Hello all,
I took the GMAT for the first time today and scored a 760 (Q: 50, V: 42). I am very happy with this score, and am officially finished with the GMAT.
I wanted to write this post to highlight the large difference between my CAT scores and my actual GMAT score, and hopefully provide some encouragement to those people who are currently unhappy and stressed out about their CAT score(s).
My practice scores were as follows:
GMATPrep 1: 720
CAT 1: 640 (Q: 42, V: 35)
CAT 2: 720 (Q: 44, V: 44)
CAT 3: 690 (Q: 43, V: 40)
CAT 4: 680 (Q: 46, V: 37)
CAT 5: 690 (Q: 47, V: 37)
CAT 6: 670 (Q: 43, V: 38)
GMATPrep 2: 740
With the exception of the first GMATPrep and MGMAT CAT (took those for "trial" several months back), all 6 subsequent tests were taken within the span of 1.3 months, which was my total preparation time.
I found the CAT exams, especially the quant portion, to be extremely difficult. On 3 of the CAT exams, I ran out of time on the quant portion and missed several questions at the end. Towards the end of my studying period and nearing my test date, I was feeling HIGHLY discouraged, frustrated, and not a little bit angry as both my quant and verbal scores were regressing instead of improving. By then, I had gone through all of the MGMAT study guides so I had no idea what was going on with GMAT-ing abilities.
Although I read several online posts that stated the MGMAT CAT exams were more difficult than the actual exams, I was still very worried because is usually only a 30 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual scores. 30+ points would not be enough to get me to the 750+ score I was shooting for.
Since there wasn't much I could do in the short time frame before the test, I decided to stop psyching myself out and instead focused on looking over my incorrect answers and doing more practice quant problems by buying the MGMAT Advanced Quant Guide.
I took my 2nd GMAT Prep test 2 days before my actual exam, and getting a score of 740 calmed my nerves down considerably.
---
Takeaways
+ The GMAT Prep gives a much better estimate of your actual GMAT score
+ Use MGMAT's CAT tests as good practice material to whip you into shape. Don't be too concerned with getting a high score or even finishing within the time limit. The high difficulty of MGMAT'S quant portion is good training for the actual exam.
+ Don't be too discouraged by low CAT scores. Focus on the areas you need work on and practice, practice, practice.
GMAT Forum
- lzhao12
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- garylyon
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
Wow, congratulations. I actually just logged in to find a story like yours, because I'm getting incredibly nervous 2 weeks before the test. My CAT scores are almost identitical to yours - my first GMAT Prep was 730, and I'm taking #2 next week. Highest MGMAT CAT is a 700, but since a bucnh of my 600-level scores, I've done like 800 OG problems. Studying the problems you get wrong is so key.
Thanks for sharing buddy!
Thanks for sharing buddy!
- vomhorizon
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
Could you share some of your IR strategies, and prep guide..
- olso4052
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
This is very interesting. I am curious, has anyone else had a similar experience?
I noticed that MGMAT did change their scoring technique about 6 months ago (almost right when this post was created).
The reason is that I've taken 4 MGMATs now, and my scores have stayed level, or at times decreased, and I'm feeling really frustrated. I'm going to take GMAT Prep this weekend, but in the mean time I would be interested to see if anyone else has had this MGMAT problem.
I noticed that MGMAT did change their scoring technique about 6 months ago (almost right when this post was created).
The reason is that I've taken 4 MGMATs now, and my scores have stayed level, or at times decreased, and I'm feeling really frustrated. I'm going to take GMAT Prep this weekend, but in the mean time I would be interested to see if anyone else has had this MGMAT problem.
- RonPurewal
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
this is awesome, congratulations.
- olso4052
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
lzhao12 Wrote:Hello all,
...
My practice scores were as follows:
GMATPrep 1: 720
CAT 1: 640 (Q: 42, V: 35)
CAT 2: 720 (Q: 44, V: 44)
CAT 3: 690 (Q: 43, V: 40)
CAT 4: 680 (Q: 46, V: 37)
CAT 5: 690 (Q: 47, V: 37)
CAT 6: 670 (Q: 43, V: 38)
GMATPrep 2: 740
...
I just took my second GMATPrep test, and scored a 740, making my GMATPrep and MGMAT scores almost identical to yours.
With that in mind, I think it's fair to say that Manhattan GMAT needs to fix their practice test. Not only is their quant section very out of whack, but their verbal is off as well.
