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Need Help... Regression in Practice Tests

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19applicant003
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Need Help... Regression in Practice Tests [#permalink] New post   24 Mar 2019, 14:13
Hello all,

I just took my 3rd GMAT Official Practice Test and scored a 620... approximately 3 weeks after I scored a 680. This 620 score is even worse than my very first GMAT Official Practice Test that I took as a diagnostic before beginning studying - I scored a 640 on that test.

My exam is scheduled in 2 weeks and I am incredibly discouraged right now. I have logged significant hours on Magoosh and Target Test Prep (~20 hrs per week) and can not understand this regression. I actually felt very comfortable taking this practice exam today and am surprised to see such a low score.

Has anyone dealt with this type of regression and how can it be overcome...?
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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Re: Need Help... Regression in Practice Tests [#permalink] New post   24 Mar 2019, 15:13
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Hi 19applicant003,

To start, how did you Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores compare to your performances on your prior 2 CATs?

A little over a month ago, we discussed how "review" is an exceptionally important part of the GMAT training process - and your ability to define WHY you're getting questions wrong is essential to defining the areas that you need to work on (and the specific things that you need to 'fix'). We didn't discuss that last CAT in much detail, but your result here certainly implies that some extra analysis of your performance is needed. While a full Mistake Tracker would provide a lot more information, there are some basic questions that you should be able to answer (and the more EXACT you can be with your answers, the better):

After reviewing the Quant section of this recent CAT, how many questions did you get wrong....
1) Because of a silly/little mistake?
2) Because there was some math that you just could not remember how to do?
3) Because the question was too hard?
4) Because you were low on time and had to guess?
5) How many Verbal questions did you 'narrow down to 2 choices' but still get wrong?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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19applicant003
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Re: Need Help... Regression in Practice Tests [#permalink] New post   24 Mar 2019, 18:48
EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote:
Hi 19applicant003,

To start, how did you Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores compare to your performances on your prior 2 CATs?

A little over a month ago, we discussed how "review" is an exceptionally important part of the GMAT training process - and your ability to define WHY you're getting questions wrong is essential to defining the areas that you need to work on (and the specific things that you need to 'fix'). We didn't discuss that last CAT in much detail, but your result here certainly implies that some extra analysis of your performance is needed. While a full Mistake Tracker would provide a lot more information, there are some basic questions that you should be able to answer (and the more EXACT you can be with your answers, the better):

After reviewing the Quant section of this recent CAT, how many questions did you get wrong....
1) Because of a silly/little mistake?
2) Because there was some math that you just could not remember how to do?
3) Because the question was too hard?
4) Because you were low on time and had to guess?
5) How many Verbal questions did you 'narrow down to 2 choices' but still get wrong?

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



Rich,

Thank you for the response. Below is a breakdown of the practice tests:
1/5 - Q37 / V40
2/16 - Q39 / V44
3/24 - Q35 / V40

Most of my issues in quant were split between options 1 and 3 that you mentioned. I am admittedly weak in quant and have been working that rigorously through TargetTestPrep so it is discouraging to see a decrease there, although I do understand that there is still work to be done.

In verbal, about half of my 8 incorrect answers were narrowed down to 2 choices.
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ScottTargetTestPrep
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Re: Need Help... Regression in Practice Tests [#permalink] New post   25 Mar 2019, 07:15
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Hi 19applicant003,

So I’m glad you reached out, and I’m happy to help. So although I am unsure of how you have been using the TTP course, one important component of using the course is that you follow the study plan, exactly as it’s laid out, and fully complete the learning phase before jumping into any practice exams. That said, I want to provide some personalized advice, so I’m going to PM you now so we can hop on a call and discuss how things have been going and plan a strategy moving forward.

I’ve got your back my friend.
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
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Own Kudos [?]: 11669 [0]
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Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
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Re: Need Help... Regression in Practice Tests [#permalink] New post   25 Mar 2019, 13:17
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Hi 19applicant003,

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 that you took your CATs in a realistic fashion - your 3 CAT score results show that you essentially performed the same each time (about 650 +/- a few points). You handle certain aspects of the GMAT consistently well, but you also make certain consistent mistakes.

To reiterate a point from a prior discussion: you're remarkably close to a 680+ right now, but if you're not comfortable with the overall Exam (and especially the Quant section), then you might want to push back your Test Day. You could potentially improve a great deal with even a couple of weeks of additional study time. From what you describe, you're missing a lot of questions because of little mistakes and missing little 'details', so you actually know much of the content just fine (but learning to 'see' the Exam in a different way might help you a great deal).

1) What is your exact Test Date?
2) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
GMAT Club Bot
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Re: Need Help... Regression in Practice Tests [#permalink]
25 Mar 2019, 13:17

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