Higher Quantitative Score by Missing Early Questions

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cbears2010: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 8; Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 1:06 am

by cbears2010 » Tue Feb 07, 2012 1:27 am

Hi all,

Thanks in advance for your help!

I hope I don't sound ridiculous, but I came up with an interesting observation after completing three practice exams from Manhattan GMAT.

Exam #1: Q(50, 95%), V(45, 99%), Total: 770
Exam #2: Q(48, 86%), V(41, 93%), Total: 730
Exam #3: Q(51, 99%), V(45, 99%), Total: 780

I noticed that while my first two exams averaged 31 questions each with 700-800 difficulty, my third exam consisted of only 8 questions with 700-800 difficulty (I missed two questions early on, and so the difficulty of all subsequent questions was much easier).

Thus, I was hoping you could tell me if missing questions early on in the Quantitative section could potentially be a strategy for attaining a higher overall math score (via easier questions).

Thanks again for your help, and I look forward to hearing back from you!

Source: Beat The GMAT — Quantitative Reasoning | Tue Feb 07, 2012 1:27 am

GMAT/MBA Expert

Brent@GMATPrepNow: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 16206; Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members; Location: Vancouver, BC; Thanked: 5254 times; GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:48 pm

cbears2010 wrote:Hi all,

Thanks in advance for your help!

I hope I don't sound ridiculous, but I came up with an interesting observation after completing three practice exams from Manhattan GMAT.

Exam #1: Q(50, 95%), V(45, 99%), Total: 770
Exam #2: Q(48, 86%), V(41, 93%), Total: 730
Exam #3: Q(51, 99%), V(45, 99%), Total: 780

I noticed that while my first two exams averaged 31 questions each with 700-800 difficulty, my third exam consisted of only 8 questions with 700-800 difficulty (I missed two questions early on, and so the difficulty of all subsequent questions was much easier).

Thus, I was hoping you could tell me if missing questions early on in the Quantitative section could potentially be a strategy for attaining a higher overall math score (via easier questions).

Thanks again for your help, and I look forward to hearing back from you!

I'll begin by saying that the MGMAT tests, although great, do not contain official GMAT questions, and they don't use the official GMAT scoring algorithm, so it's hard to make any conclusions about the official GMAT scoring algorithm. However, I'd stay clear of any strategy that involves intentionally submitting incorrect answers

That said, I can't say that with 100% certainty.

Ian Stewart has spent years dissecting the GMAT scoring algorithm, and he has made several posts on that subject. If I were you, I'd see what he has to say on the matter.

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

cbears2010: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 8; Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 1:06 am

by cbears2010 » Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:46 pm

Brent,

Thanks a lot for your valuable insight. I've reached out to Ian Stewart, and look forward to speaking with him on the matter.

Cheers,

Justin

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