GMAT Focus...how representative is it?

[shom]

I found a comment from an instructor on another forum that stated "the question bank may not be 100% representative of the actual GMAT question pool"

Do others feel this way about the GMAT Focus questions? They definitely do seem different then GMAT Prep Test questions. There was way more probability and counting questions then I expected.

Has anyone taken the GMAT recently (since GMAT Focus was introduced) that can verify as to how representative GMAT Focus vs GMAT Prep questions are?

[mayonnai5e]

GMAT Prep is definitely representative since they are retired questions. GMAT Focus; however, I have never heard of so I have no idea what those questions look like.

[shom]

mayonnai5e - Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Just so you are aware. GMAT Focus is a product from MBA.com that claims to "provide a unique bank of retired GMAT quantitative questions in an adaptive GMAT-like format." https://www.gmatfocus.com/

Its VERY expensive, but it does give exposure to more questions, so I am glad I gave it a try. A nice wake up call for me.

On the other hand, I have heard from a couple of GMAT instructors that that it may not be similar to the real GMAT. I don't know really, but I can tell you that it is a little different then GMAT Prep in the way that it phrases questions and the topic emphasized (lots of probability and combinations).

[zackca]

The GMAT Focus is good practice. I think the problems are much harder than OG or GMAT Prep and almost all are at a 700+ level.

That said, the scoring is pretty accurate. I took it twice and got 39-47 both times. One time I got only 10 out of 24 questions right and the other time I got 12 out of 24 questions right. I have taken GMAT Prep and two paper GMAT tests and got 46 on GMAT Prep (with 25 out of 37 right) and 40 and 48 on the paper tests.

[shom]

zackca - Thanks for the insight. That seems like a good perspective on the subject. I think its good to use as a tool and it gives you an idea of the latest style of questions.

I think one of the main challenges I faced on GMAT Focus problems was the complicated phrasing used. It can be difficult to understand what is really being asked at times.

[beatthegmat]

I haven't used GMAT Focus myself, but I would be comfortable in claiming that it is quite representative, seeing the materials were produced by the makers of the GMAT.

Good luck!

[mayonnai5e]

This is new - a nice little way for mba.com to make more money eh? =). Hey the more reliable resources for our members to study with the better!