Princeton Review GMAT test - Accuracy

Question

Hello Everyone.

I just finished the Princeton review test (free) on their website and this is the score I got :

Verbal: 31 (31 out of 41 correct)
Quantitative: 39 (34 out of 37 correct)
Total (V & Q): 580

Do you guys know of any issues in scoring algorithm of PR ?

Thanks, 
Gaurav

Aiming for 750.

bb · Answer

Why are you doubting it? Do you have a different score that's meaningfully different (less than 40 points is not meaningful even on the GMAT)

gaurav780 · Answer

I doubt it as the score is pretty low compared to the percentage of correct ansers. In Manhattan test I scored 680 with far many wrong answers. I think Princeton algo is faulty and assigning lower scores are a part of their marketing strategy.

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

KarishmaB · Answer

The score does seem a bit suspect to me (especially in Quant) if the numbers are what you have given above (any chance of misinterpretation or typo?). There are many factors (e.g. difficulty level of the questions) that decide your raw score but if you answer questions correctly, you are supposed to get harder questions. Since you missed out on only 3 questions, even if they are all in a row, they can't affect your score this much. Though I haven't heard of any major issues with the scoring algorithm of Princeton Review. Whatever the reason for your low score, I don't think Princeton Review will try to get a marketing boost using a faulty algorithm. If anything, it will have the opposite effect since today's clientele is discerning enough. It might be some temporary glitch somewhere. Just to be sure, I would suggest you to try out the GMAT prep test or our free test.

gaurav780 · Answer

Definitely not a typo. I tried a free test on gmat club - got 51Q and 31V - I think that rounds to 680. Anytips to improve verbal in a week ?

AbhijeetGupta · Answer

Even I had the same problem.
I gave the free Princeton Test:
Verbal 33 of 41 correct
Quant 32 of 37 correct
Score 670.

I gave GMAT Prep test few days back...scored 710 with a lot many incorrect questions in there.

dakrownie · Answer

I just took the Princeton Free GMAT Test and I became doubtful.

Q 46(30 out of 37) and V41 (31 out of 41). The thing is I have never gotten about a 34 in Verbal. In fact the 34 I got was a retake on GMAT Prep 1. I started from a V25 (Manhattan GMAT) but I have been studying. The Verbal questions seemed easier. Could it be that I have improved sooooooo much? Wow!! I soooooo hope that is the case.

I immediately Googled to see what others are saying about the Princeton Review Test.

Does any one else feel the Verbal section was some what easier than normal GMAT Prep questions?

KarishmaB · Answer

Try an official GMAT Prep Test (mba.com) or Veritas Free Practice test (https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/free-gm ... tice-test/). A V41 in these tests will validate your score.

magatx · Answer

I recently took two Princeton Review tests:

Yesterday:
Q49 (31/37)
V37 (27/41)
690

Today:
Q43 (33/37)
V33 (31/41)
620

Even looking at which problems were experimental, it shouldn't cause this much of a difference. Some of the difficulty levels went down after correct answers.

Zeal · Answer

i have the same question.. 
Q47 (34 of 37 correct)
V35 (32 of 41 correct)
overall score - 660

while in gmat prep 1, i got overall score of 660 with 9 questions incorrect in Quant and 17 questions incorrect in verbal.. i don't think i would have improved so much in a week.. no matter how hard i study..

i felt that quants of princeton review was extreeeemmmeeeelllyyyyy easy and verbal was also a little easier (for ppl weak in verbal)

if anyone has analyzed then can you please throw some light on algo (which seems incorrect) of Princeton Review practice test and help us understand how do we predict our actual GMAT score based on this.. will be very helpful..

arpit3589 · Answer

Hi, First thing don't be scared of Princeton review scores

Yes there is some flaw in their algorithm. I tried their diagnostic test with no preparation at all ( completed quant in 30 mins! ) Scored : 630 Quant : 33 out of 37 Verbal : 27 out of 41 Then after a preparation of 2 months with the following scores: GMAT PREP 1 : 750 GMAT PREP 2: 720 KAPLAN 6 TESTS : 740,720,740,720,700 (This one sucks) VERITAS : 720 I again tried princeton test: Score : 640 Quant : 34 out of 37 Verbal 31 out of 41 Though Quant was easy 2-3 question are really hard no way (45 /51) and verbal was of normal difficulty. I know after reviewing carefully that I deserve greater than 640 for this attempt.

kinjiGC · Answer

Something is wrong with PR mock. I just took PR mock and got 650(QA 48/VA32). 
I got 5 wrong in QA (all are silly mistakes which I have myself to blame) but didn't agree with some of the OAs of VA (got 9 incorrect).

Out of 41 VA questions around 9 were experimental. If we see the difficulty level in VA, I started with 5 rating and ended up with 6. In between I got 8/9 level of experimental questions which surprisingly I got correct.

Last 4 mocks:
VeritasPrep Mock 4 - 710(QA50/VA37)
VeritasPrep Mock 3 - 710(QA50/VA37)
VeritasPrep Mock 2 - 720(QA50/VA39)
GMATPrep Mock 3 - 760 (QA50/VA42)

Anyway, I will be completing the other mocks and let see how I stabilize.

LaxAvenger · Answer

I just had V29 with 26 of 41. This is not even possible right? If you scored a V37 with 27/41 !

DudeYou · Answer

Verbal: 37 ( 32 correct out of 41)
Quantitative: 40 ( 28 correct out of 37)
Total (V & Q): 630

Is the scoring algorithm accurate..please advice?

apoorv601 · Answer

Hi Even my score have varied exponentially for Princeton review tests but not for Kaplan, I also am in doubt abt. the scoring system of Princeton

My Princeton Tests scores 
Test 1 - 660 (QA - 32/37 , VA - 30/41)
Test 2 - 740 (QA - 28/37 , VA - 35/41)

Quant of Kaplan tests is balanced overall and i think close to actual GMAT questions 
Verbal of Kaplan tests is little hard than actual GMAT 
Test 1 - 740 (QA - 24/37 , VA - 23/41)
Test 2 - 760 (QA - 34/37 , VA - 30/41)

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi apoorv601,

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.

Since that algorithm is proprietary, no GMAT company has an exact match for it, thus CAT scores can vary a bit based on the 'biases' involved in their respective designs. Some are known to be more accurate, others less so.

With these CATs, did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
Have you taken any of the GMAC CATs?

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

GMATPILLBILL · Answer

We can't comment for other tests but do note that no test prep company's algorithm will exactly match the real thing. The most we can do is get close. In terms of our scoring, many of our students report scores that are +/- 30 points from their actual GMAT test and so are a relatively good indicator of their performance. That said, no practice test can perfectly replicate the actual score algorithm, but this is quite close. You can always take a free GMAT PILL practice test here complete with detailed performance and timing analytics: https://www.gmatpill.com/gmat-practice-t ... ctice-test

bo2mac · Answer

First Mock ever, 5 out of 6 DS errors are silly, in SC I'm clueless..
Verbal: 32 (29/41, CR 10/11, RC 11/13, SC 8/17)
Quantitative: 48 (31/37, PS 19/19, DS 12/18)
Total (V & Q): 650
Analytical Writing: *
Integrated Reasoning: 5 (9/12)

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi bo2mac,

A 650 is a strong first CAT score (the average score on the Official GMAT hovers around 540-550 most years).

1) How long have you been studying?
2) What is your goal score?
3) When are you planning to take the GMAT?

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

bo2mac · Answer

Hi Rich,

1. Around a month
2. 720
3. July 2016

Still to take any GMATPrep mock

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