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GMAT scaling question

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GMAT scaling question

by rowbus » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:43 pm
First, let me explain my unofficial practice scores thus far:

Test 1: Princeton Review Diagnostic, 1.21.09, 590 (V40, Q31) On the math, I missed 18 of 37. On the verbal, I missed 6 of 41.

Test 2: Free GMAT Test from GMAC, 2.1.09, 640 (V40, Q36) On the math, I missed 14 of 37. On the verbal, I missed 8 of 41.

Test 3: Princeton Review, 2.19.09, 640 (V40, Q39) On the math, I missed 10 of 37. On the verbal, I missed 8 of 41.

Ok...here's my question: When I look at the charts that show how the test is apparently scored according to the number of questions answered correctly, it shows that I should be getting upwards of 46 on the verbal. And yet, I continue to get 40.

Also, how could I have answered 4 more questions correctly between Tests 2 and 3 and seen no change in score? What's up with that? I feel like I'm being punished by the GMAT Scaling Gods for some mistake unknown to me.

This test is "testing" my nerves, if nothing else. If anyone out there has any wisdom to impart, by all means, I'd be grateful.

Thank you in advance!
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by beatthegmat » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:50 pm
There's definitely been a lot of questions about this in the past. Please do some searching in the custom search box at the top right of this page.

The core principle to keep in mind though is that number of questions right has very little direct translation to your raw scores. In fact, you can consistently get half the questions wrong and still score in the 700s.

At the end of the day though, no person outside of GMAC has a perfect view of how the GMAT scoring algorithm works. It's a more productive use of your time, however, to focus on the questions you got wrong and truly understand why you got them wrong. The algorithm is what it is...

Good luck!
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by VP_Jim » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:20 pm
Just to expand a bit on the above:

Your score is primarily based upon the level of difficulty of the questions you get right. Keeping in mind that the test is adaptive, the more questions you get right, the harder they get. Eventually, the test should "zero in" on the point where you're getting every other question wrong. As Eric said above, you can still get an awesome score with a lot of wrong answers, as long as you're in the "upper bin" material.

So, it's certainly possible to get 10 questions wrong and get a better score than a test on which you got 5 questions wrong. It all depends on the difficulty of those questions.
Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep
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