by StaceyKoprince Sat Feb 01, 2014 7:00 pm
The score isn't based on percentage correct - most scores have about the same # of questions correct.
The issue here is to try to figure out why the drop occurred - and whether it was a fluke or indicative of something that could happen again on the real test.
Did you take both tests under 100% official conditions, including essay and IR? Did you stick to the two 8-minute breaks? Did you do anything that might have given you an artificial advantage on the higher test? If that's the case, then expect the lower test result to be closer to your real potential at the moment.
On the flip side, was there anything going on that would have caused you to be artificially tired on the lower test? Did you take it at the end of a long day? Were you working all day or did you study for 4 hours before you took it? Is there any reason why you might have crashed during the last hour but you could avoid that on the real test day? If that's the case, then the higher score might be closer to your real potential.
How was your timing? I know GMATPrep doesn't give you timing data, but were you aware of any differences? Finishing early? Rushing at the end? Etc? Timing issues can definitely cause a score drop. If that's the case, then you can't be sure whether you'll have an "on" day on test day or not - it could go either way. You can't fix timing in 4 days, and you've already paid the test fee, so you might want to just take it and hope that you have an "on" day. If you don't, then you'll know what the problem is and you'll go spend about 6 weeks or so to fix it and take the test again.
What do you think it might be?
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep