Need Help Evaluating Test Performance

Question

Dear all,

I recently took the GMAT Focus and unfortunately got some disappointing results as I did not hit my target score. Moreover, I am a bit conflicted on some aspects of my score report and would love some feedback. In advance, thank you very much to everyone who checks out this post or writes a reply. I sincerely appreciate it!

Please see my questions below and  the result is attached as a pdf.

Questions: 
1. How come there is such a discrepancy between the average percentiles for quant and data for by content domain/topic and my overall percentile? (Is there really such a difference because I left the last questions unanswered?)
2. My previous best score was 640 on the old GMAT (80th % on verbal and 40th % on quant). Do you think this is a better score?
3. During the quant section, I encountered an extremely simple question that did not seem to have a correct answer choice, what would you say is the best way to confirm this?
4. Do you think I should give GMAT another try considering that this was my 4th attempt?

MartyMurray · Answer

Probably. The penalty for leaving a question unanwered on the Focus Edition is huge.
 
Yes, it's a better score
 
If  you remember the question, possibly along with it's approximate location in the section, you can contact GMAC and report it.
 
Probably, partly because you would have scored significantly higher just by clicking answers to the last Quant and DI questions.

At the same time, what score you need depends on what schools you plan to, or want to, apply to.

In any case, with effective preparation, you can certainly score higher.

For some insights into how to achieve a higher score, see this post.

How to Score 705+ on the GMAT Focus Edition

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Mentioning/including your target score could be helpful. Perhaps write a profile-review to get a sense how your application may currently stand as well (you could include your scores so far on both the classic and focus). If you do decide to retake, for Verbal, consider checking out Manhattan-Prep's 6th Edition for Critical Reasoning. For RC, becoming familiar with how inference questions work could be helpful as well. For Quant and DI, you left one question unanswered on both sections. Maybe using question/time markers could help when it comes to time management. Leveraging your error-log to see which types of questions you may find slippery (i.e. work rate) may be helpful as well.

How to score high on the GMAT. Why solving approach is important.

KarishmaB · Answer

In fact, your percentiles in Quant and DI are not that far apart. Mean in DI in lower because most people find it tougher but you are actually better at IR kind of questions. You struggled more in Quant (PS) and in DS in Data Insights. That makes sense because very similar concepts are tested in the two sections. By the way, the penalty for leaving a question unanswered   is high so that would be responsible for a big chunk of this decrease.

The overall score is similar but this score is more balanced.
640 is 61 percentile and 575 is 62 percentile. I have compared Classic vs FE  section wise percentiles in this post.

Your weaknesses are clear - Ratios, Percentages, weighted Averages, TSD, Work rate, Some Algebra and Some Sets and Stats. Most DS questions would be based on these topics too. Work on them and you will see a good increase in your performance, both in Quant and DI.

Check out my  Quant Playlist on YouTube . You will find many useful videos there.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi  Andrew12 ,

In addressing your last question, do you have an idea of what exact score you need for your applications? Also, were you scoring higher on your official practice exams than you did on your actual GMAT?

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