GMAT Retake : Scored lower than the first attempt!

[ridhima.choubey]

Dear Instructors,

Here's my story:

I retook the GMAT on 09/06/2012 and scored 650 on my second attempt (48q 31v). On my first attempt (06/01/2012), though, I scored a 680 (47q 33v).

During my first test, I had difficulties in managing my time in the verbal section (I finished the test 5-7 minutes, earlier). This was happening to me even in my practice tests (Manhattan and GMAT Prep).

So I went back and worked on your suggestions and found myself quite comfortable when it came to managing time in the verbal section. On all my practice tests, which I took after my first GMAT, I was consistently scoring in the 720s and higher with a very well balanced verbal and quantitative scores. This time, I thought, I was very well prepared for the exam only to find out that I scored lower than I did on my first attempt.

I did not have any nerves during my exam, never felt fatigued during the entire test, and was confidently cruising along the entire test.

I even got the feeling that I was doing really well on the quantitative section and the verbal section. Given the nature of a CAT, the better you do, the tougher the questions get. Not even for once, did I have the feeling that I was being asked a relatively easier question than the previous one. And that is what is baffling me ever since I saw a 650 on the screen with a verbal scaled score of 31. I did everything right that I could possibly do and still ended up with a disappointing score.

The first application deadlines for my target colleges (Tepper, Mc Combs, to name a few) are in 2nd or 3rd week of October, 2012 and I am in a real fix as to what I should do. Should I retake the test? If I do retake, what did I miss in the second attempt, that I should now keep in mind during the third attempt? Is a third attempt worth it?

Please advise.

I do apologize for the long post but I felt it necessary to explain everything.

Thanks for all you help and suggestions!

Ridhima Choubey

[StaceyKoprince]

Your 2nd test score is within one standard deviation of your first test score - in other words, you scored at about the same level, statistically speaking. It's disappointing that this was in the downward direction, but it's not a huge difference - in other words, we can't say that something really went wrong.

Your verbal score dropped 8 percentile points and your quant score dropped 5 percentile points, so you lost about the same amount of ground in each section.

Okay, the big question here is whether you should re-take - and you really need to ask an admissions expert that question, not me. I'm a GMAT expert, not an admissions expert. We have a folder here called Ask An Admissions Consultant, and you can also find other similar folders on other forums. They're going to want to know more details - where you want to apply, your GPA, your work experience, etc.

Of course, the simple answer is always, "Sure, study more and try to get a higher score" because a higher score certainly won't hurt. But you have to weigh this against the time it will take to do your applications - for example, getting a higher score at the expense of poorer application essays because you don't have enough time to write them is NOT a good tradeoff, especially when you already have a 680 score on your record. Or you could decide to apply in a later round - but again will that tradeoff be worth it? If you're applying to a school with a 680 average, then applying second round with a 700 (if you can get the 700) probably won't make much difference. If, on the other hand, you're applying to a school with a 720 average, and your GPA isn't that great, then maybe you should wait until 2nd round and try to get the score up.

So... talk to an admissions consultant. Talk to 2 or 3, actually, just to get a few opinions. If you are then advised to take the test again, come back and talk to me and we'll figure out what to do for your retake.

Note: if that happens, then I'm going to need data on your strengths and weaknesses. Use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and tell us the results of your analysis and what you think you should do based on that analysis. (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!)

You can also take a look at this:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

[ridhima.choubey]

Stacey,

Here is the analysis of the last MGMAT CAT that I took

MGMAT CAT Exam # 3 taken on 09/02/2012
Total Score : 730 (96 %ile)
Quantitative scaled score : 45 (68 %ile. Note : this is after the CATs were recalibrated)
Verbal scaled score : 45 (99 %ile)
IR score : 1.7. Estimated %ile : 1-2
Completed the essay. No pauses or extra breaks taken.

QUANTITATIVE SECTION ANALYSIS

One instance of 4 incorrect answers:


Type Difficulty Time Topics Tested

PS 700-800 1:38 Divisibility & Primes
DS 600-700 0:57 Percents
PS 700-800 0:16 Integers/Statistics
PS 600-700 1:39 Quadratic Equations

Last 10 problem analysis:


Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics Tested
PS Incorrect 700-800 2:41 Probability/Combinatorics
PS Correct 700-800 2:25 Polygons/Circles & Cylinders
PS Correct 600-700 1:43 Exponents&roots
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:31 Percents
DS Correct 700-800 2:15 Exponents & Roots
PS Incorrect 700-800 3:45 Probability/Combinatorics
DS Correct 700-800 1:11 Odds & Evens / Divisibility & Primes
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:09 Formulas
PS Correct 600-700 0:40 Traingles & Diagonals
PS Incorrect 600-700 0:22 Ratios

