MGMAT vs GMAT PREP SCORE

[Almareyna]

I have been studying for the GMAT for awhile now. I took the official exam about a year ago after completing a 2month Kaplan course and scored a 550. I was targeting 700 so I decided to retake the exam. I started studying for the exam again about 6months after I took it and enrolled in an MGMAT course. Here's a recap of my practice scores since taking the MGMAT course which started in March 2013. I'm still targeting a 700 score but I am running out of time since admissions deadlines are approaching. Is the MGMAT score or the GMAT prep score an accurate indicator of my actual exam performance? Help please.

Exam Log:

3/31/2013 MGMAT CAT 1
Total: 580
Quant: 37 (44%)
Verbal: 32 (64%)

6/15/2013 MGMAT CAT 2
Total: 580
Quant: 41 (54%)
Verbal: 30 (56%)

6/29/2013 MGMAT CAT 3
Total: 600
Quant: 42 (57%)
Verbal: 32 (64%)

8/2/2013 MGMAT CAT 4
Total: 610
Quant: 38 (48%)
Verbal: 35 (74%)

9/2/2013 GMAT Prep 1
Total: 580
Quant: 34 (35%)
Verbal: 35 (74%)

9/14/2013 MGMAT CAT 5
Total: 640
Quant: 38 (48%)
Verbal: 38 (84%)

9/21/2013 GMAT Prep 2
Total: 590
Quant: 36 (40%)
Verbal: 34 (69%)

[ceilidh.erickson]

It's hard to answer the question of what's an "accurate" score, because of course every time you take the test you'll have different questions, and there's some degree of luck involved. However, I have found (in working with thousands of students over the years) that a) there usually in a major different in scores between MGMAT and GMATPrep scores, and b) if they are consistently scoring within a particular 20 pt range, they'll probably get that score on the real test.

Looking at your scores, I notice a great deal of fluctuation in your quant and verbal raw scores. This usually indicates either gaps in your content knowledge or problems in your technique. If you're making the same careless errors over and over, or if you're still relying on your ear for SC, your scores will likely stay inconsistent.

First, review your practice tests in a lot of depth. Then, locate areas where you can improve your technique. For more, see here: https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -studying/