GMAT Prep scoring

[VC437]

Hi Stacey,

Hope you're having a great weekend!

I've taken both of the free CAT exams that come with the GMAT Prep software (with all the test day conditions) . There's a huge difference in my scores:

CAT #1 (Taken Sept. 29, 2015)
590
Quant: 35 (21/37 incorrect)
Verbal: 36 (13/41 incorrect)

CAT #2 (Taken Oct. 31, 2015)
680
Quant: 43 (20/37 incorrect)
Verbal: 40 (9/41 incorrect)

I'm really happy about the huge jump! However, I don't understand how my Quant score could have jumped from 35 to 43 if I got almost the same number of incorrect questions for each of the two exams. Is it possible that the higher score is because I answered a greater number of difficult Quant questions in my second CAT? Is there any other possible reason for the score difference, possibly a glitch in how the software computes scores?

Thanks very much!

Best,
Valerie

PS: On a related note, I'm looking to bump up my score to a 720. I have about a month to go before my first exam. I'm more confident with Verbal, and I've been seriously struggling with Quant. Should I focus on the latter rather than the former though, especially considering that b-schools (supposedly) give more importance to Quant scores over Verbal scores? Thank you again!

[StaceyKoprince]

As you've just learned, the GMAT is not scored based on # or percentage correct. The scoring is based on exactly what you said: the difficulty levels of the questions that you're answering correctly vs. incorrectly. Your percentage correct won't change all that much as your score gets better (except at very high scoring levels).

So it's not a fluke: you earned that score. Congratulations!

Next, re: scores, the schools may or may not pay more attention to your quant score - it depends on your background. From what I've heard from admissions officers, they pay more attention to your quant score if:
- you didn't have many quant-based classes in undergrad and your job is not very quant-based, or
- you are part of a demographic that typically does extremely well on the quant section

But they could also pay more attention to your verbal score if you are a non-native speaker. They basically want to make sure that you can handle the program, whether Q or V.

But here's the important thing: they're looking for what we call "threshold" scores - if you hit the threshold, then they consider you okay. They don't publish these thresholds, but via various conversations over the years, we've been able to estimate that the top 10 schools want to see a 45+ on quant (you're already at 43) and 36+ on verbal. (Again: we're estimating.)

If you are able to bump up your Q to 45/46, you'll hit a 700. But you want a 720 - and verbal's your better subject, so you might as well try to get the rest of the lift from that side of things.

In other words, no, don't only concentrate on quant going forward. To hit a 720, you really do have to "max out" at least one of your scores. For you, that's verbal (and max out on V = 44+ if you can hit Q45/46).

Now, you'll likely spend more time on quant, because it is your weaker area. But you need to put in some serious work on verbal as well.

Keep up the great work - let us know if you need help on anything else!

[VC437]

Hi Stacey,

Thanks for your reply. I didn't want to get my hopes up too high, but it's good to know that my score wasn't a fluke!

Next, re: scores, the schools may or may not pay more attention to your quant score - it depends on your background. From what I've heard from admissions officers, they pay more attention to your quant score if:
- you didn't have many quant-based classes in undergrad and your job is not very quant-based, or
- you are part of a demographic that typically does extremely well on the quant section

But they could also pay more attention to your verbal score if you are a non-native speaker. They basically want to make sure that you can handle the program, whether Q or V.

I'm from the Philippines and my undergrad was Architecture. I had to take 2 semesters of calculus and physics and although I didn't do too well on both, I passed. I've been working as an architect for the past 4 years, and the most math I've had to do was adding and subtracting floor areas. Given this half-arts/half-science background, will having a so-so Quant score necessarily be a point against me?

In other words, no, don't only concentrate on quant going forward. To hit a 720, you really do have to "max out" at least one of your scores. For you, that's verbal (and max out on V = 44+ if you can hit Q45/46).

This is a great piece of advice, I didn't really consider "maxing out" certain scores. I was thinking of going all out on Quant for the rest of the month, but I'll definitely spend some time on Verbal as well. Thanks!

[StaceyKoprince]

It would be best at this point to ask an admissions consultant about your specific background and what schools might like to see for a quant score. Admissions isn't my area of expertise; the test is.

We have a folder here called "Ask an Admissions Consultant" - post there and see what they think!