Way too slow problems analysis


Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics Tested
PS Incorrect 700-800 4:22 Overlapping Sets
DS Correct 700-800 3:08 Percents / Quadratic Equations
PS Incorrect 700-800 3:55 Statistics
PS Incorrect 700-800 3:14 Odds & Evens / Consecutive integers
PS Incorrect 700-800 3:45 Circles & Cylinders
PS Correct 700-800 3:40 Algebraic Translations / Percents
PS Incorrect 700-800 3:45 Probability / Combinatorics


7 Total, 2 correct, 5 incorrect, 1 DS, 6 PS, total time 25:49

Way too fast analysis


Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics Tested
PS Incorrect 600-700 0:46 Formulas
DS Correct 600-700 0:44 Digits & Decimals
DS Incorrect 600-700 0:57 Percents
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:16 Consecutive Integers / Statistics
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:31 Percents
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:09 Formulas
PS Correct 600-700 0:40 Traingles & Diagonals
PS Incorrect 600-700 0:22 Ratios


8 total, 2 correct, 6 incorrect, 2 DS, 6 PS, total time 4:03

Assessment reports for Quantitative Section

QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY QUESTION FORMAT & DIFFICULTY
QUESTION FORMAT Total Right Wrong Blank % Right Average Average Average Average
Time Time Difficulty Difficulty
RIGHT WRONG RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers Answers Answers


Problem Solving 22 8 14 0 36% 1:53 2:05 690 730
500 - 600 1 1 0 100% 1:16 NA
600 - 700 6 3 3 50% 1:14 0:56
700 - 800 15 4 11 27% 2:31 2:24

Data Sufficiency 15 13 2 0 87% 2:05 1:26 730 700
600 - 700 4 3 1 75% 1:53 0:57
700 - 800 11 10 1 91% 2:09 1:55


QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra Geometry
Number Properties
Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Algebra 9 6 3 67% 2:16 0:51

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Linear Equations
1 1 0 100% 1:37 NA

BEST Exponents & Roots
2 2 0 100% 1:59 NA

Quadratic Equations
2 1 1 50% 2:54 1:39

WORST Formulas
2 0 2 0% NA 0:28 FASTEST

BEST Inequalities
2 2 0 100% 2:34 NA SLOWEST

QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry Number Properties
Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Geometry 6 4 2 67% 1:31 2:50

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Polygons
2 2 0 100% 2:04 NA

BEST Triangles & Diagonals
1 1 0 100% 0:40 NA FASTEST

WORST Circles & Cylinders
1 0 1 0% NA 3:45 SLOWEST

BEST Lines & Angles
1 1 0 100% 1:16 NA

WORST Coordinate Plane
1 0 1 0% NA 1:55


QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry
Number Properties Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Number Properties 7 2 5 29% 1:39 2:40

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Divisibility & Primes
2 1 1 50% 2:06 1:38 FASTEST

BEST Odds & Evens
2 1 1 50% 1:11 3:14

Positives & Negatives 0 0 0 NA NA NA

WORST Combinatorics
1 0 1 0% NA 2:04

WORST Probability
2 0 2 0% NA 3:13 SLOWEST


QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry
Number Properties
Word Problems Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Word Problems 9 6 3 67% 2:22 2:51

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Algebraic Translations
2 2 0 100% 3:05 NA

BEST Rates & Work
2 2 0 100% 1:12 NA

Statistics
3 2 1 67% 2:50 3:55

WORST Consecutive Integers
1 0 1 0% NA 0:16 FASTEST

WORST Overlapping Sets
1 0 1 0% NA 4:22 SLOWEST

Extra Problem Types 0 0 0 NA NA NA


QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry
Number Properties
Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents
CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents 6 3 3 50% 1:40 0:37

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Digits & Decimals
1 1 0 100% 0:44 NA

Fractions 0 0 0 NA NA NA

Percents
3 1 2 33% 3:08 0:44 SLOWEST

WORST Ratios
1 0 1 0% NA 0:22 FASTEST

BEST FDPs
1 1 0 100% 1:07 NA


VERBAL SECTION ANALYSIS

NO instance of 4 incorrect answers

Last 10 questions analysis:

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics Tested
SC Correct 600-700 2:20 Parallelism / Comparisons
CR Correct 700-800 1:00 Strengthen the argument
CR Correct 700-800 1:44 Evaluate the argument
RC Correct 700-800 3:38 Main Idea
RC Correct 500-600 2:19 Inference
RC Correct 500-600 0:44 Inference
SC Correct 700-800 3:08 Pronouns
SC Correct 300-500 2:13 Subject Verb agreement/ Modifiers
CR Correct 700-800 1:37 Weaken the argument
SC Correct 700-800 1:55 Idioms Meaning Comparisons


