MGMAT CAT -- REFUSED TO COUNT MY LAST QUESTION

[Stockmoose16]

Hello,

I just finished MGMAT CAT #6. When I got to the final verbal question (#41), the CAT refused to confirm my answer, which I later found out I got correct. The scoring analysis shows I simply left the question blank, but in reality, I answered it with several seconds to spare.

Since the MGMAT CAT docks four percentage points for a question left blank, I'm wondering what my score would've have been if the CAT had registered my [CORRECT] answer.

Here's the scoring analysis that I received:

Quantitative 43 70 %
Verbal 36 81 %
Total 650 84 %

I'm guessing that my overall percentage would've been 88th percentile for answering the question, plus another point for answering the question correctly (it was a 600-700 level). So I'm hypothesizing that I actually scored around the 89th percentile overall -- putting my scaled score between a 680 and 690. Does this sound remotely accurate?

[Guest]

As a follow-up, I was told by an MGMAT tech support person that if the answer had been counted, I would've scored a 660 overall. This makes absolutely no sense. MGMAT instructors have been quoted on this board saying that a single blank answer results in a FOUR percentage point drop in your overall percentile. If this is true, then I really scored in the 88th percentile overall (not the 84th), which translates into a 680-690. I don't understand why MGMAT is telling me I only scored a 660. And if this is correct, I'm really disheartened, because I scored a 690 last week. I can't believe I fell 30 points only 3 weeks away from my test. I'm bummed.

[Stockmoose16]

Can an MGMAT instructor weigh in?

[StaceyKoprince]

Not in the overall percentile - in the percentile of that section only. :)

Also, I'd have to check with our algorithm guy, but it might be the case that he has since changed it to 3 percentile points (since that's what it is on the real test).

Finally, the standard deviation of our test is 50 points (compared to an SD of 30 points on the official test), so you haven't actually had a statistically different change in your score. Standardized tests in general are not anywhere near as precise as most people assume they are.

If you have tech questions and need a more immediate answer, always contact techsupport@manhattangmat.com. I only answer questions in this folder twice a week - so the forums aren't for super time-sensitive questions!