Not finishing on time and getting questions 32-41 incorrect

[akash_negi91]

Hello everyone! I took the GMAT Prep for the 2nd time and my scores were not at all as expected. Quant was 46 and verbal was a meager 28 :(

There are two reasons for the 28 on verbal if you look at my score report attached.

http://imgur.com/CD8US and

http://imgur.com/6I8Ht


I prepared exclusively using the GMAT 0-9 guides.

Missing 9 questions in a row and that too in the end was devastating. I don't know why I was not performing well towards the end. I did not take a break between the Quant and Verbal and have been studying since 11 this morning (took the test at 11pm, so studying for 12 hrs almost nonstop).

Secondly, I ran out of time precisely when I clicked on the answer choice for question 41. I did not have 0.5 sec which was needed to confirm the selection!

Now I am trying to weigh in the effects to getting the last questions wrong and the negative effect of the timing problem.

The 1st time I took a test, I missed almost 10 questions in quant section and got a 36 (46%ile). So I quickly reset the exam and without reviewing the incorrect answers took the same exam again and finished on time and jumped to 42 (64%ile).

1st question: Is it safe to assume that because I did not finish in 75 minutes, GMAT penalized by bringing down my verbal from, lets say, 30 to 28? I have seen on mba.com that GMAT penalizes "severely" for not finishing on time but I dont know what "severely" would translate to in %iles.

2nd question: By how much do you think the incorrect 9 questions pulled my score down? I am thinking almost 10%iles because of the similar experience in Quant section in my first attempt.

I have my real exam rescheduled for Nov 3rd due to hurricane Sandy.

ANY INSIGHT IS MUCH APPRECIATED!
Thank you!

[StaceyKoprince]

I don't know why I was not performing well towards the end. I did not take a break between the Quant and Verbal and have been studying since 11 this morning (took the test at 11pm, so studying for 12 hrs almost nonstop).

There's at least one reason why. :) You can't expect to keep a high level of mental stamina for 12 hours straight! Even just the 3.5 hour test is mentally grueling when you do nothing else beforehand!

Also, 9 in a row wrong, especially at the end, will absolutely kill your score - so timing is obviously a major issue to address.

Secondly, I ran out of time precisely when I clicked on the answer choice for question 41. I did not have 0.5 sec which was needed to confirm the selection!

On the real test, the computer will accept anything that you selected even if time runs out before you confirm. But let's not have that happen on the real test either. :)

Read these two articles and start doing what they say:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... to-win-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

You're going to have to completely change your mindset and the way that you're studying - the two articles will tell you how.

So I quickly reset the exam and without reviewing the incorrect answers took the same exam again and finished on time and jumped to 42 (64%ile).

You probably noticed this when you did review the questions, but you can't take the "same" test literally. The tests are adaptive - you get new questions each time based upon what you "earn."

Next, don't do that again. :) Good practice tests are rare. Don't use them up unnecessarily. And this was unnecessary because you already had the data you needed to know: you had a timing problem and, unless you fix that problem, your score is going to continue to fluctuate and you'll struggle to improve. It doesn't matter that, later that same day, you *can* score higher by not messing up the timing. You can't guarantee that you won't mess up the timing on some future test until you address the problem.

because I did not finish in 75 minutes, GMAT penalized by bringing down my verbal from, lets say, 30 to 28?

Big penalty. So, you did answer 8 of the last 9, but randomly, yes? And you got them all wrong? Did you have others wrong before that, ones on which you were rushing and maybe made careless mistakes?

The penalties vary based on lots of variables (such as scoring level), so I can't tell you exactly how much your score dropped, but 9 wrong in a row at the end could easily drop you 15 to 25 percentile points! (Note: the penalty is even worse if you just don't answer the questions at all.)

Don't take another test now. You have the data you need to start making some changes to how you study. 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. (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! That's why I'm not looking at your screen shots right now - you figure out and tell me what you think it all means and what you should do, and then I'll tell you whether I agree. :)