Way too slow questions analysis


Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics Tested
SC Incorrect 700-800 2:12 Modifiers
SC Correct 700-800 2:22 Modifiers Parallelism Idioms
SC Incorrect 700-800 2:18 Comparisons
SC Incorrect 700-800 2:01 Quantity / Comparisons
SC Correct 600-700 2:20 Parallelism / Comparisons
SC Correct 700-800 3:08 Pronouns
SC Correct 300-500 2:13 Subject verb agreement / Modifiers


7 questions, all SC, 3 Incorrect, 4 correct, total time 16 : 34

Way too fast incorrect analysis


Problem Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics Tested
RC Incorrect 700-800 1:06 Specific detail
RC Incorrect 600-700 0:31 Main Idea
CR Incorrect 700-800 1:26 Describe the role


3 questions, total time 3:03, 2 RC, 1 CR

Assessment Reports for verbal - Question Format and Difficulty


VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY QUESTION FORMAT & DIFFICULTY
QUESTION FORMAT Total Right Wrong Blank % Right Average Average Average Average
Time Time Difficulty Difficulty
RIGHT WRONG RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers Answers Answers


Critical Reasoning 14 11 3 0 79% 1:22 2:04 710 720
300 - 500 1 1 0 100% 0:43 NA
600 - 700 2 1 1 50% 1:06 2:00
700 - 800 11 9 2 82% 1:28 2:07

Reading Comprehension 12 10 2 0 83% 1:53 0:49 650 700
500 - 600 4 4 0 100% 1:19 NA
600 - 700 3 2 1 67% 1:53 0:31
700 - 800 5 4 1 80% 2:27 1:06

Sentence Correction 15 11 4 0 73% 1:53 2:01 710 750
300 - 500 1 1 0 100% 2:13 NA
600 - 700 1 1 0 100% 2:20 NA
700 - 800 13 9 4 69% 1:48 2:01


Assessment reports for Verbal - Content Area and Topic


VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Critical Reasoning Reading Comprehension
Sentence Correction

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Critical Reasoning 14 11 3 79% 1:22 2:04

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

WORST Describe the Role
1 0 1 0% NA 2:47 SLOWEST

BEST Find the Assumption
2 2 0 100% 1:16 NA

BEST Evaluate the Argument
1 1 0 100% 1:44 NA

Strengthen the Argument
3 2 1 67% 1:03 2:00

Weaken the Argument
3 2 1 67% 1:10 1:26

BEST Draw a Conclusion
3 3 0 100% 1:48 NA

BEST Explain the Discrepancy
1 1 0 100% 0:53 NA FASTEST




VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Critical Reasoning
Reading Comprehension Sentence Correction

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Reading Comprehension 12 10 2 83% 1:53 0:49

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Inference
6 6 0 100% 2:02 NA

Specific Detail
4 3 1 75% 0:58 1:06 FASTEST

WORST Main Idea
2 1 1 50% 3:38 0:31 SLOWEST

Passage Structure 0 0 0 NA NA NA

Tone 0 0 0 NA NA NA


VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Critical Reasoning
Reading Comprehension
Sentence Correction
CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Sentence Correction 15 11 4 73% 1:53 2:01

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Subject-Verb Agreement
1 1 0 100% 2:13 NA

BEST Pronouns
1 1 0 100% 3:08 NA SLOWEST

Modifiers
3 2 1 67% 1:51 2:12

BEST Verbs
1 1 0 100% 0:35 NA FASTEST

BEST Idioms
1 1 0 100% 1:55 NA

Concision 0 0 0 NA NA NA

BEST Meaning
2 2 0 100% 1:43 NA

BEST Parallelism
2 2 0 100% 1:57 NA

Comparisons
2 1 1 50% 1:56 2:18

WORST Quantity
1 0 1 0% NA 2:01

WORST Connecting Punctuation
1 0 1 0% NA 1:34


I am not sure why the tables did not appear correctly here. I will post the analysis of the other two tests in my subsequent posts. Please go through these and let me know if you need any other data.

Thanks for your time and feedback.

Ridhima.

[ridhima.choubey]

Hi Again, Stacey,

Here's the analysis of the remaining two MGMAT CATs.


MGMAT CAT Exam # 2 taken on 09/01/2012
Total Score : 720 (94 %ile)
Quantitative scaled score : 45 (68 %ile. Note : this is after the CATs were recalibrated)
Verbal scaled score : 43 (96 %ile)
IR score : 2.33. Estimated %ile : 2-3
Completed the essay. No pauses or extra breaks taken.



