GMAT Website's Practice Test and my other questions

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2010 12:55 pm
Thanked: 4 times
GMAT Score:760
Hi all,

I am brand new to the forum and the idea of taking GMAT's in general, so I apologize if my questions are uninformed or answered elsewhere. I just decided to get an MBA and am trying to gain all the info I can.

I just took the practice GMAT's from the GMAT's "prep" downloadable test program. For those who took the real test, is this the same as the GMAT test (in how you take it and difficulty)?

I got a 720 (47 quant, 41 verbal) - which I understand is high - but I didn't know if this was comparable to a "real" test. I have no doubt I can improve those scores if I buy a book and I see the many posts about those on the forum. Grammar and sentence structure are two things I love (weird I know) and the answers I flubbed on the verbal were stupid misreadings of the questions since I was trying to hurry. To improve the math will take real work I am sure.

I am hoping my GMATs can balance out some of my much less impressive qualifications. Is this realistic?
-GPA is only 3.1 from West Chester (state school in PA)
-Work experience is 3 years as Manager of Operations at a theme park, 1 year as a realtor, 2 years as Marketing Manager of a retail furniture store, and previous 2 years as Assistant Manager of Operations at the same theme park... nothing like consulting or what I imagine many other applicants have!!
-I am just graduating from undergrad this summer, I worked full-time after high school and went back to college (3 different ones) before finally settling down in the last 2 years. there are lots of withdrawals and drops on my transcripts. (I'm 26 and just getting my undergrad now.)

Thanks for any thoughts on the test or my qualifications in general! If I bring the GMATs up to a 750 or something, are top schools realistic with my spotty education history?

-Alex
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2008 8:39 am
Location: Atlanta
GMAT Score:790

by TheGMATCoach » Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:43 am
With a 750+, you should be able to get into a very good school. You might want to look into an admissions expert to help you "spin" your experience into something that shows what skills you posses and what skills you are looking to improve upon by going back to school.

Good luck!

Lee
I work for a great company and get to coach people through their GMAT tests using personalized, efficient, and (very) effective home-based study programs, personalized tutoring, and small workshops.

Our proprietary program not only teaches you the smart way to master the GMAT, but we also offer a 24/7 helpline, over 500 "master level" GMAT questions, and 5 CAT practice tests to ensure your success.

Homepage: GMAT Prep
Facebook: The GMAT Coach
Twitter: The GMAT Coach

User avatar
MBA Student
Posts: 170
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:01 am
Location: Durham, NC
Thanked: 20 times
Followed by:8 members
GMAT Score:740

by becnil » Sun Mar 28, 2010 1:27 pm
I have experienced in my preparation for the GMAT that the tests offered by GMATprep are the closest to the real Test. Also, if you refer to the scoring, these tests are the best. In fact, you should rely only on the GMATprep CATs to assess your level of readiness. You have a very good score given that you are just starting off. You should look for jacking up this score to 750 or 760 with some preparation.

You should also retake the GMATprep CATs sometimes down the line as they will give you different questions (almost 85-90%) each time you take them. This will expose you to the maximum number of actual testlike questions.