I can understand that it's hard to recreate a secretive CAT such as the GMAT, but these Manhattan practice tests are really poor. Since they are advertised as GMAT practice tests (and not as the high level study material that they are) it's kind of ridiculous.
- RonPurewal
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
hi olso4052,
thanks for writing about your experience here; we do keep track of these kinds of things (as best we can, anyway, given that we only have self-reported data to go on).
the cat exams are recalibrated approximately once a year, taking into account the aggregate of our students' correlations between practice-test scores and actual performances on official tests.
ironically, your discrepancy (like the original poster's on this thread) is in the opposite direction from what we usually see on this forearm; in general, we have far more complaints from students whose practice-test scores are too high than from those whose practice-test scores are too low.
if anything, you should take this result to mean that you are studying in a way that's particularly effective for the official problems! that's certainly not bad news.
if anything, i'm a little bit surprised by the tone of your post, since, after all, you are in a pretty enviable situation here; i'm not seeing much of a downside.
good luck.
thanks for writing about your experience here; we do keep track of these kinds of things (as best we can, anyway, given that we only have self-reported data to go on).
the cat exams are recalibrated approximately once a year, taking into account the aggregate of our students' correlations between practice-test scores and actual performances on official tests.
ironically, your discrepancy (like the original poster's on this thread) is in the opposite direction from what we usually see on this forearm; in general, we have far more complaints from students whose practice-test scores are too high than from those whose practice-test scores are too low.
if anything, you should take this result to mean that you are studying in a way that's particularly effective for the official problems! that's certainly not bad news.
if anything, i'm a little bit surprised by the tone of your post, since, after all, you are in a pretty enviable situation here; i'm not seeing much of a downside.
good luck.
- crusade
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
olso4052 Wrote:lzhao12 Wrote:Hello all,
...
My practice scores were as follows:
GMATPrep 1: 720
CAT 1: 640 (Q: 42, V: 35)
CAT 2: 720 (Q: 44, V: 44)
CAT 3: 690 (Q: 43, V: 40)
CAT 4: 680 (Q: 46, V: 37)
CAT 5: 690 (Q: 47, V: 37)
CAT 6: 670 (Q: 43, V: 38)
GMATPrep 2: 740
...
I just took my second GMATPrep test, and scored a 740, making my GMATPrep and MGMAT scores almost identical to yours.
With that in mind, I think it's fair to say that Manhattan GMAT needs to fix their practice test. Not only is their quant section very out of whack, but their verbal is off as well.
I can understand that it's hard to recreate a secretive CAT such as the GMAT, but these Manhattan practice tests are really poor. Since they are advertised as GMAT practice tests (and not as the high level study material that they are) it's kind of ridiculous.
Hi olso,
I've kinda been facing the same problem as you guys. Did you end up giving the real test, and what was your actual score?
- rsh2025
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
I have never posted on this forum (but browsed frequently). Just took the GMAT and scored a 760 today. Out of all the Manhattan GMAT staff, I would like to thank Ron Purewal whose advice has been simple and invaluable. Most of all, your words really helped me calm down before the test and put the whole ordeal into perspective. THANK YOU!
- krishnagmat
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
Hi All,
Finally I scored a GMAT 710 (q49 ,V36) after few weeks of preparation. I would like to thank this site for providing good explanations and playground for all GMAT aspirants like us.
I prepared for about 3 months but its kind of ON and OFF due to work and family. i devoted about 2 hours a weekday and about 3-4 hours during weekend. I would say about 120-150 hours of preparation for Verbal only. Quants, I just reviewed the exam questions. My prep score and MGMAT scores are really frustrating sometimes but all I say is "Just believe in your strengths".
And MGMAT CATS, GMAT PREP doesnt not provide us the true experience of a GMAT, as they say, they are just mocks.
99% of my effort went into verbal.
GMATPREP - Q50, V29 - After completing OG Ed.11
GMATPREP - Q51 V23 - Day before exam
( I was sick for last 3 days before exam)
MGMAT - Started about a month prior to Exam.
CAT1-620 (q41 , v34) - This gave me conf.
CAT3-670 (q49 v 33)
cat4/5/6- 680 with verbal at about 35-36
Learning 1.
1) Quants Qs were easier than that of MGMAT but not easier than GMATprep.
2) IR of MGMAT is helpless.I dont think we need to do that diff questions in real GMAT. GMAT prep is true representation. You need to answer questions at a rate of 1Q/2.5 mins. Most questions, you can. Try to do a good 10 Qs.