QUANTITATIVE SECTION ANALYSIS
One instance of 4 incorrect answers:


Type Difficulty Time Topics
PS 700-800 3:46 Polygons
DS 700-800 2:46 Consecutive Integers
PS 700-800 0:02 Fractions
PS 700-800 0:04 Circles & Cylinders


Last 10 problems


Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
PS Incorrect 700-800 2:21 Combinatorics
PS Correct 700-800 1:17 Percents
DS Incorrect 700-800 2:00 Statistics
DS Correct 600-700 1:37 Lines & Angles
DS Correct 700-800 1:36 Linera Equations
PS Correct 700-800 1:32 Exponents & Roots
PS Incorrect 700-800 3:46 Polygons
DS Incorrect 700-800 2:46 Consecutive Integers
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:02 Fractions
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:04 Circles & Cylinders



Way too slow problems analysis

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
DS Correct 700-800 3:00 FDPs
DS Incorrect 700-800 4:20 Coordinate plane / Inequalities
DS Correct 700-800 3:11 Extra problem types
DS Incorrect 700-800 3:38 Digits & Decimals
PS Incorrect 700-800 4:33 Triangles & Diagonals
PS Incorrect 700-800 5:35 Triangles & Diagonals / Probability
DS Correct 700-800 3:45 Linear Equations
PS Incorrect 700-800 3:46 Polygons

8 total, 3 correct, 5 incorrect, 5 DS, 3 PS, total time 31:48

Way too fast incorrect analysis

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:49 Divisibility & Primes
DS Incorrect 700-800 0:45 Odds & Evens
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:02 Fractions
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:04 Circles & Cylinders

4 total, 3 PS, 1 DS, total time 1:40

Assessment reports for Quantitative


QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY QUESTION FORMAT & DIFFICULTY
QUESTION FORMAT Total Right Wrong Blank % Right Average Average Average Average
Time Time Difficulty Difficulty
RIGHT WRONG RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers Answers Answers


Problem Solving 22 12 10 0 55% 1:14 2:29 660 750
300 - 500 2 2 0 100% 1:03 NA
500 - 600 1 1 0 100% 0:47 NA
600 - 700 2 2 0 100% 1:14 NA
700 - 800 17 7 10 41% 1:21 2:29

Data Sufficiency 15 9 6 0 60% 2:08 2:38 710 750
500 - 600 1 1 0 100% 1:19 NA
600 - 700 2 2 0 100% 1:24 NA
700 - 800 12 6 6 50% 2:31 2:38


QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA AND TOPIC

QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra Geometry
Number Properties
Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Algebra 8 5 3 63% 1:51 2:32

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Linear Equations
2 2 0 100% 2:41 NA

Exponents & Roots
2 1 1 50% 1:32 2:03

BEST Quadratic Equations
2 2 0 100% 1:11 NA FASTEST

WORST Formulas
1 0 1 0% NA 2:43

WORST Inequalities
1 0 1 0% NA 2:50 SLOWEST



QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry Number Properties
Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Geometry 7 2 5 29% 1:27 3:40

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

WORST Polygons
1 0 1 0% NA 3:46

WORST Triangles & Diagonals
2 0 2 0% NA 5:04 SLOWEST

Circles & Cylinders
2 1 1 50% 1:17 0:04 FASTEST

BEST Lines & Angles
1 1 0 100% 1:37 NA

WORST Coordinate Plane
1 0 1 0% NA 4:20

QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry
Number Properties Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Number Properties 6 2 4 33% 1:06 1:34

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

WORST Divisibility & Primes
2 0 2 0% NA 1:35

WORST Odds & Evens
1 0 1 0% NA 0:45 FASTEST

BEST Positives & Negatives
1 1 0 100% 1:01 NA

WORST Combinatorics
1 0 1 0% NA 2:21 SLOWEST

BEST Probability
1 1 0 100% 1:10 NA

QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry
Number Properties
Word Problems Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Word Problems 10 8 2 80% 1:36 2:23

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Algebraic Translations
2 2 0 100% 1:20 NA

BEST Rates & Work
1 1 0 100% 0:47 NA FASTEST

Statistics
3 2 1 67% 1:19 2:00

WORST Consecutive Integers
2 1 1 50% 2:33 2:46 SLOWEST

Overlapping Sets 0 0 0 NA NA NA

BEST Extra Problem Types
2 2 0 100% 2:04 NA

QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry
Number Properties
Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents
CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents 6 4 2 67% 1:45 1:50

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

WORST Digits & Decimals
1 0 1 0% NA 3:38 SLOWEST

Fractions
2 1 1 50% 1:33 0:02 FASTEST

BEST Percents
2 2 0 100% 1:13 NA

Ratios 0 0 0 NA NA NA

BEST FDPs
1 1 0 100% 3:00 NA


VERBAL SECTION ANALYSIS:

NO instance of 4 incorrect answers

Last 10 questions analysis:

