Does the MGMAT penalize for the unanswered question?

[devang.lakhani]

Hi,

I gave MGMAT-2 and scored 660 (V35 and Q45). My MGMAT-1 score was also 660 (V33 and Q47). However this time my last 3 verbal questions remained unanswered. Does the final score include the penalty? If no, how severely would I have been penalized.

Also in MGMAT-1, I did not attempt any essays. This time I prepared for the argument essay and attempted it. Next week I will also include the issue essay.

Regards,

Devang

[StaceyKoprince]

We do penalize for any unanswered questions - 3 percentile points per question (for that section's score). So it's a pretty steep penalty. The real test does the same, so NEVER leave anything blank from now on - guess randomly if you have to, because the penalty for getting them wrong is not as steep as the penalty for leaving them blank.

It's also a good idea to do both essays from now on so that you're prepared for the full length of the test - stamina can definitely be an issue! I'm glad you're going to do both next time.

[devang.lakhani]

Thanks Stacy!!!

Your responses are always helpful and motivating.

Appreciate it..:)

[StaceyKoprince]

you're welcome :)

[devang.lakhani]

Hi Stacy,

I attempted GMATPrep1 today and scored 710 (Q50 and V36). Before this I have scored 660 in MGMAT 1 and 2. I found Quant very easy in GMAtPrep1. In terms of Quant, I do not think real GMAT will be much closer to GMAtPrep1. However I found Verbal a bit difficult. I got 14 questions wrong in verbal out of which 11 are SC. Your guidance on timings helped me. I am using the following grid for Verbal:

Time Remaining Questions completed
56 10
37 20
18 30
0:30 41

I will continue working on SC and few areas of Quant. However I feel that my real score might not cross 670.

If you have any comments then please share.

Btw I attempted both the essays this time. The complete exam needs good stamina.

Regards,

Devang

[StaceyKoprince]

Nice job!

When you take a GMATPrep test in future, time yourself on each question, just so you have that data to review in future. It's important to be able to go back and see whether you managed your time in the best way possible or whether you think you need to adjust anything.

So, basically, go back over the test and, for every problem, ask yourself: what did I do here that I want to do exactly the same way the next time I see a problem like this, and what do I want to do differently next time? Also ask yourself that same question in terms of timing: what went well in terms of how I spent my time and what would I want to do differently next time, both within a specific question and between questions (because there are always trade-offs I have to make)?

Also go back and review whatever you need to review in terms of content based upon the questions that you missed OR questions that you got right but on which you got a little bit lucky (maybe you guessed between 2 answers or didn't feel totally confident about your choice; maybe you made a math error but still got lucky because it gave you the same answer).

Finally, where you did make errors, ask yourself WHY you made the error, what habits you could implement or break to avoid making that same error in future, and - when necessary - when you aren't going to fix an error (that is, it was just too hard for you), how you're going to recognize that situation in future so you can at least get the question wrong faster. :)

[devang.lakhani]

Hi Stacey,

I attempted GMATPrep 2 and scored 700 (Q48 and V37). I made some silly calculation mistakes in Quant. However I am going to make them in the real one as well. So not point considering them as a "feel good factor". In verbal SC continues to be a weak area.

I want to highlight one point though. I could not study much in the week before I took this test and felt a bit sluggish when I attempted the test. I need to keep the momentum going. I have scheduled my GMAT on 31-Aug. I am not able to put in more than 1 hour on GMAT preparation during weekdays and a total of 6 hrs (including the practice tests) on weekends.

Please suggest on how can I keep my mind warmed up for the real test.

Though I have scored okay in the practice tests I am a bit pessimistic about the real one. Maybe this is the way I manage the stress.

