Which CATs should I buy? MGMAT/Kaplan/Veritas....etc

[omkarnikte]

Hi,
I want to know which exam pack should I buy? I have read that Manhattan's are tougher. I get it that I should practice tougher ones so that I can easily solve the rest, but I want to experience as close to GMAT as I can (as no test can simulate exact GMAT except GMAT Prep). Are there some other good options as per your experience?

Thanks in advance!

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Hi omkarnikte,

The scoring algorithm on the Official GMAT is far more complicated than most people realize. Since that algorithm is proprietary, no GMAT company has an exact match for it, thus CAT scores can vary a bit based on the 'biases' involved in their respective designs. The most realistic CATs available are the 6 from GMAC (the 2 free CATs, and each of the 2 that come with Exam Pack 1 and Exam Pack 2), but thankfully the CATs from Kaplan, MGMAT and Veritas are all 'close enough' to the real thing that they will provide you with a relatively realistic score assessment (assuming that you use the CAT correctly).

From your post, it's not clear how long you've been studying (or if you're just beginning). Before I can offer you any additional advice, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) What is your goal score?
5) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
6) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
7) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich