I just Beat The GMAT!

It is highly unlikely that you will see the exact question you saw in OG repeated on the official test. I never have. I have had a few students report seeing a repeated question (including one lucky student who got an entire passage) but those reports were generally right after OG 11 was published - fewer and further between since then. I haven't had a student tell me of a repeat in at least 6 months.

It is, however, highly likely that you will see similar types of questions on the test - but when I say "type," I don't mean that they just change the numbers and give you the same question. I mean that they really have a limited number of ways to ask about a particular piece of information - there are only so many ways they can test you on prime numbers, for example. So learn what those ways are and, the next time you see a question that doesn't use the word "prime" but nevertheless is trying to get at the concept of prime, you'll recognize it b/c you've seen another question like it in the OG (though different numbers, different details, everything - but a couple of key words will indicate that this one is really trying to get at your understanding of prime numbers).

limits660 wrote:Ohh, i couldnt agree more that the questions in the gmatprep and OG questions will even resemble the ones on the real exam. One question to pose though, if a question tests the concept perfectly, why retire it? I believe some of the questions in the OG and gmatprep were 'retired' because some of them are poorly written. Just an observation.

Interesting point, Jeff. My hypothesis as to why GMAC retires GMAT questions is that people talk. Even though GMAT test takers sign NDAs, I think that there are enough unscrupulous characters (not on this forum of course) who would share live test question info with other people, and after a while an old GMAT test question doesn't test anything at all.

Just wanted to reiterate some policy, while I'm on the soapbox--live GMAT test questions will never be discussed on this forum. It's unethical to do so as well as a form of cheating.

Fortunately though, the members of Beat The GMAT all hold the highest ethical standards and would never be tempted to discuss live questions.