Unbelievable discrepancy between official and Mock scores in Verbal

Question

Dear Mentors, GMAT Experts and all GmatClub members,
I am a non-native English speaker. In Sep 2019, I finished all 3 verbal Manhattan's Verbal strategy guides. Then I attempted 1st GmatPrep full-length practice test, scoring 550. I was unhappy with the score, so I enrolled with e-gmat.com . But I couldn't see any significant improvement. There is nothing wrong with e-gmat. There is some fault, which I am not able to figure out, with me or my preparation. The e-gmat scholaranium does ask to pass 2 consecutive, timed tests of 
medium level with a minimum 70% accuracy and
hard level with minimum 50% accuracy.
I did not finish e-gmat's scholaranium , but, during Jan - Aug 2020, I attempted GmatClub's questions (while using the timer function)
1) SC Difficult (55-95 % hard) Level, Total number of Questions attempted = 684, Accuracy = 46 % 
2) SC Med (25-45 % hard) Level, Total number of Questions attempted = 359, Accuracy = 68 %
3) CR Difficult (55-95 % hard) Level, Total number of Questions attempted = 187, Accuracy = 52 % 
4) CR Med (25-45 % hard) Level, Total number of Questions attempted = 266, Accuracy = 75 %
5) RC Difficult (55-95 % hard) Level, Total number of Questions attempted = 118, Accuracy = 51 %
6) RC Med (25-45 % hard) Level, Total number of Questions attempted = 574, Accuracy = 67 %

I have attempted various full length Mock Tests. My Verbal score varied in
1) Manhattan's MGMAT   Tests from   V31       to   V38      
2) GmatPrep Mock   Tests from   V17       to   V41      
3) GmatClub CAT   Tests from   V19       to   V34

Since today, I have  appeared for Official/REAL GMAT 6 times .
Following are details about the dates, mode of exam , total scores and individual scores
 Attempt 1)  Dec 2019, at test Centre, Total Score 500 = Q46,   V15   
 Attempt 2)  June 2020, at test Centre, Total Score 590 = Q49,   V21  
 Attempt 3)  Aug 2020, through Online GMAT, Total Score 610 = Q49,   V24   
 Attempt 4)  Aug 2020, at test Centre, Total Score 590 = Q49,   V23  
 Attempt 5)  Nov 2020, through Online GMAT, Total Score 620 = Q49,   V25  
 Attempt 6)  Dec 2020, at test Centre, Total Score 600 = Q49,   V24

In 1st 3 attempts, I distributed the time uniformly overall questions. From ESR report of 2nd attempt, I realized that my accuracy in different quarters was {Q1 = 50%, Q2=100%, Q3= 71%, Q4=50%}. I thought the unbelievable discrepancy between official and Mock scores in Verbal was due to poor performance in Quarter 1 (Q1). I designed the new timing strategy, allotting 50% more time for questions in Q1 and compromising that extra time in Q3 and Q4. I attempted around 4 verbal adaptive tests and 1 full-length mock test with a new strategy. Then, I booked the slot for 4th attempt. Again disappointment did not hesitate to shatter me with a score of 590. Immediately, I cancelled the score of 4th & 6th official attempts.

Initially, I thought, I might have anxiety issues. But during the online official exam at home and other 3 official attempts at physical centres, I was as calm as usual, neither better nor worse than usual. I tried meditation techniques to improve my calmness. But I did not find anything useful. In all 4 attempts, I completed all questions just 1-2 mins before time, the speed was neither too fast nor too slow.

Even after  6 official attempts, 30 Adaptive and timed practice Tests, 22 Verbal full-length tests and around 1000 Difficult and 1200 Medium level Verbal questions ,   I am not able to understand the vast difference between Verbal Scores in Mock tests and Verbal Scores in Official GMAT tests

As all other GMAT aspirants, I am targeting to pass the GMAT barrier of 700+. These  6 official attempts  have definitely crumbled my self-confidence, but I still do not want to give up. I am looking forward to try  PRIVATE TUTORING or MARKS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM , though it is costly and a non-traditional way.

