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 MGMAT 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)

MGMAT 1 = 660 (took this test in week 3)

MGMAT 2 = 720 (took this test in week 3)

MGMAT 3 = 730 (took this test in week 4)

 

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

 

I found the MGMAT 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 MGMAT practice tests as wasted and I could've used it to do more OG practice questions. The problem was that MGMAT 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 MGMAT 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 CR RC

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+.

[mmpizzaz]

hey cooldude1002 - 680 is not a "bad" score, but i can see why you may want to retake it. i am learning that the key to GMAT is practice :) - did you take the tests (Manhattan GMAT, Kaplan etc) back to back - like every day one test or did you space it out when you were preparing.

 

I have heard that spacing it out - taking it every other day is a better strategy than taking it like every day. Taking the time to understand mistakes is the key.

 

keep the faith, bud.

[derfisch]

After one month of prep I got the following scores:

 

GMAT PREP CAT1 Q:36 V:34 590

GMAT PREP CAT2 Q:29 V:36 550

 

Today's actual GMAT Q:29 V:35 530

 

No big surprises here. I knew that my Q would kill my score.

Gearing up for a retake by improving my horrible math skills and solidifying my V score.

I'm giving myself 6 weeks to get a 600. I think just a modest improvement in my math skills could put me over the top.

[Ekla Paathik]

Actual N\A

 

my practice scores in the order they have been taken

powerprep 730

NOVA... 670, 710, 650

KAPLAN .... 700

 

date of gmat 13th feb,08

desired score 750

[singhman]

how does one convert 800score.com scaled score into a score out of 800..any ideas?

[ikchicago]

Hello, I was told to get the "cracking the GMAT 2006 edition/princeton review" but I can't seem to find the 2006 edition only the 2007 & 2008, now does the 2007 & 2008 edition have the same strategies as the 2006 edition. Thank you. I also need to know where I can get like practice GMAT cds'. Thank you

[sadhu_from_himalaya]

MGMAT1: 660

MGMAT2: 690

MGMAT3: 650

MGMAT4: 700

MGMAT5: 710

MGMAT6: 760

 

Kaplan: 610

 

GMATPrep1: 710

GMATPrep2: 700

 

Real Gmat: 700

[dp2008]

Hello folks.. I have been following threads on this forum for around a couple of months now.. I started my prep arnd end of December 2007 and since later half of Jan 08, have been writing tests. I am here to seek some inputs from the more experienced and some words from the contemporaries..

 

following is the status of my practice till date, (attempted CAT 3 KAP today morning)..

 

Official Papertests - 760, 800, 730, 700, 730, 760, 770, 760, 740

 

800 score (I got couple of .exe from my friend)

Math1 - 99% percentile, 35/37, Section Score 58/60

Verbal1 - 91% percentile, 33/41 - 4RC, 1SC, 3CR, section score 44/60

Math2 - 95% percentile, 32/37, section score 47/60

Verbal2 - 87%percentile, 33/41 - 6RC, 1SC, 1CR section score 42/60

 

Kaplan

Practice Test 1 (PS - 15/16, SC - 19/22, PS - 15/16, CR - 12/16, RC - 15/18, DS - 16/20)

 

CAT1 - 670 (91 percentile Q50, V37)

Math - 2PS, 1DS

Verbal - 3SC, 3CR, 8RC

 

CAT2 - 660 (90 percentile Q50, V36)

Math - 1PS, 5DS

Verbal - 6SC, 2CR, 3RC

 

Practice Test 2 (PS - 15/16, SC - 17/22, PS - 15/16, CR - 13/16, RC - 16/18, DS - 18/20)

Practice Test 3 (PS - 16/16, SC - 21/22, PS - 15/16, CR - 14/16, RC - 16/18, DS - 18/20)

 

CAT3 - 640 (85 percentile, Q50, V33)

Math - 2PS, 1DS

Verbal - 7SC, 5CR, 2RC

 

Friends, do you see any particular weak areas being reflected through these scores? Wud appreciate any suggestions to improve.

 

btw.. i m planning for more tests - KAP CAT4, PR (all 4), GMAT Prep (2) and might try PwerPrep once..

 

-Dheeraj.

