Overview
A diagnostic is more than a practice score. We look at why each point was lost: did you not know the content, misread the question, run out of time, or change a right answer? Each of these needs a different fix. We combine your timed results with a short interview about how you approached the test, then produce a score plan that sets a realistic target for your test date and names the few priorities most likely to move your score.
Mock exams then check progress under realistic conditions. We use official practice materials where they exist, because they best reflect the real scoring, and supplement them with targeted sections. For productive skills (writing and speaking), responses are marked against the published criteria. For adaptive or machine-scored tests, we explain how our estimate relates to official practice-test scores and where it may differ.
This service works on its own — for example, to decide whether to postpone a test date — or as the backbone of ongoing coaching.
Who it’s for and the problems it solves
This is for you if you are…
- Candidates who have not started preparing and want a starting point
- Candidates whose practice scores have stalled
- Anyone deciding whether to keep, move or cancel a booked test date
- Parents or sponsors who want an objective picture of readiness
- Institutions that want placement or readiness checks for a cohort
Common problems we help with
- You have taken many practice tests but do not know what to change
- Your score varies a lot between mocks and you do not know which is realistic
- You finish sections with no time to check, or leave questions unanswered
- You are unsure whether your target is achievable by your test date
What’s included — and what isn’t
Included
- Timed diagnostic using official or format-accurate materials for your exam
- Error analysis by question type, content area and error cause (knowledge, reasoning, timing, misreading)
- Criterion-based marking of writing and speaking where the exam includes them
- A score plan with a realistic target range, weekly priorities and a checkpoint schedule
- Scored mock exams at agreed intervals, each followed by a debrief
- A trend summary across mocks showing what is improving and what is not
- Readiness advice before the test date, including whether to consider rescheduling
Not included
- Official scores or predictions presented as certain — we give estimates with reasons
- Live, leaked or recalled test questions
- Taking any real exam or graded assessment for you
What you receive
- Diagnostic report
- Current estimated performance by section, with an error-cause breakdown and examples from your own answers.
- Score plan
- Target range for your test date, the three to five priorities that matter most, and a weekly schedule.
- Mock debriefs
- After each mock, a short written or live debrief linking results to the plan.
- Progress tracker
- A simple table or chart of section results and error types over time.
How it works
Agree the exam and target
You share the exam, target score and test date; we choose materials and conditions.
Diagnostic sitting
You complete the diagnostic under timing, in one sitting where possible.
Analysis and plan
We analyze each error, then meet to agree priorities and the checkpoint schedule.
Checkpoint mocks
Scored mocks every few weeks, each with a debrief and adjustments.
Readiness review
Before your test date, a final review with a clear recommendation.
How we analyze a result
- Error-cause coding
- Each lost point is coded as a knowledge gap, a reasoning slip, a timing issue, a misread question or a careless error.
- Question-type mapping
- Results grouped by question type, for example Not Given items, data sufficiency or pharmacology, to show patterns.
- Pacing analysis
- Time per question or section, compared with the time the exam allows.
- Criterion-based marking
- Writing and speaking marked against the exam's public criteria, with evidence quoted from your response.
- Score estimation
- Estimates grounded in official conversion tables or practice-test scoring where available, stated as a range.
Why a range, not a single number
Test performance varies from day to day, and practice materials do not always predict the real test perfectly — particularly for adaptive tests and machine-scored speaking. We therefore give a range and explain what could move you to its top or bottom. This is more useful for deciding on a test date than a single, falsely precise figure.
Making mocks count
A mock is only useful if conditions are realistic and the review is thorough. We ask you to sit mocks with real timing, no pauses and, where relevant, the same delivery mode as your real test. Reviewing a mock usually takes as long as sitting it; this is where improvement happens.
- Sit a full mock no more than every one to two weeks during intensive preparation
- Use section-level practice between mocks to work on priorities
- Keep the most recent official practice tests for the final weeks
What the work can look like
Illustrative example — fictional data
Sample diagnostic summary (GRE Quantitative section)
A fictional applicant sits a timed GRE practice test six weeks before their test date. Figures are invented for illustration.
Where points were lost
Of 11 errors in Quantitative Reasoning, 5 were quantitative comparison items where the candidate did not test special cases such as zero or negative numbers, 3 were time-pressure guesses in the final questions, and 3 were content gaps in probability.
Priorities
1. A routine for testing cases in quantitative comparison. 2. Pacing checkpoints so the last questions are not rushed. 3. Two focused sessions on probability.
Target range
If the first two priorities are fixed, a gain of a few points on the Quant scale is plausible by the test date; we will confirm at the week-three mock.
Illustrative example with invented numbers. Estimates are not official scores and do not predict any specific result.
What you’ll need to provide
- Exam name and version, target score and test date
- Any previous official or practice results
- A quiet space and uninterrupted time for timed sittings
- Honest information about how you approached each section
You don’t need everything ready to ask for a quote — tell us what you have and we’ll say what’s missing.
What affects price and turnaround
Price depends on
- The exam and number of sections to be marked
- Whether writing and speaking require detailed criterion-based marking
- Number of mock exams in the plan
- Live debriefs versus written reports
Turnaround depends on
- Length of the exam and the marking it requires
- How soon your test date is — a diagnostic can be prioritized for close deadlines
Every project is quoted individually. How we price our work.
Questions people ask before starting
Which exams can you run diagnostics for?
Language tests such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE and the Duolingo English Test, admission tests such as the SAT, GRE and GMAT, and many professional exams. We use official practice material where it exists.
Is your mock score the same as my real score?
No. It is an estimate. Official practice tests are the closest predictor for machine-scored or adaptive tests, and we explain how our estimate relates to them.
Can I buy just a diagnostic without coaching?
Yes. Many candidates use the diagnostic and score plan to guide self-study, then book a mock later to check progress.
Can a school or program use this for a group?
Yes. We can run diagnostics for a cohort and provide an anonymized summary of common weaknesses alongside individual reports, with consent.