I just completed a CAT with Manhattan's system and feel the need to disclose some information to students preparing for their test as I feel I just wasted 3 hours of my time as I near my test date. I have read numerous posts and reviewed multiple scoring results and in no way are the "off brand" CAT's indicative of performance on the actual test. Do not assume positively or negatively that a score on one of these tests will indicate your results come test day. The tests' algorithms are a complete shot in the dark and subsequently the question progression equally fails, rendering the scoring useless. If your intentions are to work on timing, the tests may carry value, but the quality and similarity of the questions are mediocre at best. Anyone who has studied for this test, would easily decipher between 5 OG questions and 5 "off brand" questions. That being said, pounding multiple CAT's may hurt your score in the long run, many will attest that the best study material is found within Official Guides and repetition of said material. As I read student's debriefings I notice a trend that those who score well on the official material 9 times out of 10 score well on the test. Alternatively, students who score well on Kaplan, Manhattan, Princeton, etc often return in shock as their scores are all over the place. Just food for thought, whereas I have yet to see someone who scored well on the Offical CAT I or II sans repeat ever return in dismay. The other company's books are another story as they offer insight, tricks, and strategy especially MGMAT's isolated guides... but the amount of time taking their CATS IMHO is preparing you for disappointment or discouragement.
Hey bladeski,bladeski wrote:I just completed a CAT with Manhattan's system and feel the need to disclose some information to students preparing for their test as I feel I just wasted 3 hours of my time as I near my test date. I have read numerous posts and reviewed multiple scoring results and in no way are the "off brand" CAT's indicative of performance on the actual test. Do not assume positively or negatively that a score on one of these tests will indicate your results come test day. The tests' algorithms are a complete shot in the dark and subsequently the question progression equally fails, rendering the scoring useless. If your intentions are to work on timing, the tests may carry value, but the quality and similarity of the questions are mediocre at best. Anyone who has studied for this test, would easily decipher between 5 OG questions and 5 "off brand" questions. That being said, pounding multiple CAT's may hurt your score in the long run, many will attest that the best study material is found within Official Guides and repetition of said material. As I read student's debriefings I notice a trend that those who score well on the official material 9 times out of 10 score well on the test. Alternatively, students who score well on Kaplan, Manhattan, Princeton, etc often return in shock as their scores are all over the place. Just food for thought, whereas I have yet to see someone who scored well on the Offical CAT I or II sans repeat ever return in dismay. The other company's books are another story as they offer insight, tricks, and strategy especially MGMAT's isolated guides... but the amount of time taking their CATS IMHO is preparing you for disappointment or discouragement.
Thanks for sharing your honest opinion wid the community.But I was wondering if you can explain in some detail about the flaws??
I was going to buy a test course but am very confused now.
Can you throw some light as to which factors are okay to consider as a representative of GMATand which factors we shouldn't??
