Hi Everyone,
I imagine everyone here wonders how close the actual GMAT marks are to the GMATPrep software. I copied the gmat scores and GMATprep scores reported on this forum into my favorite spreadsheet (numbers not excel!) and came up with some fairly interesting results...
The data is the last 84 reported scores from here on the Test Magic forums (dating back to around page 10 and 2005ish). Where multiple attempts with the GMATPrep software were reported by the same individual I only counted the first attempt. The scores for the GMAT prep exams listed here are the averages of GMAT Prep 1 and GMAT Prep 2 for each individual.
The Results: average reported actual GMAT score was 692 and the average reported score on the GMATPrep exams was 694. This shows a clear relationship at first glance.
However, please remember that a score of 692 is not representative of the whole GMAT test taking population (I think the mean score is somewhere in the low 500s?). Additionally, many test takers attempt the Prep software early in their preparations to gauge their current situation. This can skew the results downward. Keep in mind these are self reported scores.
Perhaps the most important piece of information is that of the 84 reported scores only 46 (55%) reported an actual score that was +- 30 points of their GMATprep scores. Of the remaining 38 test takers outside the 30 point range, 21 (55%) reported an actual score that was more than 30 points less than their Prep results. (Sentence correction anyone?)
One other little tidbit is that fully 58% of test takers showed an improvement on their actual scores versus their Prep scores. To me this is an indication of people using the tool as it is intended. As a diagnostic indicator.
Alright I hope my wasted sunday night helped someone!!
The Report Card:
Actual avg. 692
Prep avg. 694
Showing increase over Prep: 58%
Within +- 30 points: 55%
Outside of 30 point range showing a 'Large' negative: 55%
If anyone wants to get a hold of the raw data and do anything else with it just PM me!
