Practice test scoring same with GMAT test??

[ongi88]

Hello Guys,

The reason why I asked this is because I have taken the GMAT test 3 times already. Every time I took the test, my math percentile is always similar to my practice test (which is about +/- 70%) but my verbal is just devastating on test days. When I average about 60% on the practice test, I got a 20%, 24% and a 10% (yes a shameful 10) on the actual GMAT test. I don't know if its the stress or the anxiety of test but I just need to know if the practice of MGMAT are really similar to that of the Real GMAT test.

I know in the GMAT test that whenever you score a right answer, the computer will give a harder question. If you get it wrong, then the computer will give you easier question. How come in the MGMAT test, I got wrong on a 600-700 question, my next question was a 700-800. Since it was 700-800 question, I got it wrong, then my next question was another 700-800. Correct or wrong, I know the GMAT grades you based on the difficulty of questions your tackling. So MGMATtest gives me 700-800 questions when I am not deserving of it, then that means my overall score would be padded since I am tackling hard questions.

Please let me know what your insight is on this. I am tired of scoring 600, 640, 670 and even a 710 on practice test just to receive a 510 on test day.

[StaceyKoprince]

Although the test generally gives harder questions when you get things right and easier questions when you get things wrong, that is not the only requirement the algorithm has to follow when choosing questions. It also has to give you a certain number of the various question types and sub-types, and it is allowed to choose from within a range of difficulty levels to meet those requirements - so it's not a strict "right = harder, wrong = easier" match.

Additionally, the RC questions are assigned at the start of the passage - so all 3 or 4 questions are determined in advance regardless of how you do on the questions during the passage. (I'm talking about the real test here - not just our tests.)

Our tests have a standard deviation of about 50 points and there is not a major skew up or down in either quant or verbal.

So, the big question is: why is your score going down? I have some questions for you.

When you take your practice tests, do you take them under full official conditions? (essays, 10 min break, quant, 10 min break, verbal) All in one sitting, no extra breaks, no eating or drinking or even standing up during a section, etc? (only on breaks for eating, drinking, standing up) Did you really try as hard on the essays as you did on the real test? Did you take practice tests at the same time of day as the real tests?

How was your timing in the verbal section? Did you generally move steadily through the test, giving appropriate time and attention to each question? (1 to 1.5m for SC, 2m for CR, 2-4m to read a passage, 1m for general RC questions, 1.5 to 2m for specific RC questions) Or did you have to rush at times, spending less than 30 sec (on SC) or 1.5m (on CR/RC), and / or possibly make random guesses? If you did have to rush and/or make random guesses, on how many questions would you say you did that? Did you do it on a lot of questions in a row or were the guesses scattered?

On the real test, how was your stamina? How did you feel toward the middle and end of the verbal section? Did you have something to eat and drink on the breaks? Did you get up, walk around, and stretch?