Score discrepencies in VertiasPrep exam

Question

Hello everyone,

I did two VeritasPrep online exams. On the first one, my Verbal score was V34(71%) with the following breakdown:Total correct (51%), CR 33% correct, RC 75% correct and SC 50% correct.
On the second one my Verbal score was V28 (51%) with the following breakdown:Total correct (67%), CR 62% correct, RC 58% correct and SC 82% correct.

I cant't understand why my verbal score went down. Can somebody explain?

Thanks

azooktutor · Answer

Did you change anything on the second VP exam? The GMAT doesn't leave much to chance, so a small change can have a large impact on your score. Given that your breakdown for the second test was higher in all areas except RC, I'm wondering if you rushed in the beginning and got several early questions wrong. That would have made it difficult for you to catch up again.

It's also possible that you just had a bad day. Review the questions you got wrong (especially RC), and take another CAT when you feel ready. If you get a score similar to your first one, you'll know the V28 was a fluke.

Best of luck!

afa13 · Answer

Actually, I had more questions wrong at the beginning of the V34 than at that of the V28. Is it possible to be a fluke?
Shouldn't there be a consistency in scoring?
Thanks.

azooktutor · Answer

That's interesting. Veritas Prep has a nice article on the topic. I can't post links yet, but you can find it by searching for the title "Help! My Practice Test Score Seems Wrong!". There are many things that go into the score other than the right/wrong breakdown. It could be that you just happened to miss all of the "difficult" questions. And, of course, the VP tests are not official. Have you taken any GMATPrep tests?

afa13 · Answer

I am keeping the GMATPrep until I have exhausted all of my other study resources.
Thanks for the insight. A must read!

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

Taking that approach to using the GMAT Prep tests is basically a good idea. However, if you have the financial resources to purchase the two sets of GMAT Prep tests, then it may be a good idea to use one of the two free GMAT Prep tests soon.

Here's why.

The GMAT has a certain feel to it. For one thing, the questions on the actual GMAT tend to be tricky without being particularly complex. While some of the test prep companies have done a pretty good job of creating practice tests that match the real GMAT, the match is not always exact, and while you are prepping, it's good to have a sense of how the actual GMAT is. All too often, people don't prep optimally because they haven't taken any official practice tests and, thus, don't have accurate senses of what they have to do in order to hit their score goals.

So, now that you have taken two practice tests, and have a general sense of how to approach taking the GMAT, it may make sense to make your next practice test one of the GMAT Prep tests. By doing so, you will get a more accurate sense of what the GMAT will be like when you take it, and you will get a more accurate indication of how you would score on the GMAT were you to take it today.

afa13 · Answer

Thanks Marty. I appreciate the feedback.

Score discrepencies in VertiasPrep exam

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