Thanks,

Devang

[RonPurewal]

hi - stacey is on vacation, but, a couple of things:

I made some silly calculation mistakes in Quant. However I am going to make them in the real one as well.

whoa. unless this is a typographical error (IE you meant to type "i'm not going to make them..."), this is a horrible attitude to have.

we all make silly calculation mistakes. for instance, i'm famous for adding 9 and 6 and getting 17 (presumably because i'm thinking of similar-looking problems, such as 16 - 9 = 7).

this doesn't mean that you have to resign yourself to making such mistakes. instead, you should do the following:
* take an inventory of the mistakes you make
* notice which ones are the most common (you can't look for a bunch of things at the same time)
* double-check for those mistakes during the test

this seems simple enough, but it's powerful.

personal example: as i mentioned above, i tend to make arithmetic errors. on the other hand, my algebra is pretty reliable.
so, when i take exams, i just double- and triple-check ALL the arithmetic that i do, especially arithmetic involving "9"s (which i've inventoried as my worst problem).
i DON'T try to scan for all possible errors at once, because, as the saying goes, if you look for everything then you won't find anything.

you should do the same.
but it will DEFINITELY help to have a more positive attitude. silly mistakes are often a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In verbal SC continues to be a weak area.

sure.
when you get to that level, the SC problems are going to be testing extremely obscure rules and extremely nuanced aspects of word choice. by contrast, the CR and RC problems don't get that much harder, although they might get more detail oriented.

the best you can do is continue to solve SC problems - especially official ones - and note EVERY rule that you can get your hands on.

the GMAT PREP VERBAL FOLDER in this forum is also a helpful resource, since about 90% of the problems posted in that folder are sentence correction.

I want to highlight one point though. I could not study much in the week before I took this test and felt a bit sluggish when I attempted the test. I need to keep the momentum going. I have scheduled my GMAT on 31-Aug. I am not able to put in more than 1 hour on GMAT preparation during weekdays and a total of 6 hrs (including the practice tests) on weekends.

"burnout" is also possible.
if you've gotten to the point where you feel sluggish - and where you're starting to have defeatist attitudes toward making routine errors - then you may actually want to start spending less time, at least for a few days.
you're already scoring very high on the practice tests, so you can afford a few days off to rejuvenate your mind.

[devang.lakhani]

Thanks Ron!!!

You guys do a good job....:)

I will incorporate your suggestions.

Regards,

Devang

[StaceyKoprince]

Good suggestions, Ron. Also wanted to add something on the "keeping your brain warmed up" issue.

First, you do want to do something every day in the week before the test, but you don't want to do too much - you'll burn yourself out. In fact, in the last few days, I wouldn't do more than a couple of hours each day.

Second, you can warm yourself up right before your actual test. Before you leave home, or after you get to the test center but before you go in, do some VERY EASY practice problems. Quant or verbal - your choice - but choose the thing you find easiest and pick the easiest problems in OG (literally, 1-5). Do problems for about 10 minutes before you go in. This warms your brain up without tiring you out. (Oh, and don't check the solutions. You don't want to risk demoralizing yourself if you see you made a careless mistake right before the test starts. And the solutions don't matter at this point anyway - you're not trying to learn, you're just trying to warm up.)

[devang.lakhani]

Hi Stacey,

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Today I appeared for the actual GMAT and scored 660 (49Q and 31V). I am disappointed. My target was more than 670 which I felt was quite realistic. I had scored 710 (Q50 and V36) and 700 (Q48 and V37) in GMAT Prep 1 and 2 respectively. On the real GMAT, I found verbal very difficult. Also for the last 10 questions stamina took the toll. Anyways gone is gone...Just wondering how you people score a 780!

My MGMAT scores were:

1 - 660
2 - 660 (with a penalty as I could not finish the verbal section) - V35 and Q45
3 - 650 - V33 and Q46
4 - 690 - V34 and Q50

At this point of time I do not think I want to prepare and/or appear for the test again. I have 5 years of work experience and a decent academic track record. However with the kind competition around, these would not matter much.

Once I am out of the exam blues I will start looking for suitable programs...I sincerely appreciate your help and recommend MGMAT to others.

Thanks,

Devang

[StaceyKoprince]

Honestly, there's no statistical difference between a 660 and a 670. The test has a "within-student" standard deviation of 30 points. I know we all get caught up in specific scores and goals; just know that if your target was 670, then statistically, you did actually reach your goal.

Good luck with the application process; let us know how things go. (And don't forget to ask for advice over in the Admissions folder!)