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
RC Correct 500-600 0:18 Main Idea
CR Incorrect 700-800 1:31 Strengthen the argument
SC Correct 700-800 2:21 Modifiers
CR Correct 700-800 1:53 Draw a conclusion
CR Correct 700-800 1:03 Mimic the argument
SC Incorrect 700-800 0:50 Idioms
RC Correct 700-800 2:35 Specific detail
RC Incorrect 600-700 0:51 Main idea
RC Correct 600-700 0:45 Inference
CR Correct 700-800 1:04 Strengthen the argument


Way too slow questions analysis

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
SC Correct 700-800 3:23 Comparisons
SC Incorrect 700-800 2:52 Meaning
SC Correct 700-800 2:53 Parallelism
SC Correct 700-800 2:01 Comparisons
RC Correct 700-800 5:18 Inference
SC Correct 700-800 2:21 Modifiers


6 questions, 5 SC, 1 RC, 5 correct, 1 incorrect, total time 18:48

Way too fast incorrect analysis

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
RC Incorrect 600-700 0:40 Passage structure
SC Incorrect 700-800 0:50 Idioms
RC Incorrect 600-700 0:51 Main Idea

3 questions, 1 SC, 2 RC, total time 2:21

Assessment Reports for verbal - Question Format and Difficulty

VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY QUESTION FORMAT & DIFFICULTY
QUESTION FORMAT Total Right Wrong Blank % Right Average Average Average Average
Time Time Difficulty Difficulty
RIGHT WRONG RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers Answers Answers


Critical Reasoning 14 11 3 0 79% 1:21 1:49 720 750
500 - 600 1 1 0 100% 1:11 NA
600 - 700 1 1 0 100% 1:09 NA
700 - 800 12 9 3 75% 1:23 1:49

Reading Comprehension 12 9 3 0 75% 2:00 1:40 690 680
500 - 600 1 1 0 100% 0:18 NA
600 - 700 5 3 2 60% 0:40 0:46
700 - 800 6 5 1 83% 3:09 3:28

Sentence Correction 15 11 4 0 73% 1:54 1:50 750 750
700 - 800 15 11 4 73% 1:54 1:50

VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Critical Reasoning Reading Comprehension
Sentence Correction

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Critical Reasoning 13 10 3 77% 1:23 1:49

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Describe the Role
2 2 0 100% 1:24 NA

BEST Find the Assumption
2 2 0 100% 1:05 NA FASTEST

BEST Evaluate the Argument
1 1 0 100% 1:26 NA

Strengthen the Argument
3 2 1 67% 1:07 1:31

WORST Weaken the Argument
2 1 1 50% 1:11 2:35 SLOWEST

Draw a Conclusion
3 2 1 67% 2:00 1:20

Explain the Discrepancy 0 0 0 NA NA NA

VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Critical Reasoning
Reading Comprehension Sentence Correction

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Reading Comprehension 12 9 3 75% 2:00 1:40

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

Inference
6 5 1 83% 1:47 3:28

BEST Specific Detail
3 3 0 100% 2:56 NA SLOWEST

Main Idea
2 1 1 50% 0:18 0:51 FASTEST

WORST Passage Structure
1 0 1 0% NA 0:40

Tone 0 0 0 NA NA NA

VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Critical Reasoning
Reading Comprehension
Sentence Correction
CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Sentence Correction 15 11 4 73% 1:54 1:50

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Subject-Verb Agreement
1 1 0 100% 1:01 NA

Pronouns 0 0 0 NA NA NA

BEST Modifiers
3 3 0 100% 2:03 NA

BEST Verbs
2 2 0 100% 1:00 NA FASTEST

WORST Idioms
2 0 2 0% NA 1:25

Concision 0 0 0 NA NA NA

WORST Meaning
1 0 1 0% NA 2:52 SLOWEST

BEST Parallelism
2 2 0 100% 2:21 NA

BEST Comparisons
2 2 0 100% 2:42 NA

BEST Quantity
1 1 0 100% 1:35 NA

WORST Connecting Punctuation
1 0 1 0% NA 1:37





MGMAT CAT Exam # 1 taken on 08/19/2012
Total Score : 750 (98 %ile)
Quantitative scaled score : 48 (86 %ile. Note : this is after the CATs were recalibrated)
Verbal scaled score : 44 (97 %ile)
IR score : 1.77. Estimated %ile : 1-3
Completed the essay. No pauses or extra breaks taken.


