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15 Jan 2025, 01:23
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Hi,
I recently sat my exam this past weekend and I was very disappointed with the result, a 505, I dropped by over 70 points from mock average and dropped in nearly every area, but now that I have received the score report I am even more confused on the GMAT scoring.
For example, on the quant section I more than doubled the correct answers to 13 from 6 and my quant score dropped to a 70 from 74. I understand that the GMAT doesn't only factor the # of correct answers but also the level of difficulty of the question among others. But I would have thought that such an improvement would still merit a score increase, not decrease.
I knew quant would be my weak so I focused heavily on covering the basics but to get the easy level question correct at minimum as I understand the guessing incorrectly on the easier questions would punish you more in terms of scoring.
Similarly with the data insights and verbal section, I maintained the number of correct questions as during my mock, and again I understand the number of questions answer correctly is not the most weighted factor in the scoring but my verbal dropped from the 79th percentile to the 48th, by dropping from 82 to 79 and my DI to a from 73rd percentile to the 54th, 78 to 76.
Was the question mix and question so different that despite maintaining and even improving on answering questions I could still receive a lower score?
What are the possible factors that I didn't consider that I should and how should I refocus my exam and prep strategy?
Many thanks!
I recently sat my exam this past weekend and I was very disappointed with the result, a 505, I dropped by over 70 points from mock average and dropped in nearly every area, but now that I have received the score report I am even more confused on the GMAT scoring.
For example, on the quant section I more than doubled the correct answers to 13 from 6 and my quant score dropped to a 70 from 74. I understand that the GMAT doesn't only factor the # of correct answers but also the level of difficulty of the question among others. But I would have thought that such an improvement would still merit a score increase, not decrease.
I knew quant would be my weak so I focused heavily on covering the basics but to get the easy level question correct at minimum as I understand the guessing incorrectly on the easier questions would punish you more in terms of scoring.
Similarly with the data insights and verbal section, I maintained the number of correct questions as during my mock, and again I understand the number of questions answer correctly is not the most weighted factor in the scoring but my verbal dropped from the 79th percentile to the 48th, by dropping from 82 to 79 and my DI to a from 73rd percentile to the 54th, 78 to 76.
Was the question mix and question so different that despite maintaining and even improving on answering questions I could still receive a lower score?
What are the possible factors that I didn't consider that I should and how should I refocus my exam and prep strategy?
Many thanks!
15 Jan 2025, 13:20
Kudos
Bookmarks
It’s understandable to feel frustrated and confused after such a scoring experience, but it’s important to remember how the GMAT scoring algorithm works. Your score isn’t solely based on the number of correct answers but also on the difficulty level of the questions you answered correctly or incorrectly, as well as where those mistakes occurred.
For quant, improving the number of correct answers doesn’t always translate to a higher score if many of those were on easier questions. Early mistakes or struggling with medium-difficulty questions can lead to being fed easier ones, which caps your scoring potential. The GMAT is adaptive, so accuracy at higher difficulty levels is crucial.
In verbal and DI, maintaining the same number of correct answers doesn’t guarantee a consistent score if the algorithm evaluates your performance against a different mix of question difficulties or critical early mistakes. A drop in percentile could also mean you performed relatively worse compared to the test-taker pool during this specific sitting.
For your next attempt:
1) Focus on accuracy with medium and high-difficulty questions, especially in the first half of each section.
2) Analyze your timing to ensure you’re not rushing through early questions or guessing too much toward the end.
3) Simulate real testing conditions more accurately in your mocks, including stress and timing pressure.
4) Review question types and patterns that you’re consistently missing, especially at higher difficulty levels.
Refining your strategy around question difficulty and test pacing should help you perform closer to your potential. Don’t lose confidence—your mock scores show your capability, and this is an opportunity to make targeted adjustments. Good luck!
For quant, improving the number of correct answers doesn’t always translate to a higher score if many of those were on easier questions. Early mistakes or struggling with medium-difficulty questions can lead to being fed easier ones, which caps your scoring potential. The GMAT is adaptive, so accuracy at higher difficulty levels is crucial.
In verbal and DI, maintaining the same number of correct answers doesn’t guarantee a consistent score if the algorithm evaluates your performance against a different mix of question difficulties or critical early mistakes. A drop in percentile could also mean you performed relatively worse compared to the test-taker pool during this specific sitting.
For your next attempt:
1) Focus on accuracy with medium and high-difficulty questions, especially in the first half of each section.
2) Analyze your timing to ensure you’re not rushing through early questions or guessing too much toward the end.
3) Simulate real testing conditions more accurately in your mocks, including stress and timing pressure.
4) Review question types and patterns that you’re consistently missing, especially at higher difficulty levels.
Refining your strategy around question difficulty and test pacing should help you perform closer to your potential. Don’t lose confidence—your mock scores show your capability, and this is an opportunity to make targeted adjustments. Good luck!
