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Need Assistance with Contigency Plan! Kaplan Live Online

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Need Assistance with Contigency Plan! Kaplan Live Online

by cgreenatl » Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:33 am
I have recently finished the Kaplan Live Online Math Intensive course and am taking the actual GMAT this coming Monday (3/15) in hopes of gaining admission for Fall 2010'.

I took the Kaplan Ultimate Practice test in the test facility this morning, and scored very low, a 460. My scores on the other Kaplan CATs have ranged from 480-560. I understand that the Kaplan CAT scores are often far below what can be expected on the actual GMAT. According to the GMATClub Score Estimator, with a 560 on the Kaplan CAT I should be able to reach between a 620-680 on the actual GMAT.

Netherless, I am very worried and am attempting to put together a contingency plan if I am unable to reach my target score of 650-680 when I take the actual GMAT this Monday. The final score submission deadline for my school is April 15, so I will have exactly a month to continue studying and retake the exam if I don't reach the target score. My application and essays are already submitted.

I would greatly appreciate any input on the most effective way to continue my studies if need be. Right now I am rather frustrated with the Kaplan CATs based on the research I have done regarding the scores, am I am leaning towards purchasing the Manhattan GMAT subject books to work on my weaknesses (number properties, geometry, properties of sets), and working through those in conjunction with the Manhattan GMAT practice tests, the OG 12th edition and the free resources available through the forum.

Given I will only have slightly less than 1 month to continue studying, I need to maximize my time and efforts. If anyone has been in a similar situation (or had experience with Kaplan CATs vs. actual score) or can offer any advice, it would be very valuable. Thankfully I currently have the opportunity to study full time, on average 6-8hrs a day.

Thanks in advance!!
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:40 am
If you need to take it again, and assuming you do not want to purchase another class, this is what I would do.

Purchase all of the Manhattan GMAT math guides and the Sentence Correction guide. Get the powerscore critical reasoning bible as well. Go through all of this material. Do not go through simply to say that you went through it. Do not advance to a new concept until you can confidently say that you understand all of a chapter. If you do this, you will be fine. Good luck.
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by cgreenatl » Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:46 am
Osirus,

Thanks for your prompt reply! Do you feel that it is possible to cover all of these materials within 1 month? Also, is there need to continue taking practice tests, or just focus on working through the books?
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:49 am
cgreenatl wrote:Osirus,

Thanks for your prompt reply! Do you feel that it is possible to cover all of these materials within 1 month? Also, is there need to continue taking practice tests, or just focus on working through the books?
If you only have a month, then I doubt you can get through all of the material. Why would you only have a month though? If you're not applying until Fall 2010? You should consider delaying the exam until you go through all of those materials if you do in fact need to take it again.
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by kegz9 » Fri Mar 12, 2010 12:18 pm
Just to add to what osirus0830 said, I would recommend those Manhattan GMAT books as well.

While I did not take a Kaplan live class, I used Kaplan's premier book as my initial preparation material along with OG11 and found that, like you, I was only able to score around 550-560 on the practice CATs. I have since bought the Manhattan GMAT prep books, and I've only been going through them for the past week and a half and already certain concepts are MUCH clearer in my head than before. They break down the problems not just in terms of geometry, algebra, data sufficiency and problem solving, but also by each question type and how the GMAT generally tries to trick you with each type.

I would delay taking the test by another month at least, giving yourself enough time to really go through and absorb the material in the MGMAT books. From personal experience, it explains things better than the Kaplan material does.
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by cgreenatl » Fri Mar 12, 2010 5:26 pm
Just to add to what osirus0830 said, I would recommend those Manhattan GMAT books as well.

While I did not take a Kaplan live class, I used Kaplan's premier book as my initial preparation material along with OG11 and found that, like you, I was only able to score around 550-560 on the practice CATs. I have since bought the Manhattan GMAT prep books, and I've only been going through them for the past week and a half and already certain concepts are MUCH clearer in my head than before. They break down the problems not just in terms of geometry, algebra, data sufficiency and problem solving, but also by each question type and how the GMAT generally tries to trick you with each type.

I would delay taking the test by another month at least, giving yourself enough time to really go through and absorb the material in the MGMAT books. From personal experience, it explains things better than the Kaplan material does.
I think the MGMAT materials are probably the right approach, as I didn't do particularly well with the guessing and elimation strategies from Kaplan. I've got the OG12, so perhaps work through the MGMAT guides, PowerScore CR and cover the OG12 with the error log and then use the MGMAT practice tests...

I have actually applied to my school, Georgia Tech, for admission this year, starting in the Fall, the GMAT score final deadline is just April 15th (usually late). In the event I don't reach the desired score on Monday's test, then my decision really will be to forgo trying to apply this year (as it's so late anyway), and just focus on the test and applying for Fall 2011.

Thanks again for your input guys, I do sincerely appreciate it.
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by cgreenatl » Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:46 am
Just returned from taking the GMAT, looks like I'll be taking it again:

530 (Q25, V38).

Very disappointing. I thought I was doing better on the quant section as I got more than two (can't recall exactly how many) combination or probability problems, which I understood to be 600+ level problems. Guess I was wrong.

Thanks for your assistance guys, I'm glad I at least have a contingency plan in place along with the forum resources.
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