Bewildered! Need urgent analysis of my test performance.

Question

Hi All,

I have taken my GMAT on 1/11/2017. I scored a dismal 640 (Q47 V32). I have prepared for this test without any assistance. 
I have used resources such as Aristotle SC, Manhattan SC, PowerScore CR. I am particularly good at RC (90% accuracy).
Also, I have consistently scored more than 99 percentile in Verbal in two editions of CAT - the latest being 99.54%ile. Quant hovered around 80.

Now, coming to my Mock Scores. I have taken Manhattan Mocks (All 6), Veritas (All 7) GMAT Prep - 2 tests and 1 retake. 
My score ranged from 690 - 710 (Manhattan), 690 - 720 (Veritas), GMAT Prep 1 - 700, GMAT Prep 2 - 720 GMAT Prep 1 (Retake) - 760.
My verbal scores never dropped beyond 36 in Manhattan. I have scored in the range of 38-42. 
Also, my Qaunt scores never dropped below 50 in Veritas and 49 in GMAT Prep.
 I could solve most of the questions in OG without much problem.

Now, coming to the test taking experience. It was fairly smooth.
 During the entire stretch, I did not find that I missed couple of questions back to back. 
I had a fair mix of probability, combinatorics, standard deviation, solid geometry questions, which I thought I answered correctly.
I am also quite sure that my CR and RC section went quite well. But, alas, I landed up with this score.

I will definitely go fo a retake but I am at a loss in explaining this performance. Experts, please help.

Regards,
Arnab

arnabroy26 · Answer

Please provide some inputs. I could not understand this aberration of my score in the real test in spite of my consistent performances in the practice tests. Also, I was neither fatigued nor tensed during the entire test. I really need some advice on how not to repeat the mistakes in the next test.

Purvil311 · Answer

If you haven't already, I would suggest ordering the enhanced score report so you can see what areas you made mistakes on. That might help you prepare for your retake.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Arnab,

First off, a 640/Q47 is still a reasonably strong score (it's just shy of the 80th percentile overall), so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Depending on the Schools that you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of them here:

ask-admission-consultants-124/

When the types of score drops such as yours occur, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day. If you can answer a few questions, then we should be able to figure this out:

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?

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

arnabroy26 · Answer

Thank you Rich for your kind words.
As for my profile, I belong to the ubiquitous pool of Indian IT Male. I wanted to apply to ISB, HHL Leipzig, Mannheim, Kelley and Emory.
It seems all the above colleges are not attainable with my scores.I have been preparing since September, with on and off study time. 
I started taking mock CATs from December. I used to take 3 CATs per week.

Now, coming to your questions.

1. Yes, I took the entire CATs on the go. With 5 mins break in between sections. 
2. Yes, I took those tests at my home with noise being the only distraction.
3. My Mock timings used to vary. I took 3-4 tests in the morning, rest in the evening. Morning tests yielded better results.
(My GMAT test was scheduled at 9 AM)
4. No. I took breaks similar to what I used to do in my mocks.
5. Rarely. Apart from the retake GMAT PREP where hardly 5 questions were common in each section, I solved all unique questions.

Thanks,
Arnab

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Arnab,

Test Day is a rather specific 'event' - the details are specific and they matter, so you have to train as best as you can for all of them. The more realistic you can make your CATs, the more likely the score results are to be accurate. The more you deviate, the more "inflated" your scores can become - and that's likely what happened here. By taking the CATs at home, taking them at different times of day, seeing repeat questions etc., you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.' In addition, taking more than one CAT per week is a BAD idea. The process of properly taking (and reviewing) a FULL-LENGTH CAT requires a great deal of effort and energy. If you took so many CATs in such a short period of time, then it's highly likely that you experienced some 'burn out' before the Exam - and you might not have even realized it.

Beyond those points, have you considered purchasing the ESR? While the Enhanced Score Report doesn't provide much information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to determine the exact areas that you need to work on. If you buy the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

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

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