QUANTITATIVE SECTION ANALYSIS

One instance of 4 incorrect answers:

Type Difficulty Time Topics
PS 700-800 0:48 Statistics
DS 700-800 0:57 Exponents & Roots
PS 700-800 1:28 Fractions
PS 700-800 0:41 Percents


Last 10 problems

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
PS Correct 700-800 6:24 Circles & Cylinders
PS Correct 700-800 2:24 Algebraic Translations
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:55 Positives & Negatives
PS Correct 700-800 1:12 Formulas
PS Incorrect 700-800 1:26 Coordinate Plane
DS Correct 600-700 1:11 Fractions
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:48 Statistics
DS Incorrect 700-800 0:57 Exponents & Roots
PS Incorrect 700-800 1:28 Fractions
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:41 Percents


Way too slow problems analysis

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
DS Correct 500-600 4:32 Statistics
PS Incorrect 700-800 4:09 Fractions
PS Incorrect 600-700 4:04 Exponents and Roots
DS Incorrect 700-800 4:06 Odds & Evens
DS Incorrect 700-800 3:44 Inequalities
PS Correct 700-800 3:34 Algebraic Translations
PS Correct 700-800 6:24 Circles & Cylinders


total 7, 3 DS, 4 PS, 3 correct, 4 incorrect, total time 30:33

Way too fast incorrect analysis

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:25 Rates & Work
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:55 Positives & Negatives
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:48 Statistics
DS Incorrect 700-800 0:57 Exponents & Roots
PS Incorrect 700-800 0:41 Percents


total 5, 1 DS, 4 PS, total time 3:46

Assessment reports for Quantitative

QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY QUESTION FORMAT & DIFFICULTY
QUESTION FORMAT Total Right Wrong Blank % Right Average Average Average Average
Time Time Difficulty Difficulty
RIGHT WRONG RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers Answers Answers


Problem Solving 22 12 10 0 55% 2:09 1:45 740 740
600 - 700 2 1 1 50% 1:41 4:04
700 - 800 20 11 9 55% 2:12 1:29

Data Sufficiency 15 9 6 0 60% 1:44 2:33 710 750
500 - 600 1 1 0 100% 4:32 NA
600 - 700 2 2 0 100% 1:09 NA
700 - 800 12 6 6 50% 1:27 2:33


QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra Geometry
Number Properties
Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Algebra 8 5 3 63% 1:35 2:33

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Linear Equations
1 1 0 100% 0:55 NA

Exponents & Roots
2 1 1 50% 0:52 0:57 FASTEST

BEST Quadratic Equations
2 2 0 100% 2:28 NA

BEST Formulas
1 1 0 100% 1:12 NA

WORST Inequalities
2 0 2 0% NA 3:21 SLOWEST


QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry Number Properties
Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Geometry 6 5 1 83% 2:22 1:26

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Polygons
1 1 0 100% 1:06 NA FASTEST

BEST Triangles & Diagonals
3 3 0 100% 1:26 NA

BEST Circles & Cylinders
1 1 0 100% 6:24 NA SLOWEST

Lines & Angles 0 0 0 NA NA NA

WORST Coordinate Plane
1 0 1 0% NA 1:26

QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry
Number Properties Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Number Properties 6 2 4 33% 1:19 1:58

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Divisibility & Primes
3 2 1 67% 1:19 1:14

WORST Odds & Evens
1 0 1 0% NA 4:06 SLOWEST

WORST Positives & Negatives
1 0 1 0% NA 0:55 FASTEST

WORST Combinatorics
1 0 1 0% NA 1:38

Probability 0 0 0 NA NA NA

QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry
Number Properties
Word Problems Fractions, Decimals, & Percents

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Word Problems 9 5 4 56% 2:42 1:21

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Algebraic Translations
2 2 0 100% 2:59 NA SLOWEST

Rates & Work
2 1 1 50% 1:41 0:25 FASTEST

Statistics
3 2 1 67% 2:56 0:48

WORST Consecutive Integers
1 0 1 0% NA 1:52

WORST Overlapping Sets
1 0 1 0% NA 2:17

Extra Problem Types 0 0 0 NA NA NA

QUANTITATIVE: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Algebra
Geometry
Number Properties
Word Problems
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents
CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Fractions, Decimals, & Percents 7 4 3 57% 1:24 2:06

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Digits & Decimals
1 1 0 100% 1:15 NA FASTEST

WORST Fractions
3 1 2 33% 1:11 2:49 SLOWEST

Percents
3 2 1 67% 1:34 0:41

Ratios 0 0 0 NA NA NA

FDPs 0 0 0 NA NA NA



VERBAL SECTION ANALYSIS

NO instance of 4 incorrect answers

Last 10 questions analysis:

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
SC Incorrect 700-800 1:58 Comparisons
CR Correct 700-800 1:29 Describe the Role
SC Correct 700-800 2:29 Concision
CR Correct 700-800 1:43 Explain the Discrepancy
CR Correct 700-800 0:55 Strengthen the Argument
RC Correct 700-800 3:57 Specific Detail
RC Correct 700-800 1:21 Specific Detail
RC Incorrect 700-800 0:20 Inference
SC Correct 700-800 0:31 Meaning
CR Incorrect 700-800 0:36 Weaken the argument


