Strange Behavior of CAT#2 & Representativeness of the Score

[Schawjibb]

I completed my CAT#2 today. Got 690 (Q48, V36). Despite scoring 690, I am not feeling all OK about the score because I was getting disconnected after every 2 or 3 questions.


What actually happened:
I clicked the resume button to start the test because I accidentally initiated the test 4 months back (I closed the browser window instantly, back then). I completed and submitted the first essay. Then, completed the second essay; but when I clicked the submit button, the browser took awkwardly long time (30-40 seconds) and subsequently gave an error message page. After refreshing the page, I found my second essay was not received by the server of ManhattanGMAT. I didn't bother for that at that moment. I escaped the essay so that I don't have to write it second time. Then, I started the quant section. After Q # 3, the browser once again failed to upload my response and subsequently showed an error page. After refreshing, I saw the same question again (interesting to note, the question also started from the same time when the Q # 2 ended i.e. it was another fresh start of Q # 3 from the time where the Q # 2 ended). This same thing happened so regularly (after 2/3 questions) until the end of the test that it took 5+ hours to complete (and, eventually, my brain was being fried for an extra 1 hour). Not less than 20 similar occurrences took place (disconnected -> refreshed browser -> reconnected -> reached my StudentCenter homepage -> resumed the test -> answered the question until next such occurrence happened)


Please note that I didn't take any unfair advantage from this event during the test.
1. I didn't change my answer when the same question appeared second time after refreshing the browser.
2. I didn't take extra time. I waited to move for the next question until the time when I was disconnected from the CAT is shown on the timer.
3. I didn't reread the passages of RC.


Not sure if these should be factored in the issue:
1. Accidentally I kicked off this CAT on Jan 8, 2012 but instantly closed the window. After that event, today I accessed the CAT for the first time.
2. I use Google Chrome browser.
3. I have good internet upload/download speed. After being disconnected for the 5th/6th time, I put a file to upload (with 10 KB up speed max) and a file to download (with 10 KB down speed max) so that I may find any disconnection that might happen under the hood over the course of the CAT. Strange enough, the files were being downloaded/uploaded at constant rate even after the CAT has ended.
4. Same thing happened to me while I was taking CAT#1.
5. I didn't click back space.


I have a few queries regarding this issue:
1. How can I avoid facing the same problem again? I have 4 more 'fresh' CATs to attempt.
2. How representative my scores are considering that I didn't take the advantage of time or rereading questions or changing the answers after the questions were shown again?
3. (I know this question is really really weird) Is there any chance that this might happen in the actual GMAT?

Awaiting replies, especially from ManhattanGMAT instructors/experts/officials. Thanks! :-)

[StaceyKoprince]

Hmm, there were some definite technical issues going on. I'm just a teacher - I can't help - but contact our tech support team (techsupport@manhattangmat.com or 800.576.GMAT) and they will be very happy to help you.

If anything like that does happen again, pause the thing and call our 800 number (800.576.GMAT) immediately. Don't make yourself sit through that for 5 hours!

You said that you didn't give yourself any advantages, so I'd be inclined to think that your scores are valid within the normal standard deviation (+/- 50 points). One of two things is possible, though: the score is slightly inflated because you got repeated mental breaks, or the score is slightly deflated because it took so long that you got more mentally fatigued than you normally would. In fact, I'm guessing it's likely that both of those things happened and probably sort of cancelled each other out. :)

The particular difficulty you had won't happen on the real test because you won't be connecting to a server over the Internet. There have been rare cases of glitches in a real testing center (eg, they lose power), but there won't be connectivity problems at least!