[Derelicte]

Well I just finished my test today so I thought I would post the CAT that I tried and how I did during todays exam.

 

Veritas CAT 1 Q41 V43 670

Veritas CAT 2 Q33 V40 610

800score CAT 1 Q35 V42 620

800score CAT 2 Q37 V45 660

800score CAT 3 Q38 V40 630

GMAT Prep CAT 1 Q44 V42 710

GMAT Prep CAT 2 Q44 V38 680

Kaplan CAT 1 Q47 V36 680

Princeton Review CAT 1 Q39 V45 690

Princeton Review CAT 2 Q44 V38 680

Princeton Review CAT 3 Q46 V45 740

Princeton Review CAT 4 Q44 V42 700

 

These exams were taken from February 6th to February 19th in the order presented.

 

Actual GMAT Q41 V38 650

 

Obviously I am a little bit disappointed :(in the score as I was aiming for a 700 and would have been satisfied with a 670 or 680 but 650 is really borderline especially considering the low Quant score.

 

I have read a lot about people saying to get enough sleep the night before and I think this was the key ingredient in my underperformance today. I went to bed around 11pm and woke up around 1am and couldn't fall back asleep. By the time I hit mid-quant section I could barely keep my eyes awake.

 

I will take the exam again in a few months and next time I will be sure to register for the afternoon session so that I can avoid the sleep issue :)

 

Good luck to everyone!!!!:D

[ddundude]

hy everyone

 

im new to the forum...

ive just finished a month of gmat prep...ive given two of MGMAT tests

my scores are-

MGMAT 1 - 640(Q-43/V-34)

MGMAT 2 - 650(Q-40/V-38)

im planning to give the gmat in about 50 days..do these tests represent almost a true picture of the scores ill be getting at this stage???

[freston]

Kaplan book: 620

Kaplan CAT 1: 550

GmatPrep 1: 700

Kaplan CAT 2: 660

Kaplan CAT 3: 580

Kaplan CAT 4: 550

GmatPrep 2: 700

 

Actual GMAT: 710!

 

(Q: 48, V: 38)

 

I'm psyched! Time to celebrate and get drunk! :)

[Hmmmmm]

Hello everyone,

 

I read this thread to gauge the general trend of how reflective practice scores were, so I thought I'd give my own two cents worth now that I'm done with the test.

 

I had about two and a half or three weeks to prepare, while working as well, so I think I've done a pretty decent job, here are my scores, if they're of any use:

 

Kaplan CAT 1: 700

Kaplan CAT 2: 690

Kaplan CAT 3: 670

 

GMATPrep 1: 770 (Q:50, V: 43)

GMATPrep 2: 750 (Q: 50, V: 41)

 

Actual GMAT (today): 720 (Q: 43, V: 49)

 

I'm just wondering if schools tend to look at the score as a whole or individual sections as well - I'm just concerned that my below par performance on the Quantitative might be a disadvantage?

[freston]

You got a 720! I wouldn't worry about it. I took the GMAT the day before you did and I probably had the exact same questions. Wow, that quant section was miserable! I'm usually good at math but I felt dumb while taking the test.

[Hmmmmm]

You got a 720! I wouldn't worry about it. I took the GMAT the day before you did and I probably had the exact same questions. Wow, that quant section was miserable! I'm usually good at math but I felt dumb while taking the test.

 

Yeah, the quant section was a bit tougher than I had expected. Strangely it said that the 43 I got was 70th percentile, which was what concerned me. Are those figures accurate?

[freston]

Yes. Here are some tables which show the asymmetrical raw score-to-percentile rankings for verbal and quantitative: The GMAT Scoring Scale

 

The GMAT is taken by a lot of people outside America. They may not be great at the verbal section but, damn, can they do math!

[breezestorm]

Kaplan diagnostic 600

GMATPrep1 600 45/28

Kaplan Test1 540 34/24

PowerPrep1 630 44/34

GMAT Prep2 610 44/30

PowerPrep2 620 44/30

Actual Exam 460 29/25 (1st attempt)

 

Kaplan CAT 1 540 34/22

Kaplan CAT 2 540 30/30

MGMAT 1 590 42/31

MGMAT 2 590 38/34

Actual Exam 550 41/25 (2nd attempt)