3) Verbal:
As a non-native speaker, I felt verbal as a challenge for me. Initially I found SC as most diff and started attacking that. I spent most of my time ~80% on this section. CR was fine for me until my MGMAT CAT, where I scored at 60% in CR, but SC I did verywell than expected. SC & CR needs lot of preparation. PRACTICE PRACTICE & PRACTICE. RC, you cannot improve in a day, month or an year. IT should come with regular reading.
SC questions- Very difficult than MGMAT, GMATprep. May be I was doing better at that time :)
CR-> Same level of difficulty as GMAT prep.or little higher.
RC-> I felt this really easy compared to GMATPREP. Diff than MGMAT CATs. The passages are shorter but the answer choices are very close. I think I was doing good.One very large passage, it is little easier to understand and questions are mostly straight FWD. But answer choices are very close.
ANSWER CHOICES are very close in Verbal compared to MGMAT and GMAT prep.
Mistakes:
======
Quants:
=====
Went too fast in Quants and verbal initially, slowed in the middle and skipped two lengthy questions that I thought will take more than 2 mins to solve. Finally left with 6 mins -5 mins of time.
I think this would have lowered by score by about 10-20 points.
If you are slow in quants, just skips some that you feel may take more than 3-4 mins to solve. Easy questions, try to solve in 1 min so that you can have time for hard questions. Try to o steadily not too fast or too slow.
Verbal:
=====
Started fast with about 20 Q with 40 mins left. I think I had 2 RCs by that time. After that I slowed for CR, and SC at few junctions. The answers were very confusing and finding 2:3 split etc didn't work. all 5 have 5 diff types of constructions. It was a hell to point out diff. Some same idiomatic way, all have same pronouns, verb forms. etc. These kill time and def not easy.
Suggest:
======
Dont entirely rely on the basis of MGMAT,GMATprep. Just check the trend and the mistakes you are making.
schedule a time that is most convenient for you. I appeared for my exam at 8:00 am and I have to get up at 5:00am to bypass traffic. I would have scheduled for afternoon spot and had a good sleep the night before. Dont give any mock in last 3-4 days of the exam.
Dont eat too much before exam. Have a light fruit . Most of the oxygen you breath will be supplied to your brain :)
Solve all questions in OG11,12,13 and concentrate on your mistakes.
Finally I scored a GMAT 710 (q49 ,V36) after few weeks of preparation. I would like to thank this site for providing good explanations and playground for all GMAT aspirants like us.
I prepared for about 3 months but its kind of ON and OFF due to work and family. i devoted about 2 hours a weekday and about 3-4 hours during weekend. I would say about 120-150 hours of preparation for Verbal only. Quants, I just reviewed the exam questions. My prep score and MGMAT scores are really frustrating sometimes but all I say is "Just believe in your strengths".
And MGMAT CATS, GMAT PREP doesnt not provide us the true experience of a GMAT, as they say, they are just mocks.
99% of my effort went into verbal.
GMATPREP - Q50, V29 - After completing OG Ed.11
GMATPREP - Q51 V23 - Day before exam
( I was sick for last 3 days before exam)
MGMAT - Started about a month prior to Exam.
CAT1-620 (q41 , v34) - This gave me conf.
CAT3-670 (q49 v 33)
cat4/5/6- 680 with verbal at about 35-36
Learning 1.
1) Quants Qs were easier than that of MGMAT but not easier than GMATprep.
2) IR of MGMAT is helpless.I dont think we need to do that diff questions in real GMAT. GMAT prep is true representation. You need to answer questions at a rate of 1Q/2.5 mins. Most questions, you can. Try to do a good 10 Qs.
3) Verbal:
As a non-native speaker, I felt verbal as a challenge for me. Initially I found SC as most diff and started attacking that. I spent most of my time ~80% on this section. CR was fine for me until my MGMAT CAT, where I scored at 60% in CR, but SC I did verywell than expected. SC & CR needs lot of preparation. PRACTICE PRACTICE & PRACTICE. RC, you cannot improve in a day, month or an year. IT should come with regular reading.
SC questions- Very difficult than MGMAT, GMATprep. May be I was doing better at that time :)
CR-> Same level of difficulty as GMAT prep.or little higher.
RC-> I felt this really easy compared to GMATPREP. Diff than MGMAT CATs. The passages are shorter but the answer choices are very close. I think I was doing good.One very large passage, it is little easier to understand and questions are mostly straight FWD. But answer choices are very close.
ANSWER CHOICES are very close in Verbal compared to MGMAT and GMAT prep.
