Finding my Weaknesses...

[piyushdabomb]

Team,

I started with Verbal and while its been 3 weeks in to my GMAT prep mode, I decided on shifting gears to quant just because I got bored of working on CR. I recently came accross the Quiz Bank offered by Kaplan and was considering on taking it only if it breaks my weaknesses by topic areas, gives me my progress indicator, tells me how i'm doing with time via 'smart' analysis, mimics close to the real GMAT questions, and has the CAT structure.

I'm curious - what are everyones thoughts in terms of what I'm looking for out of this opportunity?

While working on the QUANT section in the OG, I'm finding the questions relatively easy (with minor concept mistakes because I haven't worked on my quant for a few years). Since the GMAT is computer adaptive and questions are bound to get harder, how do I get an online copy of a computer adaptive test (preferably cost-minimal, if even).

[Toph@GMAT_REBOOT]

Piyushdabomb, download GMAT Prep software from MBA.com: two practice CATs using retired questions from actual exams and apparently a similar if not identical scoring algorithm.

Read around this forum to learn how to best make use of these exams.

I didn't use the Kaplan Quiz Bank, so I can't provide any insight on it.

[rvijaysubs]

Hi,

I would suggest you to first study your material. When you feel that you are ready to give a test, give hte GMAT Prep. This would give you fair score wrt your current preparation levels. Then you'll get to know your weakness.

In my case, I gave the GMAT prep and got 620. Not a good one but I found out my weakness - lack of concentration and RC.

Maybe you'll find yours too.

Vijay.

[marouan]

HI all,
an ather good strategy also..I've read that in a post of one of " just beat the GMAT" section:
1 starting first with quant.. till the end ( in a month )
2- jumping on the CR for teh second month + exercising Quant once a week
3- doing a test once a week

[austin]

Piyush,

Gprep and Powerprep are good CATs..Gprep is the closest to the actual test. You can also get Manhattan tests for about $30. Avoid other CATs as they are very easy or very difficult. OG math is pretty basic.. the questions on the actual GMAT test are of much higher standard..

If you want to improve your accuracy and speed, I will strongly recommend 4GMAT's math books and e-books (www.4gmat.com). Lots of short-cuts, tips and tricks. The materials have been prepared by IIM alumni and by those who have scored over 98th percentile in the GMAT test. This was the main reason I bought their materials - very comprehensive. I have a score of over 700 with 50 in Quant section. I finished with almost 15 min. to spare!!!

pl write to me at: [email protected] if you have any questions.

[VP_Jim]

You can also use the Official Guide to assess weaknesses - the book is broken down into question type, and each section goes from (roughly) easy to hard. So, you know that if you get the whole first 2/3 but only a handul of the last 1/3 of SC correct, you're good on the easy and mid level questions but need work on the higher level ones.

Also, I'd recommend taking our free online practice GMAT. I and most of my students have found it pretty accurate; for what it's worth, I did 10 points worse on this one than on the real thing.

https://www.veritasprep.com/gmat-prepara ... ctice-GMAT

Good luck!

[piyushdabomb]

Ok.

I see a lot of ideas bouncing around. I need to get a concensus here. It sounds like the online exams to focus on are:

OG (Book)
Veritasprep
GPrep (closest to the actual test)
PowerPrep
4Gmat Online Items
GmatPrep (MBA)
Manhattan Tests

Do any of these tests online provide a statistical summary of my weaknesses and what I need to focus on?

I've decided to pretty much stop doing questions on paper because it doesn't mimic the real experience. I would rather work on questions directly online and for concepts I don't know, I learn it up.

Can someone rank these in terms of accuracy to the REAL thing?

What are peoples thoughts with the QUIZ BANK? Isn't there something that gives me a TON of different questions on a specific topic taylored to the gmat and in levels of varying difficulty?

[logitech]

QUALITY > quantity

Some people goes to GOLD GYM, try all the fancy equipment and get no result..some people buy two dumbbells and a chine up bar and get in amazing shape.




It does not mean that you can get good results in Gold's Gym but if you concentrate on QUALITY, you will have good results no matter what!

Use your TIME and RESOURCES wisely and you will beat the bad guys with black helmets! 8)

[piyushdabomb]

Define quality on the GMAT? Practicing questions with no accuracy of the CAT?

I'm not really sure where you are going with this.