practice tests and actual scores

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sam77: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 18; Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:47 pm

by sam77 » Mon Dec 08, 2008 5:33 pm

I have some confusion regarding my practice test scores and actual GMAT score.
The story goes like this -
Manhattan GMAT : 530 (before starting studying. Reason: terrible timing)
GMATPrep Test 1: 680 (after few weeks studying. Reason: Improved timing and lucky on guesses)
Kaplan CAT 1 : 550
Kaplan CAT 2 : 600
GMATPrep Test 2: 680 (Again? Given a week before GMAT)
In this last week, I extensively worked on my problem areas putting in 4-5 hours every day after work. I was hoping to push mine above 700 in actual GMAT. But huge disappointment, I ended up scoring 610. I know, I did not got nervous or lost focus during the exam. Can someone throw light on what might have went wrong.
I would like to reappear with modified strategy. Any pointers will help.

Thanks,
Sam

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Source: Beat The GMAT — GMAT Strategy | Mon Dec 08, 2008 5:33 pm

mayonnai5e: Legendary Member; Posts: 1018; Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:19 pm; Thanked: 86 times; Followed by:6 members

by mayonnai5e » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:55 pm

The Kaplan tests are well known to underscore your exam. Conventional wisdom says to add 70-100 points to the calculated score. If you do that then your scores are fairly consistent. Also, the GMATPrep is the most accurate predictor out there so trust that score over any others. I'm not sure what exam you took recently, but you have to keep in mind you'll have good days and bad days.

https://www.beatthegmat.com/my-blog-erro ... t4899.html
550 =\ ...560 =\... 650 =) ...570 =( ...540 =*( ...680 =P ... 670 =T ...=T... 650 =T ...700 =) ..690 =) ...710 =D ...GMAT 720 DING!! ;D

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Jen Kedro: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 131; Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:17 pm; Thanked: 15 times; Followed by:2 members

by Jen Kedro » Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:28 pm

Hi,

So you're saying that after those scores listed, you scored 610 on the real GMAT? Just to clarify.

It does seem that you would be capable of scoring better given your GMAT Prep scores especially, so in that instance, I usually recommend not waiting too long to re-take, and make sure you focus on any areas that you struggle with, and your timing, in the time between now and your next real test.

If your Kaplan CATs were online, they would be scored accurately. Unfortunately some of our retail books still include a CDROM which is less updated and has a less accurate algorithm (hence the experiences where people score less on Kaplan than their test-day score), which the Kaplan retail division is correcting.

Good luck and stay positive--it does seem that you have the ability based on your past performances to improve!

Jen Kedrowski
Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions
GMAT Teacher
MBA Admissions Consultant
National Product Team Member

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sam77: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 18; Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:47 pm

by sam77 » Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:02 pm

Thanks for the feedback Lee and Jen. Yes, 610 is my actual GMAT score. Until my GMAT exam, all the scores are quite consistent. Moreover, since the Kaplan CAT that I gave, were from the CD, it may be outdated as Jen pointed out. Which again shows my actual GMAT score should have been around 700.
I did feel the real GMAT was a little harder then the questions I have practiced from OG10, OG11, Kaplan Premier, Princeton Review and Manhattan GMAT SC.
DS & Inequalities have been my weakness. On the exam day, GMAT software figured it out and kept throwing inequalities and DS questions at me. Atleast, that's how I felt

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sam77: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 18; Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:47 pm

by sam77 » Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:14 pm

Another question for Stacey or anyone, how tough are Manhattan online CATs(the paid ones) as compared to actual GMAT test. E.g., if I score 620 on Manhattan, what ballpark score can I expect in my actual GMAT exam?

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GMAT/MBA Expert

Stacey Koprince: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2228; Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:28 pm; Location: Montreal, Canada; Thanked: 639 times; Followed by:694 members; GMAT Score:780

by Stacey Koprince » Thu Dec 18, 2008 12:36 pm

Before I start, a warning: I'm mostly not going to be on BTG at all from now until around January 7th-10th. (I'm moving from one country to another and pretty much won't have Internet access in that timeframe.) So I'm going to ask you some questions below, but perhaps some of the other experts can come in and advise you if you want a response before I get back.

Some questions for you to help figure out what your score dropped from your practice exams to the real exam:

What were your math and verbal breakdowns on the practice test vs. the real test? Did they both drop substantially, or was the drop mostly due to just one section?

Did you take the practice tests under full official conditions? (30m each for two essays, 10m break, 75m quant, 10m break, 75m verbal) Did you spend as much time and mental energy on the practice essays as you did on the real essays?

How was your timing? Did you generally move steadily through the test, giving appropriate time and attention to each question? (2 for quant, 1 to 1.5m for SC, 2m for CR, 2-4m to read a passage, 1m for general RC questions, 1.5 to 2m for specific RC questions) Or did you have to rush at times and possibly make random guesses? If you did have to rush and/or make random guesses, on how many questions would you say you did that? Did you do it on a lot of questions in a row or were the guesses scattered?

How was your stamina? (Especially toward the end of the verbal section?) Did you have something to eat and drink on the breaks? Did you get up, walk around, and stretch?

What other differences can you think of between your practice test experiences and your real test experiences? Anything, no matter how small, and no matter whether you think it wouldn't have made a difference to your score. Any differences at all?

Also, re: our practice tests, the standard deviation on our tests is about 50 points, which means your "true" scoring range is +/- 50 points from the score that you just got. The standard deviation on the official test is about 30 points. The SD for GMATPrep hasn't been officially published, but it should be either identical to or slightly higher than the official test's SD. So call that 30-40 points.

The other thing to take into account when assessing these numbers: you know that a practice test doesn't count. If you're the type of test-taker who gets very nervous (detrimentally so) during the real test, that can have a bigger impact on your score. That's part of what accounts for the wider SD on practice tests. (Of course, it's also just that a lot more people take the real test and GMAC can therefore get a lot better data to reduce the SD as much as possible.)

Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!

Stacey Koprince
GMAT Instructor
Director of Online Community
Manhattan GMAT

Contributor to Beat The GMAT!

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logitech: Legendary Member; Posts: 2134; Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:26 pm; Thanked: 237 times; Followed by:25 members; GMAT Score:730

by logitech » Thu Dec 18, 2008 12:49 pm

Stacey Koprince wrote:Before I start, a warning: I'm mostly not going to be on BTG at all from now until around January 7th-10th. (I'm moving from one country to another and pretty much won't have Internet access in that timeframe.) So I'm going to ask you some questions below, but perhaps some of the other experts can come in and advise you if you want a response before I get back. )

Leaving Bay area huh ? Where are you going Stacey ?

LGTCH
---------------------
"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"

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GMAT/MBA Expert

Stacey Koprince: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2228; Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:28 pm; Location: Montreal, Canada; Thanked: 639 times; Followed by:694 members; GMAT Score:780