Mistakes:
======
Quants:
=====
Went too fast in Quants and verbal initially, slowed in the middle and skipped two lengthy questions that I thought will take more than 2 mins to solve. Finally left with 6 mins -5 mins of time.
I think this would have lowered by score by about 10-20 points.
If you are slow in quants, just skips some that you feel may take more than 3-4 mins to solve. Easy questions, try to solve in 1 min so that you can have time for hard questions. Try to o steadily not too fast or too slow.
Verbal:
=====
Started fast with about 20 Q with 40 mins left. I think I had 2 RCs by that time. After that I slowed for CR, and SC at few junctions. The answers were very confusing and finding 2:3 split etc didn't work. all 5 have 5 diff types of constructions. It was a hell to point out diff. Some same idiomatic way, all have same pronouns, verb forms. etc. These kill time and def not easy.
Suggest:
======
Dont entirely rely on the basis of MGMAT,GMATprep. Just check the trend and the mistakes you are making.
schedule a time that is most convenient for you. I appeared for my exam at 8:00 am and I have to get up at 5:00am to bypass traffic. I would have scheduled for afternoon spot and had a good sleep the night before. Dont give any mock in last 3-4 days of the exam.
Dont eat too much before exam. Have a light fruit . Most of the oxygen you breath will be supplied to your brain :)
Solve all questions in OG11,12,13 and concentrate on your mistakes.
- 8rexthomas
- Forum Guests
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:56 pm
Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
i took the gmat last weekend and scored a 770. i too scored way below my actual score in my mock cats..
cat exam #1 46 (Q) 39 (V) total 700
cat exam #2 46 (Q) 37 (V) total 680
cat exam #3 46 (Q) 40 (V) total 700
cat exam #4 48 (Q) 39 (V) total 710
cat exam #5 48 (Q) 37 (V) total 700
cat exam #6 49 (Q) 37 (V) total 710
and in the actual exam i ended up scoring 51 (Q) 42 (V) for a 770.
a big thanks to the manhattan gmat team :)...those were some awesome mock tests
cat exam #1 46 (Q) 39 (V) total 700
cat exam #2 46 (Q) 37 (V) total 680
cat exam #3 46 (Q) 40 (V) total 700
cat exam #4 48 (Q) 39 (V) total 710
cat exam #5 48 (Q) 37 (V) total 700
cat exam #6 49 (Q) 37 (V) total 710
and in the actual exam i ended up scoring 51 (Q) 42 (V) for a 770.
a big thanks to the manhattan gmat team :)...those were some awesome mock tests
- VinodD
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
I left the MGMAT CAT test midway, found it extremely discouraging and thought the results will make me focus on wrong aspects rather than the real aspects I need to focus on..
4 years back I had got an MGMAT score of 340 , and 2 weeks later I got 730 in my real GMAT...
Feedback: Please make the tests as close to the GMAT as possible.. we need these tests to show our true strengths and weaknesses.They are not for practice rather they should be closer to the actual exam and not merely tough .
4 years back I had got an MGMAT score of 340 , and 2 weeks later I got 730 in my real GMAT...
Feedback: Please make the tests as close to the GMAT as possible.. we need these tests to show our true strengths and weaknesses.They are not for practice rather they should be closer to the actual exam and not merely tough .
- joanna.vu
- Students
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Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
Thanks for this. I am in the exact same situation with you. i consistently score 680 &690 on all CATs and the OGmat CAT 710... I am extremely frustrated because I too am shooting for a 750 and cannot seem to pass the hurdle.. I will take the 2nd test this week before the actual test. This gives me alot of hope :)
- Roibendaniel
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- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 9:03 pm
Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
Another testimonial:
I just took the official GMAT and got the unoficial scores:
IR - 8, V 42, Q 44, Overall - 710
I am pleased with this score, expecially the IR and V sections, and will probably not take the GMAT again.
I read this thread above and it helped me relax, after getting these socres:
CAT 1: 640 (Q 42, V 36)
CAT 2: 600 (Q 43, V 31)
CAT 3: 640 (Q 40, V 37)
CAT 4: 690 (Q 43, V 40)
CAT 5: 670 (Q 44, V 37)
CAT 6: 680 (Q 45, V 37)
All my IR scores were low enough not to mention them :)
GMATPrep 1: 720 (Q 47, V 40, IR 7)
GMATPrep 2: 710 (Q 47, V 40, IR 7)
My message to all GMAT takers that are stressed as hell after getting low scores in the CAT exams:
1) I am not aware of the statistics, but it is apperant that the CAT exams underestimate true capabilities of some test takers, so don't be discouraged.
