Comparing Different CAT Scores

[rck1099]

Hi guys,

I've been studying pretty consistently for the past 1.5 months with plans to take the GMAT around the end of July/early August. My question is how accurate are the different test guide CATs when calculating your score? I keep getting huge score discrepancies when using different companies CATs and its concerning to me. Let me give you a little background since I feel that will help.

I started studying using a Kaplan book with a book test (pretest) and one CAT. I took the pretest and my score range was 490-540. I was neither pleased nor displeased. I worked through the Kaplan book and then took the CAT and scored a 580. I was pretty happy with the 40-90 point increase with two weeks of work. I then started working through some old paper versions of the test I bought off MBA.com and on the two I took I received scores of 560 and 590 respectively.

Now here is the big problem. For my b-day my parents bought me Manhattan GMAT reading comp book with 6 CATs and Princeton Review Premium with 6 CATS. I haven't touched Manhattan yet, and started by taking PR verbal and math warmup and the score I received was told to be over 550 (highest you can earn on that exam). However I have since taken two of he PR CATs and my scores were 490 and 460. Needless to say I'm very perplexed. Is this normal for PR? Does the score adjust lower on their CATs? I would like to think I'm around the 550-590 mark but these scores suggest otherwise.

Any insight would be great!

Ryan

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Hi Ryan,

Since the GMAT is a Computer-Adaptive-Test (CAT), the most realistic outcomes will come from computer Tests, not paper ones. There are certainly differences in the quality/realism of the various CATs that are available, but there are also variations in how YOU took the CATs. Think about the time of day and day of the week, if you completed the ENTIRE CAT or if you skipped sections, how many silly mistakes you made, if you had a pacing problem, etc.

After taking any CAT, I highly recommend that you review the CAT question-by-question, so that you can learn "what worked" and "what didn't", discover (and hopefully fix) your silly mistakes, improve your endurance and pacing, etc. The GMAT (and by extension, practice CATs) give you the score that you EARN. If your score dropped, then the likely explanation is that you made a few too many silly mistakes.

The good news is that you have plenty of time to continue studying. Also, since the GMAT is a consistent, predictable exam, you CAN train to crush it.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[VivianKerr]

Since the GMAT is a Computer Adaptive Test, no pen-and-paper exam will even come close to being accurate. The MBA paper tests are valuable because they are official questions, but have no accuracy when it comes to your actual GMAT score.

So here's the info we've got:

Kaplan CAT - 580
Princeton CAT 1 - 490
Princeton CAT 2 - 460

Given that in my opinion neither Kaplan nor Princeton Review offers the most accurate or most challenging GMAT material available, I'd say this means you're just getting started. I'd ballpark you in the neighborhood of 500.

You've got a ways to go, and my advice would be to stop wasting time with sub-par material and a sub-par study plan. I'm assuming you'd like a high 600's/above 700 at minimum, so you really want to step it up NOW so you don't waste precious time.

TODAY - Take the GMATPrep 1. Download it from mba.com. It's free and will be a VERY accurate diagnostic.

TOMORROW - Complete an Error Log from the GMATPrep 1 using a template like the one I've attached. Diagnose the fundamental concept underlying each incorrect question, and try to evaluate whether it is your lack of content knowledge, pacing struggles, or weak strategy that led you to get the question wrong. Based on the Error Log, I'd choose 6 concepts to tackle this week. Why only 6? Because it sounds like you're trying to study for the GMAT chronologically, but really it should be tackled concept-by-concept. You can't become an expert at everything at once.

THIS WEEK - Let's say this was your Concept List for this week:

CR - Assumption
SC - Subject/Verb
SC - Verb Tenses
RC - Detail
DS - Number Properties
PS - Systems of Equations

You would "hit" each concept by:

1) reading relevant chapters on that concept from your Kaplan book (although you really should look into better materials such as MGMAT and Veritas Prep

2) doing ALL OG13 questions that test that particular concept

3) work out a Step-by-Step strategy for how you personally will approach and use your scratch paper when dealing with that question to get it correct

4) make a "Formulas to Know" page of any Quant rules or equations required to remember to get these questions correct

5) reading as many BTG blog articles on that concept as possible

6) doing Pacing drills with these questions so you can start to see how timing pressure affects your accuracy and your strategy. do you ignore strategy when pacing gets tough? are you able to guess and move on when you need to?

NEXT WEEK - Take another CAT (I'd suggest alternating between MGMAT and GMATPrep). Keep the pacing benchmarks attached in front of you while you do it. Then take several hours to work on your Error Log. How well do you now know the previous week's concepts? Do you need to switch any out for the upcoming week? Repeat the process.