Way too slow questions analysis

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
SC Correct 700-800 2:29 Modifiers
SC Incorrect 700-800 2:37 Concision
SC Correct 700-800 2:47 Parallelism
SC Correct 700-800 2:05 Verbs
RC Correct 700-800 5:17 Specific detail
SC Correct 700-800 2:29 Concision


total 6, 1 RC, 5 SC, 1 incorrect, 5 correct, total time 17:44

Way too fast incorrect analysis

Type Correct/Incorrect Difficulty Time Topics
SC Incorrect 700-800 0:34 Idioms
RC Incorrect 700-800 1:02 Inference
RC Incorrect 700-800 0:54 Specific detail
RC Incorrect 700-800 0:20 Inference
CR Incorrect 700-800 0:36 Weaken the argument


total 5, 1 SC, 3 RC, 1 CR, total time 3:26

Assessment Reports for verbal - Question Format and Difficulty

VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY QUESTION FORMAT & DIFFICULTY
QUESTION FORMAT Total Right Wrong Blank % Right Average Average Average Average
Time Time Difficulty Difficulty
RIGHT WRONG RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers Answers Answers


Critical Reasoning 14 12 2 0 86% 1:32 1:40 730 750
500 - 600 1 1 0 100% 0:58 NA
700 - 800 13 11 2 85% 1:35 1:40

Reading Comprehension 12 8 4 0 67% 2:34 1:18 710 750
500 - 600 1 1 0 100% 1:36 NA
600 - 700 1 1 0 100% 1:03 NA
700 - 800 10 6 4 60% 2:59 1:18

Sentence Correction 15 11 4 0 73% 1:50 1:47 750 750
700 - 800 15 11 4 73% 1:50 1:47


VERBAL ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA AND TOPIC

VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Critical Reasoning Reading Comprehension
Sentence Correction

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Critical Reasoning 14 12 2 86% 1:32 1:40

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Describe the Role
2 2 0 100% 1:47 NA

BEST Find the Assumption
2 2 0 100% 2:07 NA SLOWEST

BEST Evaluate the Argument
1 1 0 100% 1:08 NA

BEST Strengthen the Argument
2 2 0 100% 0:54 NA FASTEST

WORST Weaken the Argument
3 2 1 67% 1:55 0:36

WORST Draw a Conclusion
3 2 1 67% 1:05 2:43

BEST Explain the Discrepancy
1 1 0 100% 1:43 NA


VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Critical Reasoning
Reading Comprehension Sentence Correction

CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Reading Comprehension 12 8 4 67% 2:34 1:18

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

WORST Inference
4 2 2 50% 2:59 0:41

Specific Detail
5 3 2 60% 3:32 1:54 SLOWEST

BEST Main Idea
2 2 0 100% 1:29 NA

BEST Passage Structure
1 1 0 100% 1:03 NA FASTEST

Tone 0 0 0 NA NA NA


VERBAL: ANALYSIS BY CONTENT AREA & TOPIC
Critical Reasoning
Reading Comprehension
Sentence Correction
CONTENT AREA Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers
Sentence Correction 15 11 4 73% 1:50 1:47

Topic Total Right Wrong % Right Average Average
Time Time
RIGHT WRONG
Answers Answers

BEST Subject-Verb Agreement
1 1 0 100% 0:33 NA FASTEST

Pronouns 0 0 0 NA NA NA

Modifiers
3 2 1 67% 2:12 1:57

BEST Verbs
2 2 0 100% 2:01 NA

WORST Idioms
2 1 1 50% 1:46 0:34

WORST Concision
2 1 1 50% 2:29 2:37

BEST Meaning
2 2 0 100% 1:07 NA

BEST Parallelism
1 1 0 100% 2:47 NA SLOWEST

WORST Comparisons
2 1 1 50% 1:55 1:58

Quantity 0 0 0 NA NA NA

Connecting Punctuation 0 0 0 NA NA NA



Here is my initial analysis:

QUANT

1. Need to work on timing in the PS section. The average time for right answers is just above the acceptable level.
2. DS : Spending too much time and getting 40% of the questions wrong.
3. Number Properties: Taking more than average time and getting more questions incorrect. Need to refresh concepts in this area.
4. DS: In the 700-800 level questions I am taking more than average time and getting 50% incorrect. Should focus on improving methodology.
5. PS: 55% of 700-800 level questions answered correctly, just above the average time. Strength, but a little focus on methodology can lead to better results.
6. Pain Areas on Quant : Inequalities (I figure some of the tough DS questions belong to this topic), Number Properties, overlapping sets, fractions, combinatorics/probability.

VERBAL

1. Big difference between average correct and average incorrect answers in RC. I should probably go back to the passage and verify the answer before confirming.
2. Strength : CR. Weakness : RC
3. CR: Struggling on 'draw a conclusion', weaken, and describe the role questions.
4. SC: struggling on solving meaning, concision and comparisons questions.


