week before Test Day. Going forward, you really shouldn't take more than 1 FULL CAT per week.

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.

1) What study materials have you used so far? What version(s) of the Official Guide have you worked with - and how much of each of those books have you completed?

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

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