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Mock Test Scores

by vishalbagaria » Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:34 am
Ok, I took two mocks on consecutive days.

MGMAT: 690 (Q: 45, V: 38) - 16 incorrect in Q and 14 incorrect in V
GMAT Prep: 600 (Q:44, V: 29) - 12 incorrect in Q and 13 incorrect in V.

Can you please help explain the drsatic difference in the scores, despite the levels of questions remaining more or less constant?
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:13 am
At the moment, you're comparing apples and oranges. At best, you're comparing 2 different kinds of apples. On one hand, you have the official GMAT practice test software, which uses official (retired) GMAT questions and the official GMAT scoring algorithm. Also keep in mind that the test-makers have collected a lot of data on every single question, and every question has been asked in a formal testing environment, so that the well-prepared test-takers are trying their very best to answer every question.

While many test-prep companies have great practice tests, those companies would never suggest that their tests are as accurate as the official practice tests. The 3rd-party tests don't use retired GMAT questions, they don't use the official scoring algorithm, and the data collected on each question won't be as accurate, since those test-takers differ in many ways from those who take the official test.

So, while 3rd-party tests are great for practicing your test-taking skills, and for identifying weaknesses, you shouldn't use them as the sole basis for determining your present skills.

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Brent
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by vishalbagaria » Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:17 pm
Thanks a lot for the reply, sir.

But, then again, which score should I rely on more, as to judge my performance? Cuz the 600 is a big demotivator and 690 in a Manhattan exam is not a bad score... Am i to expect the same to happen with me on the actual GMAT as well?

And which test serves as the best (nearest-to-the-actual-GMAT) score provider, so that I can analyse myself in a better way???
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sat Mar 16, 2013 5:03 am
For all of the reasons I mentioned in my first post, the official GMATPrep test should be the most accurate of any practice test.

I should mention that you can take the GMATPrep tests multiple times. I mention this because when students see that the software contains two practice tests, they assume that they can take each test only once, and if they do take them a second time, the questions will be the same. This is not true. The GMAT is computer adaptive and questions are drawn from a large pool of questions. So, while you may see the occasional duplicate question, the majority of questions will be new to you.

If anyone is interested, I wrote an article for BTG on this topic: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/03/ ... iple-times

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by vishalbagaria » Sat Mar 16, 2013 7:30 am
I took the GMAT prep test today as well.

Overall score : 590

Q: 40 (incorrect: 11)
V: 28 (incorrect: 14)

It is extremely disheartening...
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