some feedback I hope is helpful for people studying. for background, I studied materials engineering in college which is extremely mathematical (algebra, calculus).
- first time taking GMAT's
- studied: about 1 week full time (40-hours total or so) and a 2 weekends before that.
- 100% of study on verbal sections, 80% on sentence correction since I didn't know sh*t for grammar!
- Used Kaplan book, Kaplan verbal supplemental book, Kaplan tests, GMAT prep tests, GMAC prep books (the big one w/ 800 questions, and a 300-question verbal supplement)
- Had to find a textbook on grammar since Kaplan doesn't explain the grammar rules worth a damn. Ultimately, I had to piece a lot of it together (making my own compilation of sentence correction rules) just by doing questions, getting them wrong, and reading the answer explanations (used GMAC books exclusively for this since they're real questions).
Prep tests v. Actual test impressions:
- Took one of the GMAT Prep tests before any study, and scored 750, without taking it very seriously. I found it to be far easier than the real thing. The math was much more algebra-centric (which I'm strong at) than the real test. The real test had many more word problems, more complex geometry, and multiple/factor problems. I found myself struggling for time on the real test; this wasn't a problem on the practice at all.
- The verbal part of GMAT Prep test is generally representitive, IMO.
- My math 50 score was only 93% was a shock since the 51 scores I got on practice tests were 99% (I think).
Kaplan prep tests v. Actual:
(applies to any of the tests (1-4) as I think they pick from the same question pool anyway given that it's a CAT)
- Kaplan math was easier than real, similar comments to above (real test had less algebra, more of everything else). However, I struggled to make time on the Kaplan test, as I did in the real one.
- Kaplan Verbal was much tougher than the real test. I was scoring 37-40 on the Kaplan verbal (around 90% ish), vs. 44 (97%) on the real one.
One last tip: I scheduled my test for 3:30 in the afternoon. I spent all day NOT studying, just hanging around the house, taking a nap. Scheduled my eating to make sure I would be fed but not get a food-coma. Coffee right before the test. Basically saving up all the mental energy since this is really a test of mental focus once the preparations are over. Not cramming last minute helped a lot I think.
- first time taking GMAT's
- studied: about 1 week full time (40-hours total or so) and a 2 weekends before that.
- 100% of study on verbal sections, 80% on sentence correction since I didn't know sh*t for grammar!
- Used Kaplan book, Kaplan verbal supplemental book, Kaplan tests, GMAT prep tests, GMAC prep books (the big one w/ 800 questions, and a 300-question verbal supplement)
- Had to find a textbook on grammar since Kaplan doesn't explain the grammar rules worth a damn. Ultimately, I had to piece a lot of it together (making my own compilation of sentence correction rules) just by doing questions, getting them wrong, and reading the answer explanations (used GMAC books exclusively for this since they're real questions).
Prep tests v. Actual test impressions:
- Took one of the GMAT Prep tests before any study, and scored 750, without taking it very seriously. I found it to be far easier than the real thing. The math was much more algebra-centric (which I'm strong at) than the real test. The real test had many more word problems, more complex geometry, and multiple/factor problems. I found myself struggling for time on the real test; this wasn't a problem on the practice at all.
- The verbal part of GMAT Prep test is generally representitive, IMO.
- My math 50 score was only 93% was a shock since the 51 scores I got on practice tests were 99% (I think).
Kaplan prep tests v. Actual:
(applies to any of the tests (1-4) as I think they pick from the same question pool anyway given that it's a CAT)
- Kaplan math was easier than real, similar comments to above (real test had less algebra, more of everything else). However, I struggled to make time on the Kaplan test, as I did in the real one.
- Kaplan Verbal was much tougher than the real test. I was scoring 37-40 on the Kaplan verbal (around 90% ish), vs. 44 (97%) on the real one.
One last tip: I scheduled my test for 3:30 in the afternoon. I spent all day NOT studying, just hanging around the house, taking a nap. Scheduled my eating to make sure I would be fed but not get a food-coma. Coffee right before the test. Basically saving up all the mental energy since this is really a test of mental focus once the preparations are over. Not cramming last minute helped a lot I think.
