How to evaluate my practice test score

[kn2130]

Hello BeattheGMAT community,

First, let me say you all have been an invaluable resource to me in my studies. Thank you!

I have been studying for about 2 months now and my baseline scores were 590 Manhattan GMAT and 610 GMATPrep. I recently took another GMATPrep and scored a 700. I'm not sure if I should be excited or if this is an accurate prediction of the score i'd receive on the real deal. First, I didn't do the essays. Secondly, I reset test 1 of GMATPrep. I didn't recognize any questions but I believe one of the reading comprehension articles might have been a repeat. I plan to take another one this weekend with the essays to see if this 700 was a fluke. I was saving GMATPrep Test 2 for right before the test, but i'm not sure if maybe I should do it now. So, I guess my questions are, how seriously should I take this 700? (Although I didn't do the essays, I did quant and verbal with the 8 minute break between them). and should I used GmatPrep test 2.

Any thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks!

[papgust]

Hi,

Firstly, when are you planning to take the test? Generally, taking GMATPrep is only recommended when you near the test date. Had you taken the test with essays, then the score would have been even more realistic. I would recommend that you keep the GMATPrep 2 until a week before the exam.

Can you detail more on your studying methods and books? We could then help you better with your prep.

[Osirus@VeritasPrep]

I would say expect to do worse than your practice test if you took the same test more than once. The standard deviation is 30 points with the GMAT prep tests, and 50 with MGMAT CATs.

[kn2130]

Thanks for the reply.

I have been studying for about two months and this has been my strategy. First, I did math for a few weeks. I used the Kaplan Math Workbook and completed drills at end of each section. Followed by doing OG quant questions under timed conditions. I then review all answers, correct and incorrect. I created flashcards that I review regularly.

I then began verbal by starting with my weakest subject which is Critical Reasoning. I have been using the Powerscore Critical Reasoning Bible and have been going through the chapters, completing the drills and then doing practice problems in the OG verbal book. To keep up with the math, I look through the quant sections of practice exams and study the problems, look at my flashcards and continue doing problems under timed conditions. I do a little bit of math each day to stay fresh on the topics. I also do the math problems in the Manhattan GMAT data banks that I purchased.

I log my activity in a record keeping journal I created for my GMAT prep.

i will begin the sentence correction and reading comprehension prep at the end of this week.

I would like to take the test April 6th, although I did not schedule it yet because I don't want to pay for the test until I feel confident I can achieve my target score. I am not sure if this is a mistake, but I was not planning on scheduling my test until i finish my studies and see what I get on the second GMAT Prep test. Is this a bad idea? Should I feel confident of my 700?

[Osirus@VeritasPrep]

Can I ask what's the rush? I'm assuming you're not applying until the fall, why do you need to take it in April?

[kn2130]

Sure. Well, I'm getting married in July, so it would be great to get it out of the way in April, so that I can have the next few months to tie up wedding related loose ends. I would prefer to take it, because I'd hate to have invested all this time studying, have to take a break for a few months, and have to start up all over again -- stopping for a few months might make me forget everything I've picked up in the last couple months. But, at the same time, I'm not exactly rushing either, because I'm realistic about not taking the test until I'm ready, which is why I havne't scheduled it yet. So, April is my goal, which I think can be a realistic goal since I started studying in January, but not carved in stone.