660 - Q 44 V 36 - I share advice and a question.

[nkalach]

I just took the test yesterday, and I wanted to share a few things:

1.- The Kaplan CAT is not a very accurate predictor. I scored a 550 (Q31 V33) two weeks before taking the test.

2.- The Manhattan Online CAT gave me a 660, (V39 Q41) matching my actual total score on the GMAT.

3.- I scored a 640 on the GMAT Prep, (V 39 Q 39). This confirms my suspicion that whatever you get on this CAT is +/- 20 what you get on the real one.

4.- Im very happy and relieved. English is not my fisrt language, yet I scored on the 78th percentile. I have a social siences major, Im not very good at math, yet I got a decent score (70th percentile) that will get me into a more that decent school.

5.- Advice? Practice, practice, practice...

6.- Question: I suppose the official scoring may give me a different percentile than the one listed in my unofficial score report.... ....but can my actual score change?


Good luck to everyone out there!

[manju_ej]

Congrats friend

[AleksandrM]

How representative did you find the math and verbal questions on the test vs. what you saw in OG and GMATPrep?

In other words, was it representative of the difficulty of the preparation material?

I have read some people say that what they saw in the OG is easier than the much harder problems and verbal questions they saw on the actual test.

[nkalach]

Aleksandr:

On the verbal section:
- Sentence Correction: GMAT was a little more difficult than the OG. I did not get many with paralell structure problems (I thought I would).
- Critical Reasoning: GMAT and OG are at the same level... .... I got lots of strengthen/weaken the argument...
- Reading: About the same level too... .. I got a couple of readings on subjects that I like (social science), so I got lucky.


As for the Quant section: I got some questions that I had never seen before on the OG, but in general they could be answered using the same math principles (factorization, divisibility, ratios, etc..). I didnt get a single probability or combinations question , my two weak areas (I got lucky). And not that many word problems either, mostly algebraic expressions...

I would say that the GMAT's quant level resembles the last part of the OG (from number 100 and on), which is the most difficult.

But overall , I got an easier than expected quant section, and a harder than expected verbal section. I was lucky!

I hope this helps...

[jsl]

1.- The Kaplan CAT is not a very accurate predictor. I scored a 550 (Q31 V33) two weeks before taking the test.

Congrats on your score! YOu must be be very happy in addition to relaxing a lot now!!

Can I ask for your advice on Kaplan CATs? I am studying with Kaplan and have 5 more CATS to do. What were all of your Kaplan CAT scores? Are you sure that the Kaplan tests are more difficult than the actual GMAT? Are the Kaplan CATs similar in style and wording to the actual GMAT?

Any advice would be great!
Jon

[nkalach]

Hi Jon:

I did 3 Kaplan CAT's

1: 550 Q30 V34
2: 540 Q31 V31
3: 550 Q31 V33

I believe that the Kaplan CAT is in fact similar in style and wording, but the algorithm does not match correctly the actual GMAT.

A friend of mine also scored a 550 on the Kaplan CAT, and three weeks later a 670 on the actual GMAT.

Kaplan is a great practice tool, but I wouldnt trust its CAT. It's not that it is more difficult than the actual test, its just that the scoring is not very accurate.

The GMAT prep not only has the same exact algorithm as the GMAT, but also simulates the exact GMAT interface.

But dont take my word for it. Take the Kaplan CAT and a few days after that go for the GMAT prep CAT. You will see the difference for yourself.

Good Luck![/quote]

[jsl]

I did 3 Kaplan CAT's

1: 550 Q30 V34
2: 540 Q31 V31
3: 550 Q31 V33

I believe that the Kaplan CAT is in fact similar in style and wording, but the algorithm does not match correctly the actual GMAT.

A friend of mine also scored a 550 on the Kaplan CAT, and three weeks later a 670 on the actual GMAT.

Kaplan is a great practice tool, but I wouldnt trust its CAT. It's not that it is more difficult than the actual test, its just that the scoring is not very accurate.

Hi nkalach - thanks for your advice regarding Kaplan - I'll definitely take the scores in my stride going forward. I'm planning to try an MGMAT, GMATPrep and PowerPrep test in the near future so I'm hoping the results will be encouraging.