GMAT Strategy

Hi Guys, I just took the Free Practice test that is offered by Kaplan and scored a 620. (Q42 V34). I've read a few threads and gotten the impression that kaplan scores are skewed. I am confused if there is a difference between the kaplan free test and other tests? What does this score mean in terms of real gmat ? Any ideas??

Kaplan has a diagnostic test / book they sell at Borders. I took the verbal section yesterday and scored a 31.

I've been ranging 39-42 on other verbal sections I've taken recently. The specific area where I was making more mistakes than usual is the reading comprehension. To answer your question, I would say the reading comprehension questions (in my experience) are slightly more picky than the ones I'm expecting on an actual GMAT.

Believe what you've read, my friend! Don't use a Kaplan test as a diagnostic. Use a GMATPrep test or a Princeton Review test. They're much more accurate.

Yep, I agree that GMATprep is more realistic but I wanted to save those for later (closer to my date). Do you know if powerPrep, the older format of GMAT is any good? Is it worth spending the time on that?

Are your verbal scores (39- 41) from kaplan diagnostics?

The Powerprep tests are too old to be useful, and they aren't truly adaptive, so I really wouldn't bother with those. They could throw you off.

Was this the free Kaplan test online? If so, I took that at the very beginning of my studies and did the best on it over all other Kaplan tests. I actually reviewed it the other day and noticed it really did seem quite easy compared to their other CAT tests on their CD (with the Premier book purchase). This could just be me but just some observations I wanted to send your way.

you might be right. I found the their quant comparatively easier as well.

ahcir3350 wrote:you might be right. I found the their quant comparatively easier as well.

I have been scoring significantly lower on their CD CATs...that online one really seems like cake the more I go through it.

I have given 5 CATS from Kaplan - I got a 650,670,650,670 and 650. However when I gave the actual GMAR - I just got 610 . Kaplan quant is very easy and is not reflective of your true GMAT score - this is from my experience.