I hope, your expert knowledge and years of experience will help me and all other students to overcome such hindrances faced by us. Thank you again for offering this opportunity to express this concern in front of the whole GmatClub Community

ZucchiniGMAT · Answer

HI there,

I just read through your post and you have are close! You have an exceptional Quantitative score, but you just need a good verbal score to go with it.

I understand that English is not your first language and I do not understand how difficult it must be. You may be seeing the same questions when practicing which may explain why your practice test scores are higher than your verbal score on the real test.

From what I have researched about the verbal section you may find these following tips helpful.

1.  Important : Read at least 30mins a day. (Preferably New York Times, The Economist, but anything will do)

2. Practice, Practice, Practice. This is obvious, but even try questions that aren't specific to the GMAT, there are plenty of reading comprehension and sentence correction problems on the web. Consider using free SAT practice questions on the web!

3. Memorizing Idioms (If you have the time)

Hope this helps!

Harsh2111s · Answer

Hi Kodai1Kanal Its very cruel story you mentioned, I can understand your frustration, but you need to calm down first. Be honest with yourself, I believe following are the mistakes you have done in your last 6 months preparation.Don't think otherwise if I sound too harsh. 1. You have not analyzed your mistakes after attempting each question. You attempted numbers are fancy but of least use. For eg. SC - Give enough time to understand each wrong attempt.Go through errors in each option and make note of it. try not to repeat same error. And I can see only Medium to difficult level questions accuracy in your post. Do you have 100% accuracy in Sub-600 level ? If not, here's your biggest mistake. 2.I believe you are rushing things, the amount of mocks you have given in such a short span is unbelievable. I would suggest you few tips and it would definitely help. 1.Don't concentrate on quantity. Solve only 10 SC CR questions a day but make sure you are learning 40 errors to eliminate options. 2.Read very slowly for RC, see all webinar from below link. https://gmatclub.com/forum/all-gmat-nin ... l#p2396353 And finally I would say PLEASE SLOW DOWN Hope to see you hitting that 700 mark. All the best

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Kodai1Kanal,

I'm sorry to hear that your last 3 Official GMATs did not go as well as hoped. 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. Before we discuss any of those potential issues though, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

1) Over the last 3 months, what type of study routine have you been following? How many hours did you typically study each week?
2) Other than the course you mentioned, what other specific study materials have you used?
3) Over the last 3 months, on what dates did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
4) On what dates did you take your last 3 Official GMATs?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong on Test Day (and what you should work on to score higher). Since you purchased the ESR for your 2nd attempt, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you. If you would rather not post it publicly, then you can feel free to PM it directly to me.

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

Kodai1Kanal · Answer

Hi ZucchiniGMAT,
Thanks a lot for responding on short notice.

1. Important: Read at least 30mins a day. (Preferably New York Times, The Economist, but anything will do) 
--> Yes, I have a subscription of nytimes.com . I generally read 2-3 editorials before I go to sleep

2. Practice, Practice, Practice. This is obvious, but even try questions that aren't specific to the GMAT, there are plenty of reading comprehension and sentence correction problems on the web. Consider using free SAT practice questions on the web! 
--> Sure, I will explore SAT resources

3. Memorizing Idioms (If you have the time) 
--> Sure, as a non-native English speaker, I can't rely on my ears. Though GMAT is moving away from Idioms, it does still ask a couple of idioms based questions. If one can't identify the meaning or grammar-based splits, then idioms - splits may help to eliminate 2-3 options. Manhattan SC guide does have a comprehensive list of idioms and probable mistakes/traps in idioms.

Thank you again !!

Kodai1Kanal · Answer

Hi Harsh2111s ,
Thank you and I don't mind the harsh reviews. I hope they will help in improving the score.

