Serious Score Variation

[pedy23]

Hi:

I have become a bit discouraged after taking my 6th MGMAT test.

My scores:

CAT 1: 630
CAT 2: 630
CAT 3: 670
CAT 4: 670
CAT 5: 680
CAT 6: 600

As you can see, I've seen a decent improvement as each test progressed but the drastic point drop on CAT 6 has me worried. My actual test is scheduled to take place in about 10 days and that was definitely not the way I planned on heading into the actual test (talk about a hit to my confidence levels). The score on CAT 5 is pretty darn close to where I would like to score on my actual test and the score on CAT 6 is perplexing (not to mention discouraging). I have been studying for a solid 3 months in between work and other priorities, so my question is...is that normal? Is it a fluke on my end? Is CAT 6 designed to be more difficult than other CATs?

You can sense my frustration (lol). Anyways, I would like to hear from some MGMAT staff on this issue or other users who may have experienced something similar. So close to game day and it's pretty nerve wrecking to see this happen. What are the thoughts?

Thanks

[StaceyKoprince]

The test isn't designed to get harder or easier at this point - the algorithm is the same or all of the tests. We need to figure out what happened.

First, what are your quant and verbal subscores? Did they both drop, or was the overall score drop due mostly to a drop in just one section?

Did you take your practice tests under full official conditions? (30m each for two essays, 8m break, 75m quant, 8m break, 75m verbal) If not, for which practice tests did you vary the official conditions and how did you vary the conditions?

Did you take your practice tests at the same time of day as you plan to take the real test? Were there any atypical conditions (stressful day at work, bad sleep the night before, etc)? What about during the test itself - anything unusual that wasn't like your other practice tests?

How was your timing in each section? Did you generally move steadily through the test, giving appropriate time and attention to each question? (2m for quant, 1 to 1.25m 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 and 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? Alternatively, did you move too quickly and finish with a lot of time (>3min) left over?

Any other differences that you can think of, even if you think it wouldn't have made a difference to your score?