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Hey guys,

Long time reader, well a few months so I guess not that long, but first time topic poster for sure. I was wondering what people's experiences of taking the test for the first time are. I know there are tid-bits of informations all over the posts but it's really fragmented and doesn't directly answer the question I have which is: Did you find that how you were scoring on practice tests was indicative of the score you got on test day? Did a lot of people score 5 points lower, do better, etc. I think this would help a lot of people out. I, myself, know I am extremely stressed and becoming familiar with other people's experiences might help to know what everyone is in for. Personally, my scores have been all over the place from the get-go and I'm still working as hard as I can to get them more consistent. I get a lot of 165s/166s, my highest being a 169, and sometimes even getting some 162s/163s. I can't say that I have no consistency, just that it's frustrating when you revert back to those lower scores. On Sunday I took two practice tests, for instance, and one was a 167 and the other was a 162. Yes, I am an anomaly. I've always been that way. It may just be that, come exam day, it's going to come down to the luck of the draw. The test will either be up my alley or it won't be. Anyway, did others find this? Did a lot of it come down to luck in the end, or do you feel practice tests really were the be-all-end-all of a taste of what your score would ultimately be.

Same here. my tests have ranged from low 160s to high 160s. Never scored above 169. Hoping for a manageable LG test day and need to rock out RC.... but my last 7 have gone 166 167 166 162 161 169 167

That's so funny. That's basically exactly what my last couple of tests have been like and I've taken a crapload of tests just like you. Yeah I'm pretty scared about getting an awful LG. I'm glad though because friends of mine that took the June 2010 said that the experimental was a LG section so I'm glad not to have two sections of it again. I don't think they'd do the same experimental back to back. I'm saving the June 2010 for the last practice test I take, so we'll see how that LG section goes and maybe it will be similar to the October. Have you been trying anything in particular to get your score more consistent? I'm considering doing some "drills" and just doing LG sections and LR because RC has been pretty consistent.

Taking 2 practice tests in one day is not realistic and it would make sense if the 2nd one was lower. If the first one was lower, then I don't know, I guess that's a good sign haha.

I'm gonna be a first time test taker too and really hope my range holds true for the test. Over my last 8 PTs I have not gone below 170, but 6 of those tests have been 170, 171, or 172 so if I drop at all, I feel like I'm screwed.

shanshan333 wrote:That's so funny. That's basically exactly what my last couple of tests have been like and I've taken a crapload of tests just like you. Yeah I'm pretty scared about getting an awful LG. I'm glad though because friends of mine that took the June 2010 said that the experimental was a LG section so I'm glad not to have two sections of it again. I don't think they'd do the same experimental back to back. I'm saving the June 2010 for the last practice test I take, so we'll see how that LG section goes and maybe it will be similar to the October. Have you been trying anything in particular to get your score more consistent? I'm considering doing some "drills" and just doing LG sections and LR because RC has been pretty consistent.

Besides getting better at LG its all really kind of random - for example PT 53 I had a 174 going into the last section (rc) and ended up with a 167. I think a lot of it depends on my state of mind when I take the test. That and not making multiple mistakes of not reading close enough / missing key words. The day when I manage to put it all together is the day I break into the 170s....

Alas, I've been having the same results. I'm scoring everywhere from the low 160s to high 160s, having scored 170 just once (which will most likely never be replicated lol.) Like you, test day = luck of the draw.

Good luck to us.

same here! have been getting anything ranging from 160-170 really...but more concentrated on the lower side. would love slightly more luck to bring me over 165 on test day

yep, i've been jumping around 161-167 as well, though my last 3 have been 164, 167, 166, so i hope i'm stabilizing above 165.

anyway, i hope the curve is generous, because i've found my scores are always higher with a more forgiving curve, even if the test is apparently more difficult.

High: 174 (PT 53). Low: 166 (June 2007). AVG: about 171.

Target: 173. Realistic: 169.