fewer mistakes but low score? why?

[sana.noor]

Hi Manhattan and everyone on the forum!
i have my gmat test in 3 days and the funniest thing is that my mistakes on mock are fewer but the final score is really low. i have seen people getting 650 with more than 12 mistakes in quant and verbal. my gmat prep 1 score is 630 with 19 mistakes in quant and 16 mistakes in verbal. However, my gmat prep 2 score is 620 with 12 mistakes in quant and 12 in verbal? i have completed both the test in given time period. Is something wrong with me? i bought gmat question pack 1 and completed almost all the question twice. my performance was really above average, according to gmatprep question pack 1. Please recommend me something to improve my score.

[StaceyKoprince]

The test is not scored based on the percentage correct. It may be a good idea for you to learn more about how this test works, because if you are approaching it as though the goal is to get everything right, then you're not going to maximize your score. You can learn more about the scoring by reading the Scoring section of our free e-book The GMAT Uncovered. There's already a copy sitting in your free account with us.

You mentioned that your test is in 3 days (tomorrow, now!). There's really nothing you can do in 3 days to change your score. You should expect to score approximately what you have been scoring in practice (assuming the practice tests were taken under official conditions, including the essay and IR sections, timing, length of breaks, etc.).

If you are looking for a higher score, then you have two choices. You can take the test anyway, just for the experience, but know that you'll probably have to take its again in future. Or you can cancel. If you cancel within 7 days of the test, you will lose the entire $250 fee. (For others reading this: if you cancel more than 7 days in advance, you have to pay only a $50 fee to reschedule.)

If you feel that you can mentally accept a 620-ish score without getting demoralized, then I'd go ahead and take the test tomorrow - you've already paid, so you might as well get the experience.

If you feel, though, that you may become demoralized, then you may want to skip the test entirely.

Okay, now let's talk about how to improve! First, what's your goal score?

Second, read this:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

That's the mindset you need on the test - you're going to need to start building that.

Third, read this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

This is HOW you study for the test.

Finally, Use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT (this should take you a minimum of 1 hour):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Figure out your strengths and weaknesses as well as what you think you should do based on that analysis. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)

[sana.noor]

Stacey Thank you so much! You are a Blessing! The very irritating part is that i have understood every concept and thanks to Manhattan, seriously! The irritating part is that i am not stupid but but i am really doing stupid mistakes. i have gone through every question from gmat question pack 1 and believe me i didn't find questions really hard. i mean, i am at a point where i dont need to understand any further concepts, its just i need to understand how to tackle questions. For Instance, one of the question says that "a farm has 60 animals and 2/3 of them are either cows or pigs" i really didn't focus on the part "either cows or pigs" i didnt bother to write this thing on the paper and just computed everything in my mind that 40 are either cows or pigs and pick wrong option. and the funniest thing is that i am good at questions that are hard but worst at question that are easy. anyways tomorrow is my paper and hoping to get 650+. i have already made my mind for the 2nd attempt. Really thanku for your precious time.

[sana.noor]

Stacey i am dead! i ended with 530 Q37 and V25...:) just tell me is it possible for anyone to improve 200 points in one month?...
when i started my quant i was confused, was thinking what if i got 550 or even less than 500. i spend 10 minutes on first 3 questions but i am pretty sure that i answered them right. but when i saw the timer i literately feel my heart beat getting fast. I didnt feel that the test was difficult, its just i feel i did stupid mistakes on DS. I spent 3 minutes on most of the hard questions, less than 30 seconds on most of the DS questions. i completed my quant in 72 minutes.
Verbal was easy but again i am not sure where i was wrong. RC passages were really lengthy but not complex. However, CR questions were really tough. when i was at question 31, i started feeling panic that just after 10 questions my result will be on the screen. seriously! i dont know how i completed those ten questions.
i never expected 530 as i was continuously getting 600+. the test wasnt tough but i still dont understand where i was wrong. Need your advise

[StaceyKoprince]

It's pretty rare for someone to improve 200 points in one month. I'm not saying it's impossible... but most people would need more time.

From what you described, you're not making good decisions about how to spend your time, and that really hurt your score. You already know that you tend to make careless mistakes on lower-level problems that you already know how to do. When you rush, you just increase the likelihood that you'll make mistakes. Further, it doesn't help your score at all to get harder stuff right if that comes at the expense of getting all of the easier stuff wrong.

Before you take the test again, you've got to get the timing worked out and start making better decisions about how to spend your time. NEVER rush on problems that you actually know how to do. And never take extra time on really hard problems - let them go faster. Your goal is not to get all of the hard ones right. Your goal is to get all of the easier and medium ones right, and maybe a few of the hard ones.

It also sounds like you were struggling with some significant anxiety. This might help:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... mat-score/

Okay, re-read the articles that I posted in my last post. Print out the Executive Reasoning article and keep it with you when you study. Keep reminding yourself (daily!) that your goal is to be a good business person who makes the best decisions about how to spend your precious time and mental energy (and you spend those resources on the questions you're most likely to get right, not on the ones you're more likely to get wrong!).

Analyze your most recent test or two and give me your analysis (NOT just the data - I want to know what you think it means).

For timing, read these two articles and start doing what they say:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -to-do-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/