Just took my GMAT - 10 point drop in verbal (from v38 to v28)

Question

Hello guys,

I've been an avid reader of this forum since I started studying for the GMAT, a month ago.

Just took the test today, and got a 10 point drop from my average usual scores in GMAT Prep.

I've been struggling to find the causes, and got really surprised to see the low score at the end, since I did not noticed it while doing the test.

I got really sick yesterday night, which kept me from sleeping, and that could be the cause. However, I managed to keep my usual score in quant (q47).

Also, since I'm naturally more gifted in verbal than in quant, my study was focused solely on the latter. I kept scoring high in Verbal on the CATS which kept me comfortably unaware of my faith.

I have cancelled the score, which is too low for what is required by my goal (ESADE MSc Finance - 670), and am thinking of giving the exam another try.

That being said, I would love to hear some advice from you guys. I'm really late in the applications process, and since I have to wait 16 days before re-taking the test, I'll fall farther behind.

Has any of you had a similar experience? Either in (very) late applications or a big drop in score?

How long should I give myself for further study? Is it worth it?

Thank you!

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

If you tell your current score and breakdown, then we can come up with a concrete plan and the areas that need to be improved.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi pedrofg94,

I'm sorry to hear about your issues on Test Day. Sickness, combined with a lack of sleep, could absolutely be enough to explain the score drop - especially in the Verbal section, since that's the final 75 minutes of the Exam (when most people are naturally tired). Before we attribute the score drop to just those two factors though, I'd like to know a bit more about how you took your CATs:

1) What was your Official GMAT Score (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) How did you score on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
3) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
4) Did you take them at home?
5) Did you take them at the same time of day as when you took your Official GMAT?
6) 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.)? 
7) 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

pedrofg94 · Answer

Dear Rich,

Thank you for your answer!

1) My score was 620 (Q47 V29). I just received my Enhanced Score Report, which gave me a little insight about my performance in Verbal. Apparently, I got 2/3 of the last quarter of the questions wrong.

2) I did two full CATS. In the first one I got 700 (Q47 V40) and in the second one I got a 690 (Q48 V37)

3) Never did the essay. Never payed too much attention to the IR.

4) I always took them at home.

5) Never exactly at the same time of the day, but close.

6) Sure did. I paused lots of times, and even had lunch between the two parts during the second exam.

7) Never took a full CAT more than once.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi pedrofg94,

The extra information that you've provided is quite useful, as it helps to define what went wrong on Test Day. In real basic terms, you took your CATs in such a way that you were NOT properly training to face the Official GMAT - so you were not ready to face it on Test Day.

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 skipping sections, taking the CATs at home, taking them at different times of day, pausing the Exams, etc., you were not properly training for the FULL GMAT 'experience.'

Thankfully, this is a relatively easy set of problems to fix. The big question now is "how long will it take you to properly get 'used to' taking the full GMAT?" You'll certainly need a new set of practice CATs to work with and you have to put in the necessary time to train your brain (and body) for the FULL GMAT. You might also need to invest in some new GMAT training materials.

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

pedrofg94 · Answer

Hi Rich,

Thank you so much for the great pragmatic answer.

I've never focused on the required "mental" training for the exam, as I mistakenly though that only the problem solving ability really made a difference.

Could you tell me how could someone in my situation succeed in the next test? Do you think I should base my study in practicing for verbal, focus on the CAT experience, or a balance of the two?

I managed to get all the Manhattan Prep books, including the 6 available CATS, so I have all the required materials needed for the task.

PS: I have the choice of taking the test in May the 16th, allowing me to finish my application for September, or retake it later and apply for February.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi pedrofg94,

A May 16th Test Date is just 2 weeks away - and unfortunately that is not a lot of time to hone all of the skills that you would need to hone to hit your score goal. While you could conceivably get to that level in 1 month (and it's certainly possible that you could do it in less time), there isn't a practical way to predict whether you'll be able to do it or not.

1) What is the earliest that you could take the GMAT if it's NOT on May 16th?

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

pedrofg94 · Answer

Hello!

I can take it on May 17th max! Already booked that date. 10 am, wish me luck!!

I've not been studying this week, and will not manage to study the week end either. Will I lose anything from my 1month practice when I start to study on Monday?

Many thanks

ramed86 · Answer

Hi Pedro,

I was in a situation similar to yours. I was scoring around v42 on GMAT prep and scored v37 (total 660) on the actual test. Two weeks after, I scored v47 (total 760).

The last part of verbal can be hard, as naturally you're tired and eager to see the score. I saw you purchased the Enhanced Score Report. How is your Reading Comprehension? To me, that made a huge difference. I saw a massive drop in RC. After studying resources on stress and cortisol release for a few days, I found out that stress has a huge impact on short term memory. What I did was change the way I read questions. Instead of reading naturally like I would read the newspaper, I started reading as if I was dissecting sentences and extracting all meaning from them. I turned reading into a fully conscious process, which somehow protected the process from stress. This applies not only to RC, but to everything on the verbal section.

There is a great post on this site called "10 Tips to Improve Your Score & App With NO Extra Studying", I wish I had read it before taking the GMAT. I realised many of these things through trial and error.

Focus on reading, read carefully and understand everything, ignore your surroundings and defeat the GMAT.

pedrofg94 · Answer

Thank you so much for your concern!

I think I blew it in the last verbal section, in which I got 38% right (1-62%//2-71%//3-100%//4-38%).

I did not start to study yet, and will not start until Monday. I'll take the GMAT in the 17th, so that makes about 9 days of studying. Do you think that the test-taker loses a lot of preparation from a week study break?

ramed86 · Answer

Pedro, don't worry about the break. It'll probably help you recover from the blow you took. But I'd say that at this time, you shouldn't focus on studying. You do have the knowledge in you, somewhere, since you did well on GMAT Prep. Now it's about claiming the score that you deserve. In my opinion, you should focus on going there with the right attitude. It took me a while to understand that no matter what you do for months, it's only those 4 hours that matter. Make sure you make the best of them.

pedrofg94 · Answer

UPDATE: Retook the GMAT today, and got 620 (Q42; V34) The scores got inverted completely!! I lost 5 points on Q and gained 5 points on V! No logic whatsoever..! What conclusions should I take from this? I am completely lost

gmatnoobie1 · Answer

I just took my first gmat and encountered the same problem that you did. I have been scoring around 38-40 on verbal during practice tests but scored an abysmal 31 on verbal during the actual test.

Just took my GMAT - 10 point drop in verbal (from v38 to v28)

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