GMAT Prep 2

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 154
Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:58 am
Thanked: 29 times
GMAT Score:790

GMAT Prep 2

by Toph@GMAT_REBOOT » Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:22 pm
My test is scheduled for October 3 (3 1/2 weeks from today). I have gone through Princeton Review, part of Kaplan 800 (all of Math and Part of SC), and Manhattan SC. I am debating whether I should take GMAT Prep 2 before I go through the OG books, so I can have one more realistic experience instead of one tainted by knowing some of the answers. Then I would reboot the GMAT Prep and take one more test as a relaxer before the actualy exam. I will take a couple of Manhattan Prep Tests between now and then also. I have broken it down into three options:

Option 1: Take GMAT Prep 2 before doing any OG
Option 2: Take GMAT Prep 2 after doing the first half of the OG questions in each section
Option 3: Take GMAT Prep 2 after doing all of the OG Questions

Practice Scores So Far:

Kaplan Test 1 (1-month before beginning to study): 540 (Q: 33, V: 23) - I left questions unanswered on this, and did not really understand the exam - did both essays
PR Test 1 (1-2 days into studying): 620 (Q: 43, V: 33) - did both essays
PR Test 2 (1 week of studying): 680 (Q: 50, V: 34) - did 1 essay
GMAT Prep 1 (2 weeks of studying): 760 (Q: 50, V: 42) - I thought the RC passages were much easier than the PR. - no essays
PR Test 3 (3 weeks of studying/today): 710 (Q45, V: 44) - Best verbal score/worst Q score. I only missed 4 questions on the Q too, which is the least I have ever missed. - no essays

Aside from practice exams, I will pretty much soley be focusing on OG books (and Spidey and Sahlil's SC notes) after I finish Kaplan 800 SC. I may skim Kaplan 800 CR and RC as well.

Thank you in advance for your insight.
Source: — GMAT Strategy |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Site Admin
Posts: 6778
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:30 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 1249 times
Followed by:994 members

by beatthegmat » Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:06 pm
I recommend taking GMATPrep 2 right at the end of your prep. I'm not as big a fan of re-installing the software because you run the risk of seeing repeat problems during your practice tests.

Go through the OG books first before trying GMATPrep. Good luck!
Beat The GMAT | The MBA Social Network
Community Management Team

Research Top GMAT Prep Courses:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-courses

Research The World's Top MBA Programs:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/school

User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:24 pm
Location: Fresno, CA
Thanked: 3 times

by emrahercan » Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:12 pm
I don't agree with Eric. You still can use the re-takes to get used to the real test experiences more and more. And you will see some repeat questions but the software has a big pool of questions and you will see new 'REAL GMAT" questions. And also scoring higher boosts your morale.
GMAT DELIGHT

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 229
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:47 pm
Thanked: 14 times
GMAT Score:750

by LSB » Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:30 pm
I would tend to agree with the previous post by emrahercan.

I guess we are right back at the fundamental question with respect to whether CATs should be used for predicting one's ability or for improving / diagnosing one's ability (or lack thereof).

I tend to lean towards the latter. Once you re-install the software you will see many new questions and some repeats (I find the Question pool in verbal seems to be smaller and tends to overlap with the OG more often). Seeing repeats will distort your score ... so you would expect that you will get very strong scores as you continue retaking the tests. However, the additional new questions will make you more comfortable with a real GMAT type test with real questions. The benefit of seeing these new questions outweights the costs of distorted scores due to repeat questions (in my opinion)