The GMAT exam, just like any adaptive test, sorts the tasks given to any test taker by the difficulty level depending on whether the test taker answers the questions correctly or not. Correct answers will raise the level of difficulty by some degree. This is how the GMAT adaptivity generally looks like.

 

Interesting facts about the GMAT Adaptivity:

 

1. Your final score is not directly related to the number of questions you answer correctly. 

In fact, a person who receives 750 and a person who receives 450 may have answered the same number of questions correctly. 

 

2. If you see an easy question, it does not mean that you answered the previous question incorrectly.

The GMAT adaptive system is a complex algorithm, which may occasionally involve giving you extremely easy or extremely tough questions. Moreover, if a question seems easy to you, it may not seem easy to most people because they may simply not see a shortcut that you may know. 

 

3. Not finishing all the questions hurts your score.

Good time management is one of the most important things that can boost your score. If you are running out of time while taking the test, make sure to answer all the remaining questions by using some shortcuts. Otherwise, you will get penalized for not completing the section. 

 

4. Trying to beat the adaptivity is not worth it.

The GMAT Adaptivity is far too complex. It involves algorithms, both known and unknown to general public, that ensure that you get an objective score for your GMAT exam. Do NOT spend much time on trying to devise a strategy on how to circumvent the adaptivity principles. 

 

5. Your performance is extremely important at the beginning and in the end of the Math and Verbal sections.

When you start your Verbal/ Math section, the GMAT is trying to understand how good you are, which is why it is essential to show a high success rate when doing the first questions. 

by Nataly Linch