Losing Test Focus: The Big Threat to Your GMAT Score

Official GMAT scores include a variety of data points that you can use to measure your performance (relative to the test and relative to other test takers). A certain percentage of test takers are unclear on what the data actually means though, so we have to define those points before we talk about that big threat that I mentioned in the title of this article.

These days, a quant scaled score of 40 is about the 50th percentile (meaning that about half of GMATers score at (or above) 40, while about half score below it. However, a verbal scaled score of 40 is about the 90th percentile (meaning that about 10% of GMATers score at (or above) 40, while about 90% score below it. This phenomenon occurs because most test takers have a stronger quant ‘skillset’ than they have a verbal ‘skillset.’ With that ‘imbalance’ in skills, the percentiles become weighted relative to the overall group.

The interesting thing is that the GMAT verbal section is as consistent and predictable as the quant section – meaning that with the proper training, you can absolutely score at a high level in BOTH sections. That having been said, there is a big psychological threat to your test focus that will almost certainly occur at some point during the GMAT verbal section. If you allow it to happen, it could very well DESTROY your score. Simply put, the wrong attitude could kill your performance.

All-in, the test day ‘event’ that you’re going to face will take about four hours to complete, whether you perform at a high level or not. If you’ve taken a series of realistic practice computer adaptive tests (CATs) already, then you know what four hours of work will require, and you have to perform consistently well across the entire test to earn that high overall score. The tricky part is that the GMAT verbal section is the final 75 minutes of your test day and fatigue can impact your energy, test focus, perspective and decision-making.

Almost everyone tagging the test, at some point, thinks to themselves, “PLEASE LET THIS TEST BE FINISHED! I WANT THIS TEST TO BE DONE!” At the very moment that this idea enters your mind, THAT is the moment that your GMAT score is about to drop (and drop hard).

Almost every test taker wants a 700+ GMAT score, but to earn that amazing 90th percentile overall score, you must have a strong GMAT verbal score to go along with that strong quant score. Throughout, your test focus should be on active reading, taking proper notes, using tactics, doing efficient work, etc. If your goals change to “I desperately want this test to be over”, then you might be surprised how fast you will accomplish your new goal – of course, it will be at the expense of ALL the other goals you’ve been working on for months (if not longer). THAT is the threat and just about everyone faces it near the end of test day (and unfortunately, many get destroyed by it).

So how exactly do you overcome this threat to your test focus? Whatever question you’re on – stop working, sit up, close your eyes and take a few deep, cleansing breaths. This will take about 10-15 seconds, but don’t worry about that time; it will be well worth it to correct the HUGE problem that you’re actually facing at that moment. Remember that the top business minds with MBAs are NEVER allowed to give up after just 3-4 hours of work. Earning an invite to a top business school and all of the rewards that follow involve taking certain steps. Training to properly deal with the entire GMAT is one of those steps. Train to eliminate that short-sighted response from your mind by focusing on what you’ve learned, spotting patterns, taking notes, doing the work that is required to get to the correct answer. If you want your highest GMAT score, then your goal is to perform at a high level for the FULL TEST, right up to the very last question. There are lots of points to be earned in both the quant and verbal sections, but you have to remain focused on doing the proper work to earn those points.