Practice Tests vs. Real GMAT

[I_can_do_it]

I think Kaplan is a waste of time and money. I have Kaplan 800 book, which is really new, 2007-2008, but information there doesn't seem to help me to prepare RIGHT for GMAT. I think GMATPrepp is better for actual test...

[anil007]

hi all,
can anyone help me to get Manhattan GMAT practise tets.

[teegee]

Actual: 650 (q42 66%, v37 84%)
taken 11/26/2007

GMATPrep 1: 580
PR1: 610
PR2: 630
PR3: 630
GMATPrep 2: 660

Disappointed with my result even though it seems consistent with my practice test scores. Was kinda hoping I'd draw a lucky quant section on the real exam.

My list seems short compared to other's. Maybe i should've taken more practice exams.

I studied hardly any verbal and focused solely on the quant. Yet, the discrepancy persists. Oh well. Thirty one days til the next one.

[mikoyle]

PR1 470
PR2 480
PR3 510
PR4 570

Real GMAT 1 520

PR5 490
GMATPrep 550
Kaplan Paper 560
PR6 580


Real GMAT2 580

The Quant and Verbal on PR6 which I took 3-4 days before the real test was the exact same score as the real test Math 36 Verbal 34 Overall 580

[nicfc]

This forum had my hopes up but unfortunatally these are my results. I studies for about 3h/week for a month then about 6h/week for another. Then a week before the test I did the following:
Kaplan Diagnostic: 700
Kaplan Paper Test: 610
Kaplan 1: 540
Kaplan 2: 560
Kaplan 3: 560
PR Free Online: 650
Crack GMAT Free Online: 585
GMAT Prep 1: 710
GMAT Prep 2: 720 (47 Q, 42 V)

After reading this forum & talking to people who just took the test, most everyone did better on the real test than on the GMATPrep. I was fully expecting at least 700, my goal was 710.

Real GMAT: 680 (43 Q, 40 V)

[dbfinley]

Well I just finished it today
PR Free Online: 680
GMAT Prep 1: 720
GMAT Prep 2: 690
800Score: 740, 750, just took 2 of them

Real GMAT: 730 (49Q, 41V)
I guess based on my scores it's about where I should have been. Quant was about where I wanted, but I was hoping for a better verbal. Oh well, I told myself that I'd commit suicide if I got below a 700, so at least I'm safe.

[gmoney]

I'm posting my study methods for people who don't have a lot of time to study for the GMAT. I decided late in the season to apply to school so I only had 4 weeks to study. I took my test today. In the past 4 weeks, I spent about 1-1.5 hours per weekday reviewing material and 4-5 hours per day on weekends taking practice tests. I purchased the OG 11 and Manhattan GMAT series books (which also provide access to their online CATs). My practice test results were as follows:

GMATPrep 1 = 720 (first test I took in week 1)
GMATPrep 2 = 760 (took this test the day after GMATPrep 1)
Manhattan GMAT 1 = 660 (took this test in week 3)
Manhattan GMAT 2 = 720 (took this test in week 3)
Manhattan GMAT 3 = 730 (took this test in week 4)

Actual GMAT (week 4): 760 - Q:49 and V:45

I found the Manhattan GMAT tests somewhat useless because they were significantly harder than the OG and ultimately the actual test. In fact I view the time I spent taking Manhattan GMAT practice tests as wasted and I could've used it to do more OG practice questions. The problem was that Manhattan GMAT quant questions layered in too many concepts per problem, took far longer than a realistic GMAT problem and often required tricks neccessary to even reach an answer. I was quite discouraged after my first Manhattan GMAT test. So please, don't fall into the trap that test-prep companies want you to. Don't be discouraged, your best assessment of how you'll do should be the free downloadable tests distributed by GMAC. Taking too many practice tests outside of the free ones can be a waste of time.

That said, I did find Manhattan GMAT's test preparation books very helpful. I found their geometry guide and number properties guide most useful in reviewing information I hadn't seen in years.

I felt the actual test questions today in the quant section were most similar to the easy to mid-level difficulty questions in the OG. The actual verbal questions were most similar to the medium to more difficult verbal questions in the OG. But no questions on either section were harder than any provided in the OG.

Good luck!

[Cichinel]

Kaplan Diag 620 Q SC critical reasoning reading comprehension
Kaplan CAT1: 590 Q41 V30 12/37 6/15 7/14 5/12
Kaplan CAT2: 610 Q50 V31 6/37 4/14 4/15 7/12
Kaplan CAT3: 630 Q50 V33 4/37 8/15 4/14 6/12

MGMAT1: 680 Q47 V36 17/37 7/15 5/14 6/12
MGMAT2: 690 Q45 V39 17/37 8/15 5/14 4/12
MGMAT3: 650 Q48 V32 18/37 7/15 6/14 7/12
MGMAT4: 690 Q48 V36 15/37 5/15 5/14 7/12
MGMAT5: 710 Q48 V39 13/37 8/15 3/16 4/12

GMATPrep1: 710 Q48 V39 12/37 8/16 1/11 3/14 (A month before the test)
GMATPrep2: 700 Q50 V34 10/37 9/16 2/11 3/14 (A week before the test)
GMATPrep3: 750 Q50 V41 9/37 4/16 2/11 2/14 (A day before the test)

Real GMAT: 720 (Q50 V38)

[mmpizzaz]

I need help and advise. I am not sure what is going wrong in my preparation for the GMAT. I have taken the Veritas On Demand Course and working on finishing all the work book questions, I have practiced questions from OG as well - I have not finished all the workbooks or OG yet
I took some 800Score tests and I am consistently doing poorly on them - just averaging around 45-50 Percentiles in Quant.
I really believe I can do a whole lot better. My scores seem to have gotten stuck in 580-610 range and I need to seriously push myself to get into the 680 - 710 range - but nothing seems to work?

Here are my scores from some of the tests I have taken

Kaplan Test Drive - 580
800 Score Test 1 - 610
800 Score Test 2 - 610
Manhattan GMAT - 590

The 800Score Quantitative Tests are really tough for me, I suck in pacing myself despite the pacer and the geometry and Data Interpretation questions are sorta twisted? Any help, suggestions, guidance -

My test date is in 3 weeks and I am seriously considering rescheduling

[cooldude1002]

I finished my test today and kind of disappointed with my score.

Real GMAT: 680 (Q48,V36)

PowerPrep GMAT2:680

PowerPrep GMAT1:640

Manhattan GMAT scores are all in the range of 640-680.

Kaplan Diagnostic:680

I need help with Verbal, I am planning to retake the test in Feb and need to score a 720 or above. Can somebody share their thoughts on the reading material for Verbal and what to do to improve my verbal score? Currently I am stuck in a rut with the 640-680 scores and need a way to get to 700+.