Quant Mock Analysis- Mock 3 Re-attempt

Question

This time graph reflects a Q84, i totally understand the Ques i got wrong in between was simple when I have looked at it again. The question i got wrong in the end was also simple but I didn't have time to attempt it. But regardless those facts, in the whole set I got 3 wrong still ended up with a Q84??

This is tough to digest, I mean in a way i should have let go of the ques which was actually difficult as I knew it was as soon as I looked at it and maybe it would have given me time to solve the second last. But I have gotten a Q84 with 5 mistakes as well. And I understand the algorithm is adaptive, but i got so many consistenly right if the algorithm was working like it should the difficulty was always going up till the end.

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

If you're interested in the algorithm, the myth vs. fact info in the beginning of the official-guide could be helpful to check out. You could also check out other Q84 mock reports/score reports to see the different types of performances (across an entire section) that may end up with the same Quant score. The Understanding Your Score page on the MBA website also mentions three factors that Quant scores are based on.

When reviewing this mock, consider seeing whether there may have been shorter ways to solve questions you already got correct. This doesn't only mean questions such as Q15 (4.5 minutes). Perhaps you find/notice a shorter way to do Q2, for example.

How to get better at GMAT Quant. Look for the correct answer choice - not the exact answer.

hr1212 · Answer

It's not always about the number of questions you missed, as we have multiple debriefs from test-takers in the past who have scored in the lower 80s even with 1 or 2 mistakes. So, ideally, it's more about the difficulty of the questions you got incorrect rather than the number of the questions. If you check FE Quant percentiles, Q84 is still at the 85th percentile, which is not bad in any sense. But because Quant is the most competitive section, you will need to completely cut down your mistakes on easy and medium questions to get a 90+ percentile.

From your screenshot, what I could glean is that you still need to work a bit on your time management, as having 1.5 mins for your last 3 questions is quite unreal and there's a high probability that you will end up guessing multiple questions, tanking your score. Also, there's nothing wrong with taking 4-5 mins for a question or two, but then you need to be really fast on the easy questions. In your case, your overall average time for these questions is relatively high like I barely see any questions being solved around the 1-minute mark. And that would be a key takeaway for you - where are you planning to buy time for hard questions if you are allocating equal time for all levels of questions?

First step in GMAT prep is to get good accuracy at different levels and the second equally important one is to apply those techniques in a time-bound environment where you save time on some and spend extra on the ones that require it. Work on the latter and you will reach your target score soon.

First step in GMAT prep is to get good accuracy at different levels and the second equally important one is to apply those techniques in a time-bound environment where you save time on some and spend extra on the ones that require it. Work on the latter and you will reach your target score soon.

Pr4n · Answer

I understand, I think i recheck a lot due to which I am not able to do it in under 1 min in tests whereas in Practice sets i sometimes even finish before the allocated 45mins ( I usually keep just 5 easy questions, and then a rough 50/50 split between hard and medium, i know it's not foolproof). And in the practice sets I have actually spent like 5mins or even more sometimes on 1-2 questions and still wrapped up well within the time. But I think it is the difference between the test environment vs the practice environment which carries me during the practice sets. I achieve almost above 90%, like my last 3 sets have been 100%, 95%, 95%. Still making that one occasional mistake.

As in the past I have been guilty of just missing what the question was asking I just make sure, that am i even answering the right question. And sometimes i have been guilty of calculation errors so on more intensive calculation questions i just double check while i go. Probably in my next mock I will trust myself more atleast for the calculations.

But I have question for you, do you think sectional adaptivness could play a role here. I know only initial questions are affected by it but recenly i started doing DI first and Quant last, as when I used to do the opposite I guess i was not at my 100% in DI and since this change at least i struggle less on DI, even though i am not hitting higher scores like 85 but my previous DI scores were as low as 72 as I sometimes even missed to attempt. But now i have consistently seen DI80, and most importantly I haven't struggled for time as I am more aware what to skip in case i am struggling.

But back to the question as DI80 means in my verbal it starts at a roughly average or above average question as DI80 is still 86th percentile. But as Verbal is definitely not as strong as my quant I get consistent V83, the question on quant are relatively easier than it would have been if i started with the Quant itself. I mean personally it's tough to identify to say what's tough and what's not as there are only 1-2 questions either way in the whole set in which I need to really think about where to go. But what I think doesn't really matters, it matters whether the algorithms think i did more difficult questions or not.

Plus as you got a 90 on DI, did you begin with it or end with it? or maybe you stacked in the middle would like to know which order you took.

hr1212 · Answer

Yes section adaptiveness does come into play. Many have advised that the starting questions would just be slightly more or less difficult and shouldn't have a major impact but in my case I felt that the level of difficulty at the start of a new section was quite obvious. I started with DI, and then Q started on a tough note compared to my Mocks, and even faced high challenge at the start of Verbal which was my final section, so it does have certain effect. But as the algorithm is same for everyone, I wouldn't read too much into the lines here, just go with what you feel most comfortable with.

WhitEngagePrep · Answer

This is actually what makes the GMAT such a "great" test from the perspective of the makers of the exam (who want to get a measure of your underlying ability level from as few questions as possible), but also such a "tough" test from the perspective of the real human who has to take it (who is also likely to make careless errors on questions that are below their ability level).

This test is trying to figure out the average difficulty at the moment you go from getting most answers right to getting most answers wrong. So if you are getting easy things wrong, even just 1 or 2, the test recalibrates quickly to show you more "easy" on average - think of it this way, if the test thinks that the "cut point" from right to wrong is at a 77, it's going to show you more questions right in that range than really high or much lower. But that means it might not give you the chance to see hard questions so that you can prove it wrong.

The true takeaway for the GMAT - get whatever you want wrong if it's hard and you don't know how to do it! Get NOTHING wrong if it is "easy" FOR YOU and the only way you'd miss it is rushing, skipping steps, making poor (and usually fast) assumptions, etc. Careless errors were bad on the GMAT Classic, but they're an absolute death sentence on the new Focus!

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

I think this is a good move. While checking your work might seem like a good idea, it can really hurt your timing. You need to trust yourself and trust that you are making the correct calculations, so you do not turn a two-minute question into a four-minute one.

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Quant Mock Analysis- Mock 3 Re-attempt

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