Do MGMAT CAT exams get increasingly difficult?

[mukesh.mulchandani]

I ask because although I worked on my problem areas in quant and verbal, I found questions in CAT 5 to be more difficult than questions in CAT 4. Any ideas?

[StaceyKoprince]

Only if you're getting increasingly better. :)

The algorithm is identical for all tests; it pulls questions as you earn them. The computer doesn't know whether it's your 3rd or 4th or 5th test.

Now, you could be getting better and still have your score stay the same or even go down, because this sometimes happens: you get harder questions, so you spend more time on them, then you rush in other places to catch up (usually on questions that you do know how to answer... but now you make more mistakes), and that hurts your score.

Also, just note that you're using "harder" in a relative sense, while the exam is using it in an "aboslute" sense. Various things are easier or harder for you, but the question difficulties aren't based (only) on you. They're based on the entire population of test-takers. So you may think something's hard but, on average, it's easier for others. Other times, you'll think something's easy while others find it harder.

[mukesh.mulchandani]

Thanks Stacey.

Yes, my score did not change (at all!). It stayed at 44 in Quant, although a lot more questions rated at 700-800 difficulty were thrown at me this time.

My score in Verbal went further down (from 31 to 28!) which was surprising at first but then it made sense. I had spent time getting better at SC and CR but had not spent time preparing RC yet. RC pulled my verbal score down and there were a few careless mistakes in SC. Again, even for CR and SC, a relatively large number of questions rated at 700-800 were thrown at me.

Anyway, my score in last three MGMAT CATs has stayed around 600 with Quant stuck at 44 and it is hard to tell if I am progressing (obviously not when I look at scores). I have analyzed my last test and compiled a list of specific areas and sub areas to work on. And I really do need to get better at making educated guesses.

[StaceyKoprince]

Look at the trajectory of the exam. Did you start getting a higher proportion of questions wrong towards the end of the section? That would indicate timing problems, mental fatigue, or other issues... and would result in a bit of a drop in performance relative to how you were doing earlier in the section.

If you'd like more detailed advice, I'll need some more detailed data on your strengths and weaknesses in order to advise you. Use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Then come back here and tell us the results of your analysis and what you think you should do based on that analysis. We'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)