Fluctuating GMAT Scores - Is This Normal?
I'm currently studying for the July 13 test date for the GMAT and started about a week and a half ago. I took the official gmat practice test (1 of 2 offered) and scored a 720 (47Q, 41V) before I did any reviewing. About a week and half later of purely going through the math portion of the official GMAT guide (because the Q percentile was quite lower than I expected being econ/finance guy), I took a (1 of 6 offered) Manhattan Prep practice test and scored a 660 (45Q, 35V) today.
I am just wondering if these gaps/fluctuations are normal and is there a better way for me to accurately gauge my test score level. I didn't score 2200+ on the SATs, which people have said are somewhat related to the GMAT, but I did get a 3.85+ at a top target. Anyone who has taken the GMAT or with knowledge about the test know what's going on? Should I just take a 3rd test to see where I am at again?
I've read most of the GMAT threads on here already, so just trying to get a different take on my situation.
Thanks a lot for the help!
MGMAT tests tend to be harder (mostly the math) than the real thing. I was scoring just as you are and ended up with a 700. Here's some advice that I didn't learn until late in the process: 1) Figure out which types of math problems are giving you issues and focus on one per study session until you become an expert at it. Doing various types of problems doesn't really drill everything into your brain as well I found. 2) Don't neglect verbal. If anything put more time into it than math as its much easier to raise your total score through verbal (note: I'm also saying this because your 47q meets the "pass" level for quant for most schools standards)
Hmm okay thanks for the advice. I'll start looking into the specific math problems that are giving me trouble and spending considerate amount of time on verbal.
Anyone else experience similar things?
The best indicators (in fact, the only good indicators) are the official GMAT practice tests. All other practice tests, Manhattan prep included, are garbage and have little-to-no predictive ability. They're useful insofar as they allow you to practice your timing techniques.
i started with 730 and then on the mgmat got a 630. hope it's not predictive haha
anyone know where I can find official GMAT practice tests? please pm me if possible
I've had similar experiences, but my scores were a bit more lopsided: my MGMAT scores were in the 550-650 range, while I received mid-high 700's on Kaplan/GMATPrep/800Score/real GMAT.
The MGMAT test (especially the math) is a lot more difficult than the real one. I found Kaplan and 800score (in that order) to be more realistic representations of the actual GMAT, but the MGMAT tests are invaluable prep for the ultra-hard questions you'll encounter.
From my personal experience, I got something like a 690 on my first practice Manhattan test. Then, noticing that my math score was pretty low, I focused on preparing the math for a couple of weeks. Then I scored even LOWER on the math section, for like 2 more practice tests.
I think the reason is because the Manhattan tests are generally harder, and are especially difficult to finish in the 75 minutes for the quant sections (the verbal sections are pretty similar to the real deal, from what I've seen). So even after I reviewed a buncha math concepts, I was scoring poorly since I would continuously get even harder questions, and found it hard to actually complete all 37.
That said, after even more preparation, I was able to score nearly as well on my last Manhattan practice test as on my GMATprep practice test (though my math score was still a bit lower). I'm assuming my math has improved a good amount since I started preparing.
Not to be a broken record, but yes, the MGMAT tests are wayyyyy harder than the real deal (or Kaplan/GMAC for that matter).
I took all 6 ManhattanGMAT CAT's and scored 630-730. Two days before the actual GMAT I took my last practice CAT with GMAC and got a 750. On the real thing, I got a relatively easy verbal (my big weakness) and ended up cruising out with a 770.
All in all don't worry too much about MGMAT scores, the GMAC is the closest thing you'll see until test day. My advice is take as many practice tests as possible, timing is as much of getting a score as the actual material you have mastered.
okay sounds good, thanks for the info. looks like I just gotta keep working through these books and practice exams.
Hey OP, from what I've read recently the MGMAT is significantly more difficult than the actual GMAT.
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