From Karen Schweitzer,
Your Guide to Business School.
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To better understand the GMAT, you must better understand the questions that are on the test.

Computer-Adaptive GMAT Questions

Most standardized tests begin with easy questions and then get progressively harder. Computer-adaptive tests are different. The computer-adaptive GMAT always begins by giving you a question that is of medium difficulty. If you get it right, you’ll get a harder question. If you get it wrong, you’ll get an easier question. This pattern continues throughout the test. It might sound unfair, but because the computer will evaluate your exact level of ability right away, you will end up answering fewer GMAT questions overall.

Experimental GMAT Questions

The makers of the GMAT include experimental questions on the test. These questions do not count towards your score. They are only there to help test writers decide upon future GMAT questions. Unfortunately, there is no real way to tell if you are answering a real GMAT question or an experimental GMAT question.

Answering GMAT Questions

The computer-adaptive GMAT tallies your score as you take the test. The score calculation is based on the number of questions that you get right and their level of difficulty. If you leave GMAT questions blank, it will lower your score. Also, it is very important for you to do your best early on. Early GMAT questions count more than later questions.