-
SubieRX
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:15 pm
- Thanked: 1 times
- GMAT Score:710
I have to say I'm not quite thrilled with my score, but I definitely can't complain. This was the second time I have attempted the GMAT and the first time I didn't cancel my score... 
Final score was a 710 (Q48, V41). Ended up in the 92nd percentile.
I've been a long time lurker on these boards and before I say anything else.. I have to give my thanks to everyone on this board for providing such fantastic resources. I've definitely learned a lot from this forum and hope I can give back to the community (if only a little).
I don't think I'll include a description of my study habits as they weren't particularly structured nor orthodox (read: If I had to do it over.. I'd probably have done it differently), but I know you guys love to compare practice CATs with real GMAT scores so I'll post up my results. I know I definitely spent more time than I should have comparing test scores in order to gauge my performance.
First off, as has been discussed ad nauseum, the GMATprep software truly is the best indicator of one's core. As you will see in my results, my scores were very close to the range GMATprep predicted, but I do want to qualify that observation. In my opinion, the REAL GMAT seemed harder than either GMATprep test. On the math section today, I would have bet a significant sum of money that I was getting creamed, but seeing as how this was my second attempt... I decided to throw caution to the wind and went ahead and reported my scores anyways (much to my good fortune and pleasant surprise). So while the difficulty of the test may feel harder, your scores may still fall within GMATprep's prectictions.
So here is my personal advice: No matter how poorly you feel you are doing on the real test, if you have done your preparation and put in the time... do NOT cancel your scores. I almost did (the second time)... and would have unknowingly sentenced myself to a couple of more months of agony (not to mention extra money down the drain). The way the test is designed, you will probably feel as if you are performing poorly even if in reality you are doing great. I know this is easier to swallow sitting in the comfort of your home than at a desk under immense pressure at the exam center... but try to remember this tidbit. It could end up saving you time and money.. as it was with me.
Without further ado, here are the scores:
CAT Scores
Kaplan CAT 1: 550 (Q28,V37) 10/09
Kaplan Cat 2: 560 (Q30, V38) 10/09
Kaplan Cat 4: 580 (Q32, V38) 10/09
MGMAT CAT 1 (Free online): 660 (Q44, V36) 10/31/09
Kaplan Cat 3: 560 (Q35, V32) 11/1/09
GMAT Prep 1: 720 (Q48, V41) <--- That felt great
Real GMAT First Attempt: Cancelled Score 11/6/09
Princeton Review CAT (Free Online): 670 (Q44, V39) 11/20/09
GMAT Prep 2: 740 (Q47, V44) 11/22/09 <--- If only I could have pulled that off on the real test
GMAT Prep 1b: 710 (Q47, V44) 11/28/09
Kaplan CAT 1b: 640 (Q46, V36) 12/3/09
Actual GMAT Second Attempt: 710 - 92% (Q47 - 78%, V40 - 89%)
Study Tools:
Kaplan GMAT Premier Program 2009
OG 11
OG 12
OG Quant
OG Verbal
GMAT 800
Princeton Review Cracking the GMAT 2010
Barron's GMAT (Complete waste of money. Questions were way to easy.)
And all of the fantastic resources from this forum
Note: I also took a practice test from GMATClub... but to be honest, I thought the math portion was insanely difficult and not representative of any of the materials I've studied thus far. I didn't even come close to finishing the test. One explanation is that at the time, I had already been studying for days on end, and I was pretty sure my brain was fried, but I can't believe it would hinder my math capabilities that much. I honestly don't believe GMATClub's tests are worth the time. It might be great practice if you're aiming for an 800, but for someone like me (with stronger verbal than math), it was too tough to handle.
Practice CAT to GMAT Comparison:
Overall, I think the Kaplan tests are far more difficult than the GMATprep CATS (and slightly more difficult than the actual GMAT). But I do believe that there is a ton of value in training yourself to handle tougher than normal questions. You will get used to seeing tough questions and learn how to handle them without freaking out and it is excellent practice for those that are time-restricted as harder questions will take up more of your time. Although the scores for me were always very depressing, I learned to see them only as tools for comparison. My strongest Kaplan CAT score, taken at the peak of my "conditioning" was only a dismal 640, but in comparison to my previous scores, it was a dramatic improvement. So don't be disheartened by the Kaplan CATs. They are extremely useful tools for practice.
And again, the most important piece of advice I can give you is to believe in the time and effort you have put into your studying. No matter how badly you feel like you're getting crushed, don't cancel you're scores. I cancelled my scores the first time around because I felt overwhelmed. Well, the second time.. I felt just as overwhelmed and I still somehow managed to pull of a 710. I know its not the greatest score, but there is no way it felt like a "700+ score" test when I was in the midst of it.
I hope this has helped someone, or at least assuaged some fears. I never thought I would make it to a 700 when I was taking only Kaplan CATs, so hopefully my scores will help put things in perspective for someone in that situation.
Good luck to you all!