Please let me know how to proceed further.

Thank You,
Ridhima.

[StaceyKoprince]

Okay, first I'm going to make comments based on what I see in the data myself as I go down your data for the first test you posted (#2). Then I'll comment on your overall analysis.

Quant.
For your 4 in a row wrong, you spent too much time on 2 that were really too hard for you - so of course you got them wrong - and then you had to guess on the next two because you were running out of time. Conclusion: spending extra time (>2.5m on quant) is NOT worth it, because the whole point is that you only need that much extra time when the question is too hard in the first place.

My guess is that this pattern didn't show up only at the end. There were other times where you spend too much time / didn't cut yourself off, and then you had to rush to make up the time, likely leading to some careless mistakes.

Just got to your next bit. Yep; confirms what I said above.

Next, timing. WAY too fast on sub-700 level quant questions. Too slow on incorrect - losing an average of 30 seconds per incorrect problem. And, of course, we know that those averages mask a lot of questions that were too long, leaving you with other questions that were way too fast.

Linear eqns: 2 right but avg 2:41. Learn shortcuts.

Geometry is both low and slow; very weak area, needs work. At the very least, cut yourself off faster.

Number Props also too low - but at least these are too fast, not too slow. Reallocate time here, get the averages up to 2m, you might have a shot at raising this percentage. Priorities: divis and primes, odds and evens, pos and neg.

Word probs excellent EXCEPT you're still spending too much time on INcorrect problems. Cut yourself off faster. That's the theme throughout.

Verbal.
Strong performance overall.

Most of the too-slow questions were SC. Why do you think that is? Do you eliminate 2-3 options relatively quickly but then spend too much time agonizing between the final 2 or 3 options? If so, then you need to learn to streamline your SC process.

On your 1st pass through answers: place answers into 1 of 2 categories, definitely wrong or maybe. DO NOT decide whether something is right at this stage.

On your 2nd pass through the answers: look only at the "maybe" answers, compare, choose one. When you are down to two answers on verbal, look at each answer ONCE more, then pick one and move on. Do NOT spend time agonizing back and forth between 2 (or more) answers.

Or do you get slowed down when you have a very convoluted sentence, with a long underline and some meaning issues going on (the ones where you read the original sentence and you think: what? I don't even understand what they're trying to say). If so, then you need to learn how to tackle meaning-based and convoluted SCs:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... orrection/

RC and CR are awfully fast, and yet you're still getting most of them right. That's awesome - but make sure that you don't make yourself go so quickly that you make a bunch of careless mistakes. Be anal and systematic. :)

SC is a lot slower, but you're getting away with it because of your speed on CR and RC. Have you really streamlined things as much as you can? (As I mentioned, for example, never agonize back and forth multiple times between two verbal answers - whatever your first instinct was is probably what you'll pick by the time you do pick an answer, so you might as well just do that sooner!)

My point with this is: your percentage correct is about the same across all of verbal, but you're rushing on CR and RC while spending more time than usual on SC. That tells me CR and RC are big strengths of yours - yet the percentage correct is about the same as it is for SC. So maybe that extra time spent on SC is not the best place to spend that time, because maybe CR and RC could be even better with normal time.

In particular, if the extra time on SC can be saved without sacrificing your current accuracy, then win-win!

More data - okay, your slow on modifiers, meaning, parallelism, and comparisons, which tells me you're slower on the more convoluted sentences without such obvious splits. See the article I linked above, a few paragraphs back.

Overall analysis:
Yes, in general, you have timing problems on quant. Read these two articles and start doing what they say:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-win-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

Of your "pain areas" for quant, these are the most important: inequalities, number properties, fractions.

RC. I should probably go back to the passage and verify the answer before confirming.

Ding ding ding! (Bells going off. :) Yes, be anal and systematic. Don't just trust your memory. Verify!

Quant is going to take more of your focus than verbal, obviously, but there are still things that you can do on verbal in order to increase the chances that you'll be able to maintain that great performance on real test day. The two big things will be making sure that you aren't losing time on SC to activities that aren't really helping you anyway, and being very systematic on CR and RC to minimize careless mistakes.

For SC, see that article I linked above re: convoluted sentences that test meaning. You also mention struggling with certain CR questions; here are some resources:
overall process:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... g-problem/
infer / draw concl:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... e-Problem/

weaken:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... n-problem/

describe role / boldface:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/02/ ... ce-problem

Finally, I was about to link another article but I just realized I already gave it to you in my last post. The very last article I linked (studying for and struggling with the gmat) - go take a look at that, in particular the "how to study" section. That, coupled with the timing articles above, will give you your overall study platform. (And, of course, come back here with questions!)