From 680 to..560

Question

Hello guys,

I would need the help of some gmat expert here. My profile is:
- phd in computational fluid dynamics;
- Working for a biiiig technology multinational (~350000 people) currently employed in a very technical oriented role (code dev, papers etc..);
- 32 yo
- 
Willing to enroll in a mba program, I started studying very discontinuously for the GMAT early February with the objective of passing it the 7th of June. I tried two official exams to assess what my level was. I scored 680 at both (Feb12th, 46Q, 37V) and (Feb 26th, 47Q and 37V).
I had to travel a lot during these two tryings. I started studying with a higher level of engagement at the beginning of March with the MGMAT books. I found them not so hard and completed them in 20 days (around 4 chapters/day). There were no very obscure points let's say. Also, I studied on the Off G though I did not complete it.

After a while, I tried two ManhGMAT and scored 580 (11th of March, Q38, V31) and 550 (25th of March, Q34, V32). I read that they are harder than the normal thing, so I though that was not so weird. Although yeah..that was scaring and depressing. I could not believe it..

Anyway, I wanted to try out the real gmat and signed in for a gmat the 3rd of April. I felt confident because I was able to solve very hard problems in this site under two minutes timing. I was very relaxed during the text and...well I got 560. I cancelled my scores not to report them to the schools. So, I have two months left to the 7th of June, two official and 4 mamhgmat tests left.
I can afford studying 2-3h/day and a lot more during weekends.

So dear guys, I have the following questions for you:
- how do you explain the discrepancy between official tests score and the one from the ManhGMAT;
- and well a few words of encouragement maybe...

Best Regards,

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi RAS85,

I'm sorry to hear that Test Day didn't go as well as planned. When these types of score drops 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 when you plan to take 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

RAS85 · Answer

1. yes I took the entire CAT each time;
2. It was in my home. Funny thing whenever I took them in my home I was as stressed as during the official exam;
3. It was in the morning..the tests today was in the afternoon;
4. No nothing at all..;
5. Nope, questions were not found twice.

I think that my real level is ~560 today. I should totally trust MGMAT scores and as long as they don't improve, I will not make it. Weird though, the first two official CATs.

But well, now that I know my real level, I know where to start.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi RAS85,

Based on the information that you've provided, there are a couple of 'red flags' in terms of how you took your CATs. Before we discuss those details though, I have a few additional questions about the lead-up to Test Day and Test Day itself:

1) What did you do in the 3 days before your GMAT?
2) How did you sleep the night before your Test?
3) How long was the ride to the Test Center from your home?
4) Were there any distractions at the facility or during the Test?
5) What did you do during the two 8-minute breaks?
6) Did you finish any sections early?
7) Did you have to rush to finish any sections (and guess on questions just to finish on time)?

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

RAS85 · Answer

1. I was very relaxed. I was not rushing but reviewing my weakest point. SC and combinatorics. But well, I was doing quite well in both..
2. Like a baby..no drugs help
3. 10 mins by walking
4. Not at all, I was fully concentrated and not bothered by the other guys taking the test
5. Eating chocolate and went to the bathroom
6. I finish both sections much earlier..because questions got very easy at some point
7. Nope..

Thanks again..

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hi,

In Both scores you have mentioned, your verbal score is close enough no much discrepency is there but in quaunt your score has been decreased 4 point
as for as discepency is concerned, Manhattan CATs aur considerd tough in Quaunt as compared to GMAT prep CATs
if you can achieve Q47 in Manhattan it is possible (not guarantee) you can achieve Q49 in GMAT prep

RAS85 · Answer

Hi Sajjaad,

Thanks a lot for your answer. Yes exactly, I see manhattanprep are a little harder. But this time they precisely assessed my level. Apart from the first two of the official gmat.

Now I have two months left from the other date. I'll keep you updated on my new results during the following weeks.

Posted from my mobile device

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi RAS85,

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 practice scores can become - and that's what happened here. By taking the CATs at home, taking them at different times of day, and anything else that didn't 'match up' with the details of your Official Test Day, you weren't properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.'

Beyond those details, we also have to discuss just how 'early' you finished the Quant and Verbal sections. As a general rule, finishing a section significantly early is NOT a good thing. For example, if you finished a section 10 minutes early, then that's a significant issue - since finishing that quickly almost certainly means that you rushed through questions and made some mistakes. If you finished 10 minutes early, but you spent 5 minutes on each of the last two questions, then that 'issue' is compounded, since you would have completed almost all of the questions in 55 minutes (instead of 65 minutes). So how early did you end up finishing the Quant and Verbal sections?

Regardless of this recent outcome, the GMAT is still the same consistent, predictable Exam that it's always been, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. You'll just have to be a bit more rigorous about how you study and commit to doing all of the necessary work (on the pad) so that the little mistakes that hurt you this time don't occur again.

1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

RAS85 · Answer

1) What is your goal score? My goal score is to break the 700 barrier. 700 would be the minimum, 720 a big success.
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School? I will apply in September for a starting in January. But if I fail again in June, I'll take it again in November which should still be enough for a January deadline.
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to? Let's say something between 20th to 5th in the MBA schools.

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