BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
Live EA class + 6 months of EA OnDemand
  • Expert-led weekly online sessions
  • EA Masterclass access between classes
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

130-point score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Shocked with the GMAT prep test scores

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 89
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:22 amFollowed by: 2 members
Location: Bangalore, India
Thanked: 6 times
by sidceg » Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:07 am
Hi,

GMAT Prep test 1 - 690; Q48V35; Q - 11 mistakes and V - 16 mistakes
GMAT Test Pack 1 - 630; Q48V28; Q - 11 mistakes and V - 11 mistakes

I am shocked to see the dip in score when I have reduced the number of mistakes. I am aware of experimental questions and penalty for consecutive errors. In fact, in the verbal section, the second has only 1 set of 2 consecutive mistakes and other mistakes are spread across the verbal section whereas the 1st one has 2 sets of 2 consecutive mistakes and 1 set of 6 consecutive mistakes!

I have few questions that're bothering me :(
1.How can this happen?
2.Can this happen on the real exam too?
3.How many mistakes I can afford to make and still get a 700+ and
4.Where can I afford make the mistakes or, in other words, where should I be extra careful not to make mistakes (whether in the first set of questions or around the middle or towards the end)?

TIA
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:23 am
Hi sidceg,

While it might be tempting to focus on the number of correct answers on each CAT (since that's how you were likely tested in school), that's NOT how the GMAT assesses your performance. The Score Algorithm is far more complex than most people realize, so trying to figure it out is not a good use of time. Instead, you should do a FULL review of every CAT that you took (including the questions that you answered correctly).

On this latest CAT:
1) How many questions did you get wrong because of a silly/little mistake?
2) What could you have done differently to get those questions correct?
3) How many questions did you guess on and get 'lucky?'
4) Did you have to rush through 'gettable' questions at the end of a section because you were low on time?
5) How many Verbal questions did you 'narrow down to 2 choices' but still get wrong?

The answers to these questions should help you to pinpoint where your missing points are.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 89
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:22 amFollowed by: 2 members
Location: Bangalore, India
Thanked: 6 times

by sidceg » Sun Oct 11, 2015 7:16 pm
Hi Rich,

Thank you for the insight. Like I said, I know that GMAT doesn't just look at the number of questions answered correctly but also the difficulty of the questions answered wrongly and whether I have made any series of mistakes.

Though your points make sense and are very useful on how to analyze a CAT, I feel my questions are not answered yet. I am confused on how, even after avoiding consecutive mistakes and reducing the number of errors (which means the difficulty of the questions would have gone higher and hence the mistakes I made must also have been in the tough questions), I ended up with such a bad score.

I am not looking to decode the algorithm here but if I know what went wrong in the strategy, I can correct my mistake.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1