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vilavb · Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:26 pm

Hi,

I just signed up and took the practice test made available on the kaplan website. My question is whether this test is a real simulation of the GMAT. In other words does it follow the same adaptive format and system of marks? Also there is a lot of debate that Kaplan tests are difficult and the scores are skewed. How true is this? Finally what's the recommended amount of practice tests one should take before the GMAT?

Thanks

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Jen Kedro · Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:13 pm

Hi vilavb,

Thanks for your message, and congrats on beginning your GMAT prep.

The free GMAT test on Kaplan's website is full-length and has realistic GMAT-style questions, but it is not adaptive. Currently we offer 9 adaptive exams online, available to our enrolled students (who take a classroom or online course), as well as several CATs as part of a retail book you can purchase on amazon or through our website.

Our retail book does include a CDROM with an admittedly more outdated scoring algorithm, which is where some comments about our low scores come from. As of this year, however, our retail department has started offering those who purchase the book access to a few of our online CATs, which have the same up-to-date and accurate scoring algorithm as we offer to our enrolled students. As of next year, the CDROM will be eliminated entirely, to reduce this confusion. We apologize for any confusion along the way, but do note that if you take our online CATs as an enrolled student or through the online companion with a recent book, scoring is very accurate and realistic.

We generally recommend that students take the full 9 CATs as part of their course; most of our enrolled students are prepping for 2-3 months part-time. I'd say at a minimum you'd want to take 4-5 CATs. It's important to get that timed, full-length, realistic practice in, and to build up your skills and stamina for the actual exam.

Please let us know if we can be of further help, and good luck with your studies.

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vilavb · Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:14 am

Hey Jen,

Thanks so much for the reply. But does that mean that the Kaplan algorithm isn't adaptive at all or is it that the algorithm's adaptability isnt like that of the GMAT (or the free GMAT Prep tests). I just bought myself the GMAT 800. Its a great book. Tough indeed.

Also how different is the Companion on the 2007 version from the 2008 version? A friend of mine recently bought the KAPLAN PREMIER PROGRAM 2008-09 book. The CD Companion that came with it says Copyright 2004 in the User Guide. Does this mean the tests are the 2004 version?

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Jen Kedro · Tue Dec 16, 2008 7:49 am

Hi,

Please let me clarify. Kaplan's CAT algorithm IS adaptive, and is designed to mimic the real GMAT (and GMAT Prep), and again we assess our scoring and validity on a regular basis. We have 9 online CATs as part of our core prep curriculum, offered to those who take a live or online course with us.

If you are unable to take a course of some type, and you just purchase a book, you are more limited in your access to our CATs. Some books contain a CDROM with some CATs on it which are quite old, as you pointed out, and the final scores given with that old algorithm are less accurate. (Our most accurate and current tests are online, not on a CDROM). The newest Kaplan books, that came out this year, also allow you to access several of our online CATs instead, which I would recommend instead of using the CDROM.

Finally, the free test on our website is NOT a CAT, meaning it is not adaptive at the present time. It is full-length and provides you with an idea of GMAT style questions, and gives an approximate score, but it's really just a starting point. Once you truly begin prepping, you should be using adaptive exams.

As to your question about which book, again I'd recommend the more recent one, and accessing the online CATs.

Hope that helps, and glad that you found the GMAT 800 book to be helpful.

All the best,

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somlop · Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:52 pm

Hi,

Unfortunately I cannot take the online test since I receive the attached error every time I want to take it. Any ideas?

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