1. You have not analyzed your mistakes after attempting each question. You attempted numbers are fancy but of least use.
For eg. SC - Give enough time to understand each wrong attempt. Go through errors in each option and make note of it. try not to repeat same error.

--> I understand that not analyzing the mistakes is most common among the aspirants who practice a lot but score less. But looking at all GmatClub webinars, I realized this mistake beforehand. So, during Jan-June, I used to solve 10-15 problems per section (e.g - sc, cr & rc) per day and then actually write critically reviewed notes for each problem.
I am writing the sample format of questions i used to ask myself while reviewing SC Questions
??% (hard)
-- Most attractive but incorrect answer Choice Option __( %) vs Correct answer choice __( %)

-- How meaning is Distorted?
(i) __CHANGE POSITION OF MODIFIERS__
(ii) __USE DIFFERENT MODIFIERS__ (VERB-ing Modifier, VERB-ed Modifier , Noun Modifier, Adjective v/s Verb)
(iii) __USE DIFFERENT CONJUNCTIONS__
(iv) __CHANGE VOICE OF THE SENTENCE__
(v) __REMOVE / ADD / MODIFY WORDS THAT PROVIDE CONTEXT OR USE WORD DIFFERENTLY__

-- Which concepts are being tested? and What was the test writer's objective?
-- New concept Learned ??
-- VERTICAL Elimination? (splits ??)

And I can see only Medium to difficult level questions accuracy in your post.
Do you have 100% accuracy in Sub-600 level?

--> However I do agree that I have never practised Sub-600 level questions from OG or any other resources. I understand that penalty of getting the easy level question wrong is very very high. Let me revise manhattan's Verbal strategy guides one more time and kick back the verbal preparation from Sub-600 level questions.

2.Read very slowly for RC, see all webinar from below link.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/all-gmat-nin ... l#p2396353
--> Sure, i am going through those videos. Let's see whether those videos do help.

And finally I would say PLEASE SLOW DOWN
--> Actually i kept the preparation very slow from Jan to June 2020. I have revised e-gmat's SC notes atleast 20 times till date. I have read GmatClub's mathbook before attempting every mock and real test. I have revised all verbal hard questions and incorrectly attempted medium level questions before attempting each mock and real test.

Kodai1Kanal · Answer

Hi Rich,
Thanks for responding. Please check your DM.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Kodai1Kanal,

Assuming that you took your official practice exams under realistic testing conditions, the results show that, on a good day, you are capable of scoring higher than V23. Thus, it’s quite possible that nerves, stress, tiredness, or a combination of all three negatively affected your test-day performance. However, it’s also possible that you have some lingering weaknesses that were exposed on test day. Although I’m unsure of how you prepared, it’s possible that, in your preparation, particularly in verbal, you did not really learn to do what you have to do in order to score high on the actual GMAT. Rather, you picked up on some patterns that were effective in getting you relatively high scores on practice tests. So, for you to hit your score goal, your preparation, particularly for verbal, probably needs to be more complete, meaning that you have to go through the various types of GMAT questions carefully to find your exact weaknesses, fill gaps in your knowledge, and strengthen your skills.

For verbal specifically, you have to become more skilled at clearly defining the differences between trap choices and correct answers. Otherwise, you will get stuck guessing between two choices or be surprised to find that you incorrectly answered questions that you thought you answered correctly. Becoming more skilled in this way takes carefully analyzing all of the answer choices to lots of verbal questions to develop an eye for the logical differences between the choices. In other words, you have to go beyond answering practice questions and reading explanations to doing deep analysis of questions to learn to see everything that is going on in them.

You also may find it helpful to read the following articles:

how to score a 700+ on the GMAT

Why Was My GMAT Score Lower Than My Practice Test Scores?

yashhh · Answer

Buddy, I got pretty much the same story as you. Somehow, I ace the mocks but fail miserably on the main exam. Would love to have a word with you whenever you're free. Please dm your number, thanks!

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Unbelievable discrepancy between official and Mock scores in Verbal

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