First five questions should be correct ? GMAT myth

Question

Hey all,

Is it true that getting the first five(or ten) questions correct in GMAT will give a good GMAT score and getting them incorrect will hurt my score?
If yes then should I spend more time in attempting the first five(or ten) questions and making sure that they are absolutely right ?

Thanks

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi veeralshah,

You're essentially asking about how the GMAT scoring algorithm "works" - it's actually 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.

In the broader sense, you should focus on NOT making silly/little mistakes. Whether you face those issues in the first 5 questions or at the end of a section, making too many little mistakes on "gettable" questions will keep you from hitting your score goals.

How long have you been studying?
When are you planning to take the GMAT?

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

veeralshah · Answer

Rich thanks 
I will give GMAT on 6June 2015

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi veeralshah,

A June 6th Test Date is just a little over 3 weeks from now. You mentioned in another post how you had taken 4 CATs so far.

1) When did you take your last CAT? What were your scores (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
3) What is your score goal?

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

KarishmaB · Answer

GMAC has time and again put in the effort to bust this "myth". Also, it has known for a long time that such a myth exists so even if there was some truth to it before, it is highly unlikely that it hasn't been balanced. So it will not be in your best interests to put in extra time in the first 10 questions and then run out of time at the end. Of course, ensure that you are not making any "silly" mistakes by being aware of where you trip - but do that for the whole test. That said, also realize that it is logical that the last few questions would be used for fine tuning your score - whether it is 48 or 49 or 50. If you answer the last 5 questions correctly, your score will not jump from 35 to 45 since a basic range would have been set. The software is unlikely to make huge changes based on the last few questions - until and unless you leave them or answer them all incorrectly. But the 15th question is probably as crucial as the 5th question. So pace yourself through out the test and don't get stuck on a question. If you come across a time sucker, just move on. One question will not change your fortunes.

Also, even if you try, you cannot "make sure that the answer to the first few questions are absolutely right". You can try to ensure that you don't make any silly mistakes and you can recheck your work once but other than putting in too much time, you can't do much to ensure that you have answered a question correctly. So just don't worry about it.

veeralshah · Answer

Rich ,
I took a practice exam a month ago scoring 540 
I did not take the entire gmat , i just attempted Maths and Verbal.
I wish to get above 700

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi veeralshah,

It's good that we're having this conversation now. Given that your last CAT score was a 540 and that you did NOT take the ENTIRE CAT, it's unlikely that you're going to improve to a 700+ score in 3 weeks. As such, you should consider pushing back your Test Date. While you probably don't *want* to push it back, I would never advise someone to go in and take the GMAT if they were not close to their score goals.

You don't have to make that decision right this minute though. You should plan to take a FULL-LENGTH CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) this weekend and report back here with your scores. We can put together a plan to help you succeed, but a 160+ score improvement is not likely to happen in 3 weeks.

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

First five questions should be correct ? GMAT myth

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards