I'm really confused about my Gmat score

Question

Hi,

I did a diagnostic Gmat test today. It was just a practicing Gmat test to identify your skills therefore it was free. I did not prepare at all because I didn't know what to expect. I did the test and this were my scores:

Quantitative: 24/37
Verbal: 22/41

My Gmat score on the screen was 480. I'm confused here. I had not much difficulties with the quantitative section, I know I made some silly mistakes (after looking at my evaluation) which I can try to avoid in the official exam.

The verbal section was more difficult for me as you can see. Some questions were quite easy but other where much harder. Since English is not my native language I really need to improve this. The problem is that a score of 480 is really poor, it seems I also need to improve my quant skills but I had not much difficulties with the quant part.

What could possibly has caused my low score?

Thanks in advance!
Regards.

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear Cedric, I'm happy to respond. :-)

First of all, I am sorry to burst your bubble, but your Quant score is not really that good. A score of 24 on Quant is 31st percentile --- that means that 69% of folks who take the GMAT do better than this. Many people (typically Americans) are better at Verbal and not so good at math: they might get a math score like yours, but a higher verbal score. Many others (typically non-native speakers of English) are better at math and struggle on Verbal: they might get a verbal score like yours, but a higher Quant score. With the numbers you cited, you are in back of both of those stereotypical groups: this is why your GMAT score and percentile (27%) for this diagnostic is so low. For more on the percentile information, see: https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/gmat-score-percentiles/ Here's what I would recommend. First of all, so free flashcards, for math & idioms: https://gmat.magoosh.com/flashcards?utm ... ampaign=RK For help on Verbal, read this blog: https://magoosh.com/gmat/2014/how-to-imp ... bal-score/ Here is a list of the best resources: https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/best-gmat ... rces-2015/ Here is a three month study plan that can enormously strength your performance: https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/3-month-gm ... beginners/ I hope all this helps, my friend! Let me know if you have any other questions. Mike :-)

CedricC · Answer

Thank your for the quick response and the helpful links. I'm understanding the situation better but I've still one issue:

In a thread I read earlier on this forum the OP tells that he scores 24/37 on quant and that his score is in the 45-50 percentile. What am I missing here? (Ps: I can't include the link since I do not have five posts)

The score still amazes me since I've always been very good at math. Above that I thought the quant test was not that difficult. After evaluating my test I noticed I made 5 dumb mistakes by working too fast which I definitely could have avoided by working more effectively. If my scores would be: Q 29/37 and V: 22/41. What would my Gmat score be now?

By the way, I do not have the intention to only improve my quant skills but I just know I could score much higher on this part.

Thanks in advance!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi CedricC,

Since you claim to have not prepared for this Diagnostic CAT, it shouldn't be a surprise that you had some difficulties with it. A 480 starting score isn't too bad though (the average score on the Official GMAT hovers around 540-550 most years).

That all having been said, I'm hoping that you can answer a few questions about this CAT and your goals:

1) Did you answer 24 out of 37 questions correctly or did you earn a Scaled Score of 24 in the Quant? (and did you answer 22 of 41 Verbal questions correctly or did you earn a Scaled Score of 22?)
2) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?

3) What is your goal score?
4) When are you planning to take the Official GMAT?

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

CedricC · Answer

Hi,

Thank you for the response! 
1) I'm pretty sure I answered 24 out of 37 correctly. As I said I had not much troubles with the Quant part and after the test I was already surprised that I hadn't scored higher on the quant test.
2) No, I only did the Quant en Verbal test. I was too late for the IR and essay part. I had planned this diagnostic test a few weeks ago and I didn't even know it would be similar to the official test. There was not much information provided in the mail and therefore I didn't know I had to prepare something. After doing some research today It's definitely worth it to study hard for the test. I'll start tomorrow.

3) My goal score is 620. 
4) I'm not sure about that. I'm hoping within 2 months.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi CedricC,

Your score goal is reasonable, so you could very well get to that level in 2 months of study.

1) What 'brand' of CAT was this?
2) What practice resources are you planning to use?

3) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

CedricC · Answer

Hi,

1) Well, I honestly have no idea. I just walked in the classroom, they pointed me a seat at a computer and then I had to start the test. I think they used the GMat prep app. 
2) I've already downloaded the free GMatPrep software to exercise. I'll try to do as many as possible example questions in all the categories: Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative and Verbal. to get more feeling with the different types of questions they ask. To improve my verbal I'll try to read every day.

3) That depends. It's a possibility that I start an MBA in september 2016.

I still don't understand my score. I mean, If I want to improve myself I really need to know what went wrong. 
Quant part: 24 out of 37 questions correct. Is this a good score or not? I'm not sure, since the first replier did answer it wasn't good. I'm sure I can reach the 29 with more practice. Is this score much better?
Verbal part: definitely need more exercise here.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

HI CedricC,

The Score Algorithm for the GMAT is far more complex than most people realize (the number of correct answers is NOT the only factor, so you can't really measure your progress in that way). As such, you have to look at the SCALED SCORES for the Quant and Verbal section to really gauge your performance. If your Scaled Score was a 24, then that is not a particularly strong performance (it would imply that you got too many questions wrong, so the Program adapted to you, lowered your score and gave you easier questions to answer).

Based on everything that you've described, I think that you would benefit a great deal from enrolling in a GMAT Course of some type (either Guided Self-Study or instructor-led). The GMAT has a lot of little details to it - and while you CAN train to score at a higher level, you shouldn't put yourself in the situation that you would have to figure out all of those little details on your own.

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

jz4analytics · Answer

I think the scores you gave are the "scaled" ones, not the raw ones. There are 37 Quant questions but your Quant score is out of 51 points. If you truly got 24 out of 37 then your scaled Q would probably be around 40-45, depending on difficulty (although the algorithm is hard to guess and no one besides those at GMAC understand it). The Total score of 480 is more in line with a Q24 - which is low (the average Q score is 38). In order to get a 620 you'd need to get the quant section up to around 45 and the verbal to around 30.

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