uwhusky wrote:If you have enough time to include multiple CATs for practice, then yes, I strongly recommend going this route and save GMATPrep for latter part of the preparation.
DISCLAIMER: I never make the suggestion to take "all the CATs you can get your hands on", and in fact think that too many people try to prep by focusing on just testing and not increasing their content knowledge. BUT, if you feel that taking a large number of CATs is for you - here is my suggestion
I definitely agree about saving the GMATPrep CATs, but I have found that students who WANT to take all 6 CATs on our (Manhattan GMAT) site do themselves a favor using the following structure:
CAT (1) MGMAT CAT as diagnostic
CAT (2) MGMAT CAT - after studying the biggest weakness areas from the original & working on any timing issues
CAT (3) MGMAT CAT - after analyzing 2 earlier CATs and reviewing areas of persiting weakness
**IF quant timing on CAT 3 is still an issue (running out of time) I recommend buying the set of GMAT Focus sets from mba.com. 24 questions each, adaptive and timed. At this stage in study there is no excuse for running out of time - you HAVE to set a pace and stay on it throughout the test. Sadly there is no GMAT Focus for verbal, work on short sets of mixed difficulty and mixed problem type out of the OGs**
CAT (4)
MidSession Check in - take CAT 1 from GMAT Prep. (use a stopwatch with a lap button and try to remember to hit "lap" between every question - this way you can check timing on certain question types)
Then follow this with CATs 4-6 on MGMAT w/ review between for weak content area (review and practice problems from the OGs). Try to avoid taking practice exams more frequently than 1 a week and MAKE SURE that in between you are working diligently to review content and pace!
Finally, about 2 weeks before your exam, use the second GMATPrep CAT for final gauge. Assume that this IS the score you would get if you were to take the exam that day. If you are not happy with that score, then review or re-think proposed test date.
NOTE: This means taking a LOT of CATs and I typically say 3-4 over the course of all your study is more than enough!!
