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Scores going in the wrong direction

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Scores going in the wrong direction

by Falcaner » Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:25 pm
Hey everyone,
I am not sure who to ask his because I am pretty frustrated right now. I am planning on going to grad school next fall. I took the kaplan test pre course and my test scores were going up and then a few week before my test they went in the oposite direction that i wanted them to go...they were getting worse and by like 20-40 points per test. Unfortunately on test day things did not go according to plan and i ended up with a sub 500 score. I am think I might need a tutor because i am at a loss right now I don't know what to study and I am just really frustrated that after all that effort I did not come up with the score i wanted.
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by Jen Kedro » Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:01 pm
Hi there,

How were your actual practice test scores, and your highest score you achieved during your studies? Did your actual score differ much from those?

If you feel you are capable of improving, which you likely are if you've been scoring higher on any practice tests, and willing to go for another short study period, then certainly your application will be much more competitive with an improved score. I generally encourage students in your position not to wait too long to re-take, and to continue to maintain their current skills, while spending some extra time on any specific areas they feel they struggle with. It’s also important to keep focusing on timing, and practicing on the computer, and to maintain the level of studying until the next exam date.

Variations over the course of studying can be from a number of reasons, including:

•As you learn new ways to approach certain question types, it is common for your performance on those question types to initially slow down and even drop, before you perfect those strategies and then see stronger results than your initial attempts.
•Scores can vary due to your psychological mindset or even testing environment on different days—are you taking them in a quiet place while you are focused and rested, or in a loud environment at home when you are tired or distracted? Some students don’t take practice tests as seriously as they should and see a performance difference once it is truly test day and they are very focused. Others get very nervous on any test, which affects their scores. Some students also have specific strengths or weaknesses they may see more or less of on particular CAT iterations.
•As long as you still have time to study between any given practice test and your official test, there is still room for improvement.
•Even the official exams have margins of error and variability which means your score can vary slightly from one day to the next (for example, the GMAT has a +/- 30 point margin of error.)


Stay positive and lay out your next study timeframe and goals for yourself, and check with the members and moderators here for advice along the way. Good luck!
Jen Kedrowski
Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions
GMAT Teacher
MBA Admissions Consultant
National Product Team Member
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by Falcaner » Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:04 am
Jen,
Thanks for the Input. My tests scores started at a 400 and climbed steadily up to a 550 then it slipped to a 490 after a couple more tests and my test score went all the way down to a 430. I will admit to being nervous prior to my test but I tried to simulate test conditions as closely as possible. I would like to try and retake in FEB after I have had a couple more months to get everything sorted out. I appreciate any inputs.

Sean
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by Jen Kedro » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:06 pm
Hi Sean,

It will be most important for you to gain a clear understanding of what your strengths and weaknesses are in order to focus you studies in the coming weeks. The best way to do that is to review the past CATs you've taken in detail, making note of where you went wrong. What question types do you struggle with most? What topics (such as algebra, and even sub-topics, such as inequalities) do you get incorrect? Keeping in mind how frequently those question types and topics show up on the exam, prioritize your studies to ensure you are doing as well as you can on the common topics on the test, and be sure to focus on time management along the way too. (Note: if you are taking a course with us, your CATs would include a feature called "Smart Reports" that provides that data on your strengths and weaknesses, and gives you personalized guidance on assignments to work on based on that performance). As you mentioned earlier, a tutor can also be very helpful both in assessing your current strengths/weaknesses, and in helping you with your study plan and with the areas you need most help with.

If you have additional specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Good luck!
Jen Kedrowski
Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions
GMAT Teacher
MBA Admissions Consultant
National Product Team Member
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