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Question

I am a college senior graduating in a month and I plan to take the GMAT in two weeks. I'm aiming for a 750+ but the two CATs I've taken on GMATPrep have been 740(49Q 42V) and 720 (48Q 41V). I've taken a couple of CATs on MGMAT but it felt a lot harder than the official questions and my scores were dramatically lower than what I've gotten on the GMATPrep tests, so I've been doing MGMAT tests for practice but not focusing too much on the scores themselves.

Quant has been especially frustrating and I'm wondering what are some of the things people have done as last minute strategies to move up a couple of points? It looks like I get caught up in two or three difficult questions and then rush through about 3 or 4 questions toward the end (which seem not too hard, and I can probably get them right given the normal 2 minutes). Would purchasing additional quant help from mba. com help at this point?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi daysandhours,

With these 2 practice CAT scores, you're scoring at the right level to hit your score goals. However, at your current level, the GMAT becomes really "sensitive" to little mistakes, so just a couple of poorly-timed errors will cost you those extra points that you're looking for.

To that end, you've already identified one of your 'problem areas' - spending too much time on a few questions is costing you some questions at the end of the section. There is likely even MORE that you can deduce by reviewing your CATs question-by-question. What else are you missing? WHY are you getting questions wrong? What can you do differently? Identifying those details and working to improve on those areas should be a part of these last couple of weeks of study.

Are these the only 2 CATs that you've taken?
Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?

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

daysandhours · Answer

Yes, those are the only CATs I've taken in full. I took 2 CATs on MGMAT (without the IR and essay) and while the verbal score was similar to the GMATPrep score, I struggled with quant on MGMAT a lot more. I got high 600's on both.

Regarding time management on difficult quant questions, will it work to my advantage if I guess and move on for the few that are eating up my time? I tend to spend a bit below 2 minutes for problem solving and a bit over 2 minutes for data sufficiency. What I am also concerned about is the way the computer adaptive system works (getting higher level questions if you answer previous ones correctly)- is the way GMATPrep CAT's bring out questions fairly representative of the level of difficulty of the questions I'll see on the actual exam?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi daysandhours,

The Official GMAC CATs are arguably the most realistic CATs on the market, but they're populated with relatively small "pools" of questions. This is meant to say that even though the algorithm will be the same on the Official GMAT, it could adapt to you in slightly different ways (since the Official GMAT has more questions in its pool).

If certain questions are taking you too long and you're getting them wrong anyway, then you'd be better off dumping a few of those questions. Assuming that you use that extra time to your advantage, you could see an uptick in your scores.

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

RichEconomistGMAT · Answer

Hi daysandhours,

The good news is that your practice scores are excellent and are well within striking distance of your target score. With two weeks until you take the GMAT, focusing on the little details like timing, etc. will absolutely be key in getting your score up at least those 10 points you're looking for.

Also, curious to know if this is your first attempt. If so, that's even better news. Most applicants take the GMAT at least twice, so even if you miss just slightly on this first go around, you can always dig your heels back in and retake it.

Best of luck,
Rich

daysandhours · Answer

Yes, this is my first attempt. It hasn't been too long since I've taken standardized tests in high school so a lot of my test taking skill s are still fresh in my head. But I have never taken a computer adaptive test and I'm still a bit confused as to how GMAT's algorithm works. From my understanding, if you keep answering correctly, the level of difficulty of your questions increase, and I've read somewhere that harder questions may have a heavier weight in your raw score. That being said, are test takers generally better off guessing on a difficult question they don't know how to solve (to gain more time in easier questions afterwards) or spend 4-5 minutes on a difficult question (and possibly sacrificing time for easier ones later) because those count more?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi daysandhours,

The scoring algorithm on the Official GMAT is far more complicated than most people realize. It takes into account a number of different factors, including the relative difficulty of the question, whether you were expected to get it correct or not, the placement of the question, what's going on "around it", the "strings" of correct and incorrect answers, whether the question even counts or not (some questions are "experimental" and are worth 0), if you leave questions unanswered and incur a penalty, etc. As such, you shouldn't be spending time trying to figure it all out. You'd be better served working on building up your skills.

A far more useful gauge would be to review each CAT and determine how many questions you SHOULD have gotten correct, but didn't (due to a silly/little mistake). Those mistakes are the things that you have to fix to score at a higher level.

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

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