Final score was a 710 (Q48, V41). Ended up in the 92nd percentile.
I've been a long time lurker on these boards and before I say anything else.. I have to give my thanks to everyone on this board for providing such fantastic resources. I've definitely learned a lot from this forum and hope I can give back to the community (if only a little).
I don't think I'll include a description of my study habits as they weren't particularly structured nor orthodox (read: If I had to do it over.. I'd probably have done it differently), but I know you guys love to compare practice CATs with real GMAT scores so I'll post up my results. I know I definitely spent more time than I should have comparing test scores in order to gauge my performance.
First off, as has been discussed ad nauseum, the GMATprep software truly is the best indicator of one's core. As you will see in my results, my scores were very close to the range GMATprep predicted, but I do want to qualify that observation. In my opinion, the REAL GMAT seemed harder than either GMATprep test. On the math section today, I would have bet a significant sum of money that I was getting creamed, but seeing as how this was my second attempt... I decided to throw caution to the wind and went ahead and reported my scores anyways (much to my good fortune and pleasant surprise). So while the difficulty of the test may feel harder, your scores may still fall within GMATprep's prectictions.
So here is my personal advice: No matter how poorly you feel you are doing on the real test, if you have done your preparation and put in the time... do NOT cancel your scores. I almost did (the second time)... and would have unknowingly sentenced myself to a couple of more months of agony (not to mention extra money down the drain). The way the test is designed, you will probably feel as if you are performing poorly even if in reality you are doing great. I know this is easier to swallow sitting in the comfort of your home than at a desk under immense pressure at the exam center... but try to remember this tidbit. It could end up saving you time and money.. as it was with me.
Without further ado, here are the scores:
CAT Scores
Kaplan CAT 1: 550 (Q28,V37) 10/09
Kaplan Cat 2: 560 (Q30, V38) 10/09
Kaplan Cat 4: 580 (Q32, V38) 10/09
MGMAT CAT 1 (Free online): 660 (Q44, V36) 10/31/09
Kaplan Cat 3: 560 (Q35, V32) 11/1/09
GMAT Prep 1: 720 (Q48, V41) <--- That felt great
Real GMAT First Attempt: Cancelled Score 11/6/09
Princeton Review CAT (Free Online): 670 (Q44, V39) 11/20/09
GMAT Prep 2: 740 (Q47, V44) 11/22/09 <--- If only I could have pulled that off on the real test
GMAT Prep 1b: 710 (Q47, V44) 11/28/09
Kaplan CAT 1b: 640 (Q46, V36) 12/3/09
Actual GMAT Second Attempt: 710 - 92% (Q47 - 78%, V40 - 89%)
Study Tools:
Kaplan GMAT Premier Program 2009
OG 11
OG 12
OG Quant
OG Verbal
GMAT 800
Princeton Review Cracking the GMAT 2010
Barron's GMAT (Complete waste of money. Questions were way to easy.)
And all of the fantastic resources from this forum
Note: I also took a practice test from GMATClub... but to be honest, I thought the math portion was insanely difficult and not representative of any of the materials I've studied thus far. I didn't even come close to finishing the test. One explanation is that at the time, I had already been studying for days on end, and I was pretty sure my brain was fried, but I can't believe it would hinder my math capabilities that much. I honestly don't believe GMATClub's tests are worth the time. It might be great practice if you're aiming for an 800, but for someone like me (with stronger verbal than math), it was too tough to handle.
Practice CAT to GMAT Comparison:
Overall, I think the Kaplan tests are far more difficult than the GMATprep CATS (and slightly more difficult than the actual GMAT). But I do believe that there is a ton of value in training yourself to handle tougher than normal questions. You will get used to seeing tough questions and learn how to handle them without freaking out and it is excellent practice for those that are time-restricted as harder questions will take up more of your time. Although the scores for me were always very depressing, I learned to see them only as tools for comparison. My strongest Kaplan CAT score, taken at the peak of my "conditioning" was only a dismal 640, but in comparison to my previous scores, it was a dramatic improvement. So don't be disheartened by the Kaplan CATs. They are extremely useful tools for practice.
And again, the most important piece of advice I can give you is to believe in the time and effort you have put into your studying. No matter how badly you feel like you're getting crushed, don't cancel you're scores. I cancelled my scores the first time around because I felt overwhelmed. Well, the second time.. I felt just as overwhelmed and I still somehow managed to pull of a 710. I know its not the greatest score, but there is no way it felt like a "700+ score" test when I was in the midst of it.
I hope this has helped someone, or at least assuaged some fears. I never thought I would make it to a 700 when I was taking only Kaplan CATs, so hopefully my scores will help put things in perspective for someone in that situation.
Good luck to you all!
I just did what you asked not to and I feel like stupid. Really stupid, I wish I did see my score so that I know where I stand in a real exam but I dunno why I did something as drastic as cancel my score. I definitely need to work on the self-confidence department. I want to document and acknowledge my mistakes but not dwell on them.
