A question for the moderators and people who follow the GMAT

[tomslawsky]

There seems to be 2 general trends per the quant section of the GMAT. First, it seems that a good majority of the anecdotal (read- debriefs) evidence says that the quant portion of the GMAT is steadily getting harder. It seems that the quant is harder than the in the OG, harder than in the the PowerPrep and harder than in the GMAT Prep. However, the evidence shows that the quant section is getting "easier", as the percentiles are getting lower per scaled score and now the test ceiling doesn't even reach 99th percentile. What gives here?

The reason I am asking the GMAT moderators is because I have a feeling that you guys have a good handle on the GMAT. I'm sure you guys, all being 99th percentile scorers have taken the GMAT several times. Further, I would venture a guess that you have collectively taken the GMAT POWERPREP so many times that you have done a reasonably good job at reverse engineering both the scoring algorithm and the characteristics of a question in certain "bins". I understand that, for obvious reasons, you can't admit that you have the "code cracked" , but I do think that you can offer some insight into my question. I will greatly appreciate thoughts you can offer and perspective you can lend. I have just finished doing the OG 11 quant (EVERY QUESTION) 5 times (each section), trying to learn lessons each time and get to the point where I can flip to a random question and do it in my head, telling myself how the technique to the question works. I am in the process of "owning" the diagnostic quant questions, too. I am now getting nervous that the GMAT may be "passing my prep by". For what it's worth, I took a GMAT POWERPREP a few months ago and scored a 710, but have sworn off of CAT EXAMS until I have the fundamentals licked. I did take a paper GMAT and scored only 4 quant questions wrong, of which 1 was a "stupid mistake". The other 3 were tough, but I've since done those questions to the point where they now seem easy. It just seems that there is always something to know that isnt covered in the review books, including the OG.

Input, please!

[StaceyKoprince]

To get a bit of a better handle on how the test is scored, take a look at the new e-book on our website (just go to our home page - it's called The GMAT Uncovered). There's a whole section on how the scoring works. (For instance, questions are not bucketed into "bins" - in fact, questions don't have a specific difficulty "rating" at all, in the way that most people thing of that. A question isn't "rated" a 50th percentile question, for example. Take a look at the e-book for more.)

I think the test writers are continually trying to find ways to write questions in different ways such that the underlying material being tested is still the same, but someone who just memorized a question wouldn't realize that this newly-worded question is still testing the same thing. On the other hand, someone who truly understood the concepts and who also learned how to decode a question would still be able to recognize that the newly-worded question is still testing the same thing.

The most recent versions of the OG books were published within the last 12 months, so those questions are not that out of date. In addition, GMATPrep and GMAT Focus are updated fairly regularly. (PowerPrep, on the other hand, is quite old and I wouldn't be likely to use that. And the paper tests are ancient - I absolutely wouldn't use those!)

Anecdotal "evidence" is notoriously biased, so I think you're right to question that.

Part of the trend on the quant has to do with the fact that more and more non-US students are taking this test. In particular, non-US students who had stronger quant schooling are taking the test in larger numbers, and that's beginning to affect the overall pool. The anecdotal debriefs found on US-oriented sites, however, are more likely to come from US students - so you start to see the statistical mismatch there.

It just seems that there is always something to know that isnt covered in the review books, including the OG.

Sure - nobody can read the minds of the test writers, and they can (and do!) introduce new things periodically. They can't, however, substantially change the content in a very short period of time - that would negate the validity of this standardized test. I wouldn't worry about trying to study every last thing that might just possibly show up. Spend your time wisely - focus most of your efforts on the stuff that's most likely to show up and devote some time to additional things that pop up in official, recent sources (pretty much GMAT Focus, GMATPrep, OG12, and the 2nd edition supplements).

You don't need to know everything - even if you want a 750, you can still get a decent number of questions wrong. (And if you were to see something truly new - not just in your opinion / based on your memory but objectively new - there's a pretty good chance it's still in the experimental phase anyway.)

[herogmat]

is it possible to download The GMAT Uncovered e book?

[tomslawsky]

Thank you. I read the e-book, the way the questions are judged by difficulty, using a response curve rather than a finite bin makes sense; it's like a continually variable transmission rather than one with a finite set of gears.

As for the math questions, in retrospect, I had hit the OG 11 and Kap 800hard for 12 out of the last 13 days, then came across an official question (something about 10 to the X minus a number equals a number, what is the value of X- we had to count the actual number of 9's then subtract the "equals" number from 100 to get the tens and units digit to solve) that I couldn't solve and I became frustrated. Then I started thinking about the scores of de-briefs claiming that quant is getting significantly harder and I had a "why the he!! bother moment. I did take the paper exam, missing 4 quant total, which boosted my confidence, but the questions were ultrs simple compared to what I've been looking at. I think I hit a wall, because after taking a day off, the problem didn't seem as hard. Taking a few days off should re-charge my battery.

It is still frustrating though because after doing OG11, 12, quant supplement 1st edition Kap 800, Platinum GMAT quant, Ace the GMAT quant and MGMT number properties, there is nothing i can figure in any of those books that would have prepared me for this question, were I to come across it on the GMAT. THAT is the frustrating part.

I do appreciate your insight though, thank you again.

[StaceyKoprince]

is it possible to download The GMAT Uncovered e book?

If you are already a student of ours in some way (you took a class, you bought a book or took a practice test, etc), then the e-book is available in your student center. Just log in and it's right there.

If you have never created an account with us before, go to the Store section of our website and "buy" the e-book (the cost is $0). You'll have to create an account and that will give you access to both the e-book and a free practice test.

[StaceyKoprince]

I think I hit a wall, because after taking a day off, the problem didn't seem as hard.

Yeah, this happens and it always will. Sometimes your brain just gets tired. Sometimes you know something and you blank (how many times have you had the "some word is on the tip of my tongue but I can't remember!!" feeling?). The key is: you know you have the leeway to get things wrong and still get a great score on the test, so... let it go. The last thing you want to do is have that affect you on the rest of the section, because that really will prevent you from getting the score you want.

there is nothing i can figure in any of those books that would have prepared me for this question, were I to come across it on the GMAT. THAT is the frustrating part.

Even if you're at the 99th percentile, I would say that it's more likely that you will see a few things you weren't prepared for than that you will only see things that you were prepared for. The pool is wide. You're one person. It's going to happen. Your task is just to accept that and not let it get to you. :)