Target Test Prep 20% Off Flash Sale is on! Code: FLASH20

Redeem
Target Test Prep Flash Sale
Target Test Prep is 20% off right now!
Use code FLASH20

Available with Beat the GMAT members only code

MORE DETAILS
Magoosh
Magoosh
Study with Magoosh GMAT prep

Available with Beat the GMAT members only code

MORE DETAILS
Magoosh

Practice Test Difficulty

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 50
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 3:00 pm
Thanked: 4 times

Practice Test Difficulty

by Makushr1 » Sun Aug 15, 2010 3:08 pm
Hi! I've been studying for the GMAT for about a month. After a week or two of studying, I took a sample test from mba.com. I actually achieved my GMAT score goal on that test, so I was really excited that I could potentially do really well. I went and purchased a Manhattan Sentence Correction book and took one of their 6 practice tests after studying a couple more weeks. I did 50 points worse than my first test! I just took another of their tests and did 40 points better, but still 10 points less than my mba.com test, even with an additional few weeks of studying.

The manhattan tests seem more difficult than the mba.com test. Is that true? If so, which is more similar to the actual GMAT?

Thanks!
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 659
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:12 am
Thanked: 32 times
Followed by:3 members

by Gurpinder » Sun Aug 15, 2010 5:36 pm
Makushr1 wrote:Hi! I've been studying for the GMAT for about a month. After a week or two of studying, I took a sample test from mba.com. I actually achieved my GMAT score goal on that test, so I was really excited that I could potentially do really well. I went and purchased a Manhattan Sentence Correction book and took one of their 6 practice tests after studying a couple more weeks. I did 50 points worse than my first test! I just took another of their tests and did 40 points better, but still 10 points less than my mba.com test, even with an additional few weeks of studying.

The manhattan tests seem more difficult than the mba.com test. Is that true? If so, which is more similar to the actual GMAT?

Thanks!
Hey,

MGMAT tests are a bit harder! But thats good because if you can do those then you definitely know your topics.

But you can also try Princeton Review. They are a bit more easier
"Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress."
- Alfred A. Montapert, Philosopher.
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 384
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:54 am
Location: Paris
Thanked: 92 times
Followed by:13 members

by Dan@VinciaPrep » Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:24 pm
Makushr1 wrote:Hi! I've been studying for the GMAT for about a month. After a week or two of studying, I took a sample test from mba.com. I actually achieved my GMAT score goal on that test, so I was really excited that I could potentially do really well. I went and purchased a Manhattan Sentence Correction book and took one of their 6 practice tests after studying a couple more weeks. I did 50 points worse than my first test! I just took another of their tests and did 40 points better, but still 10 points less than my mba.com test, even with an additional few weeks of studying.

The manhattan tests seem more difficult than the mba.com test. Is that true? If so, which is more similar to the actual GMAT?

Thanks!
I wouldn't say that they are harder. However, the quant questions are a little more calculation based rather than logic based. Also, it should be noted that it's usual for score to not increase in a linear way because there are so many different things that can be tested, and so many different things that can go wrong on any given day ( you spend too long on some questions, you don't feel as good etc.. ) What is important is that you do a lot of questions and tests and learn from your mistakes. Even if your score doesn't always improve YOU still are improving, and almost inevitably you'll start doing better (as long as you don't repeat old mistakes, or create new ones like getting so worried that you can focus as the test draws near)
If my post helped you- let me know by pushing the thanks button ;)

I'm a private tutor in Paris, I provide online and in person consulting for the GMAT and MBA application essays.
GMAT tutor paris
Prepa GMAT
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 362
Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:18 am
Thanked: 26 times
Followed by:1 members

by indiantiger » Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:20 am
quant for MGMAT is tougher more time consuming
verbal of gmat prep is difficult
"Single Malt is better than Blended"
Top
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:41 am
Location: Austin, Texas
Thanked: 3 times
GMAT Score:770

by OliverTPR » Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:51 am
As part of working with The Princeton Review, I just took the GMATPrep software 6 times and the actual GMAT, in part to evaluate the accuracy of the GMATPrep software. In the experience of our instructors, the software correlates pretty well with the actual exam. I saw two questions exactly duplicated on the real GMAT from the prep software, for example. The difficulty and scoring algorithm also seemed to correlate well.

Taking a test that is harder than the actual GMAT is not necessarily a good thing. The most useful thing for test prep is an accurate simulation of the exam, both in style of questions and in score expectations.

I cannot comment on the Manhatten exams, but I have seen a fairly strong correlation between TPR tests and the actual exam with dozens and dozens of students, as well as myself. We offer a free test online at our website www.princetonreview.com , and I believe several of the tests are included as part of the self-prep books.
Oliver Pope
GMAT Trainer
The Princeton Review
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1