Exhausted CATs. What should I do?

[sreak1089]

Hello Folks,

I had taken GMAT on Aug 8th and have a poor GMAT score 570 (Q48, V21). I scheduled GMAT exam to Sept 21st and restarted my GMAT prep very next day. Unfortunately I met with an accident a week later and had to postpone my exam to Oct 21st. This new date also did not work as I fell sick and then had family commitments so finally booked a Date on December 28th.

Because of my stop-start GMAT prep and irregular practise CATs, I have nearly exhausted CATs (used up 4 out of 6 MGMATs and the 2 GMATPreps) without really making most of them. I have also taken a couple of Kaplan tests during my 1st attempt but I am not a big fan of them.

So, which are the other tests that I can take preferably of MGMAT quality? Can I re-take MGMAT CATs again and expect new set of questions or say very few repeats?

[sreak1089]

Following are the CATs that I am planning on:

GMAT CATs:

1) November 15th 2009 - GMAT Prep # 1 - Attempt 1
2) Novmeber 22nd 2009 - Kaplan CAT # 1
3) November 29th 2009 - Kaplan CAT # 2
4) December 5th 2009 - GMAT Prep # 1 - Attempt 2
5) Decmber 6th 2009 - GMAT Prep # 2 - Attempt 1
6) December 12th 2009 - MGMAT CAT # 5
7) December 13th 2009 - GMAT Prep # 2 - Attempt 2
8) December 19th 2009 - MGMAT CAT # 6
9) December 20th 2009 - MGMAT CAT # 1 (re-attempt)
10) December 24th 2009 - MGMAT CAT # 2 (re-attempt)
11) December 25th 2009 - GMAT Prep # 1 - Attempt 3
12) December 26th 2009 - GMAT Prep # 2 - Attempt 3

Actual Exam : December 28th

6 GMAT Preps + 4 MGMATs + 2 Kaplans

Suggestions please .........

[bstalling]

Seriously, you are going to take 12 tests before your Dec 28th exam date??? That is WAY too many....

Look at some of the reviews, and discussions posted on this site. There is a wealth of information that suggests quality over quantity is far superior in terms of score improvement. It is how you employ that strategy that will define your score.

In terms of advice: forget about taking Kaplan, and stop taking so many tests. You have taken enough Mgmats to know where you are going wrong. Use the analyzer they provide to understand where you need to improve - learn the underlying concept, and understand why a question is right and what makes the other options wrong. Drill it into your mind! Then a few weeks down the road take a new test. Lather, rinse and repeat as needed.

Taking more and more test will take you (or anyone else) no where.

[sreak1089]

Hi bstalling,

I know 12 tests may seem an overkill. My logic of doing GMATPrep so many times is two-fold.

First, is to make sure that I get exposed to most difficult questions of real GMAT questions, especially in Verbal. Second, is to see a few high scores towards the end of my prep (even if inflated) before I take the actual exam.

[FC]

My opinion is that you should get rid of the Kaplan tests. Their quant may be tough but the verbal feels different from the real GMAT.

Your idea on the GPREP test sequence seems perfect to me since the question pool is vast and the gprep is the most similar test o the real gmat. I would even consider a 4th attempt on both GPREP in the place of the Kaplans

[sreak1089]

Hi FC,

Thanks a lot for the advice. I will certainly skip the Kaplan CATs.