Hi,
I will be taking GMAT on September 27, 2011. I have been preparing for 2 months. Last week I purchased MGMAT CATs. I have taken 5 of them till now. A brief summary of my performance in MGMAT CATs is mentioned below:
09/05/11
CAT 1 : Overall-680 (Percentile Rank: 90)
Quantitative -48 (Percentile Rank: 86)
Difficulty Level : 500-600:1 ; 600-700:7; 700-800:29
Verbal -35 (Percentile Rank: 77)
Difficulty Level : 500-600:1 ; 600-700:12; 700-800:28
09/15/11
CAT 2 : Overall-730 (Percentile Rank: 97)
Quantitative -50 (Percentile Rank: 95)
Difficulty Level : 600-700:3; 700-800:38
Verbal -40 (Percentile Rank: 91)
Difficulty Level : 500-600:2 ; 600-700:6; 700-800:33
09/16/11
CAT 3 : Overall-730 (Percentile Rank: 97)
Quantitative -49 (Percentile Rank: 90)
Difficulty Level : 300-500:1; 500-600:2; 600-700:8; 700-800:26
Verbal -40 (Percentile Rank: 91)
Difficulty Level : 300-500:1; 500-600:3; 600-700:11;700-800:26
09/19/11
CAT 4 : Overall-740 (Percentile Rank: 98)
Quantitative -51 (Percentile Rank: 99)
Difficulty Level : 500-600:1; 600-700:16; 700-800:20
Verbal -40 (Percentile Rank: 91)
Difficulty Level : 500-600:4; 600-700:22;700-800:15
09/21/11
CAT 5 : Overall-750 (Percentile Rank: 98)
Quantitative -51 (Percentile Rank: 99)
Difficulty Level: 300-500:1; 500-600:1; 600-700: 24; 700-800:11
Verbal -41 (Percentile Rank: 93) Difficulty Level: 500-600:3; 600-700:22; 700-800:16

On observing these results, I find that in both verbal and quantitative sections, the frequency of 700-800 level question has decreased steadily from CAT 2 and in CATs 4 & 5 there is a marked decrease while the opposite is true for questions of level for 600-700. I wanted the instructors' opinion on how well I am faring and whether my scores in CAT 4 & 5 are inflated. By the way I had earlier given GMAT Prep CATs:

GMAT Prep CAT 1: 720
GMAT Prep CAT 2: 730 (I don't remember the raw scores as the last GMAT Prep I took was almost 20 days ago.)

I realize that with 6 days to go, there is not much I can do but still the instructors' opinion would help me set a realistic target for the real thing.

Today! Good luck! I hope it's going well!

There is some variability in general, of course, depending upon how you move through the test - so you wouldn't always expect to see exactly the same number of 700+ questions for the same score. But, from the data that you've posted, I would guess that your later test scores (T4 and T5) are inflated, yes.

You have been scoring at the highest levels in quant since Test 1, and the tests are designed with the idea that someone scoring 90th+ percentile is going to go off and take the real test soon (because you're ready!), so we don't expect you to keep taking practice tests. In other words, there aren't 6 full tests worth of 90+ percentile questions.

Verbal is showing a similar pattern, but one test "later" (because your first verbal score wasn't already in the Very High range).

The good news - T2 and T3 were fantastic and you weren't getting inflated scores on those. :) What the data really says is that you're ready to get in there and take the real test!

And GMATPrep backs that up - it looks like your scores are in the 720/730 range. Note that all standardarized test have a standard deviatio (about 30 points for the real test and about 50 points for our test), so there's obviously some variability in terms of the exact score you get, but you are certainly** in the 700+ range. ** This assumes you took the tests under real test conditions as much as possible - doing the essays, limiting yourself to two 8-min breaks between sections, and so on.

_________________
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director of Online Community
ManhattanGMAT

Hi Stacey,
Thanks for your insights on my practice test scores. I took the GMAT on Sep 27. I scored a 700 (Q50: 92 percentile; V34: 69 percentile; overall 90 percentile; AWA scores still awaiting). I am a tad disappointed especially with my verbal performance. Quantitative section was loaded with unusually heavy stuff so I had an expectation of seeing a 49 or a 50. However, I really did not see a 34 coming in the verbal section. In my MGMATs, (all taken under strict exam conditions) I usually finished the verbal section with 50-60 seconds remaining. However on the real thing, I finished with 5-6 mins remaining. I did not find the options confusing and was able to eliminate incorrect options in most of the RCs and SCs. Though some of the CRs were a little tricky but still I did manage to reduce my choices to 2 answers and guessed on them to the best of my knowledge. My guess is that maybe I rushed through some of the middle questions in the verbal section.
Anyway, previously, I was thinking of applying in 2-3 top US B-schools. However, given an average GPA and pure engineering background (both in academics and work experience), I am now thinking of applying in some of the so-called tier-II schools. Would a 700 score be competitive in these schools? Should I retake GMAT to improve my score? I feel retaking the GMAT will be a big stretch for me as I have already put in a lot in the first shot. Also, I am yet to start my applications and a second attempt will push me back by 2-3 months.

Thanks and Regards,
--
Vinamra Nanavati

Hmm, yes, if you finished 5 to 6 minutes early, it does sound possible that you might have rushed too much on some questions and then maybe missed a tricky detail or something like that.

I know you're a bit disappointed on the verbal, but you still hit 700, so congratulations - that's a great score. :)

Re: whether to take again or push forward with your apps (and where to apply), the best person to talk to would be an admissions consultant (or two). If they advise you to take the test again, then we can help you to put together a plan - but they know the actual admissions process much better than I do.

There's another folder here called Ask An Admissions Consultant and you can also probably call some of them up to ask your question or to ask whether they do any "free consultations" (a lot of them do an initial free phone call as a marketing thing). Then, come back here and let us know what you found out.

Good luck!

_________________
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director of Online Community
ManhattanGMAT