Real GMAT vs the practice tests

Question

Hi guys, 
So today I gave my GMAT and I experienced a considerable difference between the real test and the practice tests.

1. Practice tests were easier. 
2. A lot of PS questions 
3. All the SC questions had answer choices that were completely different from one another so could do a 2/3 split. 
4. RC passages were very long 
5. CR questions were either complete the sentence or method of reasoning. 
6. Verbal content was 90 percent scientific (SC,RC,CR and AWA) and I am not from a scientific background so they were all alien to me.

Any one experience something similar?

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LeoN88 · Answer

Welcome to the Gmatclub; on the contrary I think GMAC practice exams are the best representation of the actual GMAT test. You can read the expert reviews here- https://gmatclub.com/forum/all-gmat-pra ... ml?fl=menu Kindly mention the deviation of your actual score from mock score.

Businessconquerer · Answer

In my opinion the score you got has lot to do with point no. 3
All RC passages cannot be long, there must be atleast one short with only 2 paragraphs
I don't know much about CR, it is unpredictable
I got non scientific passages, economics based
Agreed with point no.1

But it only follows for test 1&2

If you gave the tests on repeat, it will definitely feel easier

saffronazuro · Answer

Quant score was very sad/bad
Verbal was 48 total 480

I think the SC questions as you pointed out were because of that reason. I was scored 680 in test one and 720 in test 2

I still can't figure out why the fiasco.

Businessconquerer · Answer

Are you serious about the verbal score????
Please attach an ESR, if you can I must analyse your exam
If that is not there an unofficial score report would do

Businessconquerer · Answer

A verbal score of 48 should definitely get you in a 500 range, What was the sad quant score??? WAS it 20? or 30?

chetansood · Answer

You had a verbal score of 48 !

All you have to do is polish up basic math get a decent percentile not stellar jusy basic and u will make it.

Businessconquerer · Answer

I find it kind of hard to believe, you see V48  chetansood  gets you in a 600 segment with a quant score of 29
If you subtract the quant score even by 10 points, he'd be in 550 segment
He has to get a 1 in quant to get a horrible score such as this.
That is why asked for his ESR, I need to analyse what is wrong here.
Perhaps the algorithm screwed him up, not suggesting that a member would risk getting banned by a moderator by lying

Abhi077 · Answer

Yeah ESR would be helpful here. This is by far the most unique score i have seen..v48 and a 480? . Well my friend, you can sure try to hit the 99 percentile score EASILY! Trust me, anyone can improve gmat quant in a very short time..Give it a try to good prep courses here and gmat club tests. you can check the reviews for various courses here. https://gmatclub.com/reviews/gmat_courses/?fl=menu . Personal recommendation: TTP for quant

Sammysat · Answer

I can see why an ESR will make a lot of difference in this argument. A V48 is at the high end of verbal and in combination with a low quant score is not popular on this forum. Anyway, you have a lot of advantage if you can brush up your quant.

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Posted from my mobile device

Businessconquerer · Answer

Exactly my point  Abhi077

Hey can you tell me more about target test prep??
Do they tell you a different kind of approach to practice the tricky GMAT questions??

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi saffronazuro,

To start, when you say that your Verbal Score was a '48', I assume that you are referring to the PERCENTILE (and not the SCALED SCORE). Is that correct? A Scaled Score of V48 would be an elite-level performance - and since most people in the forum here post their Scaled Scores (and not the percentiles), I think that's caused some confusion for the other posters in this thread. Based on what you described, your Verbal Scaled Score was probably closer to a V28.

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day did not go as well as hoped. Before I can offer you any advice for your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs/mocks (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
6) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

NeehaL · Answer

I took the exam today and I can vouch for points #1 and #6. There was one RC so scientific that I really couldn't fully comprehend it and I'm pretty sure I messed that section up. I had an average of 760 after taking the 6 official practice tests and got a 710 today. Mostly because I did much worse on verbal today. I also did find all the practice tests much easier than today's exam. Sucks. Hoping it'll go better next time around.

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Posted from my mobile device

Businessconquerer · Answer

Test centres are open on Sundays?
That's amazing to hear
I'm mostly free on Sundays

NeehaL · Answer

It was Saturday. So I know they are open Saturdays. Don't know about Sundays .

Businessconquerer · Answer

In my defence it said today
But thanks, I'll look if they got sundays in too

NeehaL · Answer

It was Saturday. So I know they are open Saturdays. Don't know about Sundays . 
In my defence it said today
But thanks, I'll look if they got sundays in too

Ha. You're right. I guess it was technically Sunday morning at like 5am. But I hadn't been able to sleep all night so I was still in Saturday mode.

Posted from my mobile device

Sammysat · Answer

Hi,
I don't think you did bad but I think I understand the feeling when you are always scoring around 760 and the real exam gave you 710, it's somehow. I think you should just check the average of the schools you want to apply to, you might still be fine except you now decide to do another exam. All the best.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi saffronazuro,

Could you please provide your exact score breakdown from your GMAT? I’m happy to provide some advice, but I’d like to learn more about your situation with the GMAT. Once you respond to the questions already asked, I’ll provide further advice.

freedom128 · Answer

Hi,

Your verbal scaled score is very high (48 out of 51).if you want to retake, need to practice Quant a lot.

You may want to consider purchasing a subscription of gmatclub test. 1000+ hard yet realistic (close to real) quant questions there. Try from easy to medium and hard. I took real gmat 4x in 2016-2018 (my last score is 720), so yes, this advice stems from my personal experience with those 4 real tests.

Best wishes

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