Above and below target Forum

[pat4redick]

I am retaking in June and have been drilling, studying and PTing for the past couple of weeks. My target score is in the range of 174-176. My average score is just within that range but I've yet to actually score one of those numbers. My last ten practice tests are as follows: 170, 171, 173, 172, 173, 177, 173, 179, 173, 179.

I am continuing PTing but you can see the dilemma. Most fall in the 170-173 and some land above in the 177-180 range. Most tests, its a difference of a few questions only and I realize once past the 170 border improvement becomes extremely difficult. My question is, has anyone else experienced this? Any advice on how to tighten my score range, if possible? Thanks in advance.

[dkb17xzx]

I am in the same situation. What I plan on doing is figure out how and why I get questions incorrect. Yes, some are incredibly hard. But the other times I end up making mistakes that I shouldn't - not reading carefully, not reading all answer choices, getting fatigued around a certain question #, stuff like that. See if you can pinpoint those secondary factors -it may perhaps help you not miss 1-3 questions and tighten your score range a bit.

[03152016]

.

[pat4redick]

Has anyone scored below their target? Yes, we all have. Where are your weak areas, and how are you studying?

RC is hands down my toughest section. LG has settled at 0, and both LR's together is usually in that -4 area. RC is usually -4 or -5 (improved from -9). I take a test with RC as my experimental from early tests. I have sometimes taken two tests back to back to help with endurance and I don't think that is the issue. My big scores are when LR drops to -1 or 0. RC is relatively consistent.

[pat4redick]

I am in the same situation. What I plan on doing is figure out how and why I get questions incorrect. Yes, some are incredibly hard. But the other times I end up making mistakes that I shouldn't - not reading carefully, not reading all answer choices, getting fatigued around a certain question #, stuff like that. See if you can pinpoint those secondary factors -it may perhaps help you not miss 1-3 questions and tighten your score range a bit.

I get tripped up sometimes in RC because that is the only section I finish only a minute or so before time. In order to gain a few seconds I do sometimes skip answer choices when I feel really confident or I'm behind on time. The assumption/implied are usually the ones that get me.

As far as LR, generally they just fool. I miss something in the stimulus or TCR has an element that I just didn't manage to comprehend accurately. Most times on missed questions I narrow down to 2 choices, and pick the wrong one while the other was correct.

[rbkl]

samee boat =[

I have been recently taking only RC sections, but I still miss 3 or 4 each time. I'm glad to be consistent, but it's very frustrating because I can't seem to improve. I do think that I can polish up my LR to miss maybe 1-2 only for each section.

[bp shinners]

Honestly, once you're scoring in the mid-170s, scores can be quite swing-y, especially if you're having trouble with the RC section. My suggestion would be to start evaluating which types of questions you're getting wrong in the RC section. If it's the specific reference questions, train yourself to find the exact sentence that backs up what you're saying. A lot of top scorers will make small jumps between the language and their answer, or they'll assume that they know the answer without looking back. If it's the general/attitude questions, start looking at the features of your incorrect answer choices and the correct ones. Generally, people in the 170s will pick stronger answer choices than the passage backs up (very few passages should allow you to pick an answer with strong language) because they're more certain of what they know. Yes, it's a weird trend, but I've seen it over and over again in my classes.

[pat4redick]

Honestly, once you're scoring in the mid-170s, scores can be quite swing-y, especially if you're having trouble with the RC section. My suggestion would be to start evaluating which types of questions you're getting wrong in the RC section. If it's the specific reference questions, train yourself to find the exact sentence that backs up what you're saying. A lot of top scorers will make small jumps between the language and their answer, or they'll assume that they know the answer without looking back. If it's the general/attitude questions, start looking at the features of your incorrect answer choices and the correct ones. Generally, people in the 170s will pick stronger answer choices than the passage backs up (very few passages should allow you to pick an answer with strong language) because they're more certain of what they know. Yes, it's a weird trend, but I've seen it over and over again in my classes.

Thank you for the tips, every little bit helps. When I take my test today and review I will keep these things in mind.

[Micdiddy]

Honestly, once you're scoring in the mid-170s, scores can be quite swing-y, especially if you're having trouble with the RC section. My suggestion would be to start evaluating which types of questions you're getting wrong in the RC section. If it's the specific reference questions, train yourself to find the exact sentence that backs up what you're saying. A lot of top scorers will make small jumps between the language and their answer, or they'll assume that they know the answer without looking back. If it's the general/attitude questions, start looking at the features of your incorrect answer choices and the correct ones. Generally, people in the 170s will pick stronger answer choices than the passage backs up (very few passages should allow you to pick an answer with strong language) because they're more certain of what they know. Yes, it's a weird trend, but I've seen it over and over again in my classes.

I must be a cliche because I do both those things.

[shifty_eyed]

Honestly, once you're scoring in the mid-170s, scores can be quite swing-y, especially if you're having trouble with the RC section. My suggestion would be to start evaluating which types of questions you're getting wrong in the RC section. If it's the specific reference questions, train yourself to find the exact sentence that backs up what you're saying. A lot of top scorers will make small jumps between the language and their answer, or they'll assume that they know the answer without looking back. If it's the general/attitude questions, start looking at the features of your incorrect answer choices and the correct ones. Generally, people in the 170s will pick stronger answer choices than the passage backs up (very few passages should allow you to pick an answer with strong language) because they're more certain of what they know. Yes, it's a weird trend, but I've seen it over and over again in my classes.

I must be a cliche because I do both those things.

Me too, especially the first.

[Lyov Myshkin]

i hit my prep test average going in for my first two tests, -+.1 points.

i had gotten, however, remarkably consistent in lr.. where my range of errors for the last ten tests was -2 or -3 combined (not once out of this range), which i think contributed to my narrow scoring range.

i was zigzagging crazy in rc though.