2) IR - GMAT Interact is AMAZING, it's a real pitty Manhattan GMAT do not showcase this, I stumbled upon this by accident. By implementing the right strategies taught in Interact, I was able to score a perfect 8, although guessing 3 Qs out of the 12 in the reall GMAT!
(http://www.manhattangmat.com/interact/)
Last thing - a big thank you for the Manhattan GMAT team,I studied alone and your product is great and helped me alot!
Good luck to all fellow GMATers!
Roi
I just took the official GMAT and got the unoficial scores:
IR - 8, V 42, Q 44, Overall - 710
I am pleased with this score, expecially the IR and V sections, and will probably not take the GMAT again.
I read this thread above and it helped me relax, after getting these socres:
CAT 1: 640 (Q 42, V 36)
CAT 2: 600 (Q 43, V 31)
CAT 3: 640 (Q 40, V 37)
CAT 4: 690 (Q 43, V 40)
CAT 5: 670 (Q 44, V 37)
CAT 6: 680 (Q 45, V 37)
All my IR scores were low enough not to mention them :)
GMATPrep 1: 720 (Q 47, V 40, IR 7)
GMATPrep 2: 710 (Q 47, V 40, IR 7)
My message to all GMAT takers that are stressed as hell after getting low scores in the CAT exams:
1) I am not aware of the statistics, but it is apperant that the CAT exams underestimate true capabilities of some test takers, so don't be discouraged.
2) IR - GMAT Interact is AMAZING, it's a real pitty Manhattan GMAT do not showcase this, I stumbled upon this by accident. By implementing the right strategies taught in Interact, I was able to score a perfect 8, although guessing 3 Qs out of the 12 in the reall GMAT!
(http://www.manhattangmat.com/interact/)
Last thing - a big thank you for the Manhattan GMAT team,I studied alone and your product is great and helped me alot!
Good luck to all fellow GMATers!
Roi
- joanna.vu
- Students
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue May 14, 2013 2:36 pm
Re: ~90 pt discrepancy between CAT scores and actual GMAT score
Manhattan GMAT:
cat1: 690 (45 Q 39 V) -- Untimed
Cat 2: 520 (31Q 30V) -- Timed ran out of time in quant
Cat 3: 690 (46 Q 38V)
Cat 4: 500 (37 Q 22 V) -- void this one because i just wanted to get through the test to start a new one
Cat 5: 610 (35 Q 38V)
Cat 6: 670 (45Q 36 V)
Cat 1A: 680 (47Q 35V)
GMAT Prep:
Cat 1: 710 (47Q 40 V) Taken 4 days before the real test
Cat 2: 720 (49Q 40V) Taken two days before the real test
Kaplan Free test: 710 taken the day before the real test
REAL GMAT TEST: 710 (49 Q 38V)!!!!
I was feeling really deflated because I kept running out of time on the quant part. I also was not improving on my test scores as you can see. The test scores above are in order by date taken. On the real GMAT I actually ran out of time for both quant and verbal.. I guessed on the last 5 quant questions and on the last verbal question. Since I guessed on the last 5 questions, I felt like crap going into the verbal section. I kept thinking to myself that I screwed up. Once I clicked on view scores, I nearly jumped out of the chair. I am so happy the studying is over.... Now essay writing time!
cat1: 690 (45 Q 39 V) -- Untimed
Cat 2: 520 (31Q 30V) -- Timed ran out of time in quant
Cat 3: 690 (46 Q 38V)
Cat 4: 500 (37 Q 22 V) -- void this one because i just wanted to get through the test to start a new one
Cat 5: 610 (35 Q 38V)
Cat 6: 670 (45Q 36 V)
Cat 1A: 680 (47Q 35V)
GMAT Prep:
Cat 1: 710 (47Q 40 V) Taken 4 days before the real test
Cat 2: 720 (49Q 40V) Taken two days before the real test
Kaplan Free test: 710 taken the day before the real test
REAL GMAT TEST: 710 (49 Q 38V)!!!!
I was feeling really deflated because I kept running out of time on the quant part. I also was not improving on my test scores as you can see. The test scores above are in order by date taken. On the real GMAT I actually ran out of time for both quant and verbal.. I guessed on the last 5 quant questions and on the last verbal question. Since I guessed on the last 5 questions, I felt like crap going into the verbal section. I kept thinking to myself that I screwed up. Once I clicked on view scores, I nearly jumped out of the chair. I am so happy the studying is over.... Now essay writing time!