How useful is practicing from GMAT paper tests?

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Thanks for the reply, EMPOWERgmatRichC Sir!
So to answer the question:

1) I have used Kaplan GMAT premier 2016 book, OG15, Veritas Prep Videos, OG Quant and Verbal Review
2) I have taken the following CATs :

Kaplan GMAT1 - 590 (Without Prep)
Veritas Prep GMAT1 - 660
Princeton GMAT1- 620
Princeton GMAT2- 670
Princeton GMAT3- 660
Kaplan GMAT2 - 660
Kaplan GMAT3 - 680
Economist GMAT free test - 650

I have 2 Kaplan Tests, 1 free MGMAT, 3 Princeton Review, 1 Veritas Prep, 2 Official GMAT Prep Tests left (Total of 9) for the practice ...

3) Been Studying for about 1.5 months

4) I have a goal score of 720+

5) Planning on taking the GMAT in the next 15 days

Thanks for your time,
Regards,
Aditya

The paper tests are excellent for verbal practice. Not as useful for quant though. It's a good idea to include them in your preparation to supplement the other tests that you have.

I don't know how many paper tests you'd want to take given that you plan on taking the GMAT within 15 days, but if you do pick the paper tests up, try to do them within the specified time. Additionally, try to get through the Exam Pack 1 and the Question Pack 1 (newer material is preferable).

Hi Aditya,

Since you've studied for just 1.5 months, and your GMAT is scheduled in 15 days, it's possible that you're actually going to need more study time than you've allotted (so that you can hit your score goals). I have a few questions about the CATs that you've taken...

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once?

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

Thanks for getting back EMPOWERgmatRichC Sir.

I will be able to increase my study time, which shouldn't be an issue as I am entering in the final lap of my preparation for the GMAT and want to give my best shot at the exam to achieve a score close to 720.

To answer your questions ...
1) I have taken the full length test for all of them except the first one(which was without prep)
2) Yes, all of them at home..
3) At same time form most of them (6 out of 8)
4) All uninterrupted with the same break time as on Test Day..
5) All CATs were unique, no repeated questions on any of them..

Hi Aditya,

It sounds like you've taken your CATs under strict and realistic conditions, which is good. Since you're looking to 'squeeze' a few more points out of the Test, can you list the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each of your CATs? Those numbers will give me a better idea of what you should be focusing on in these last couple of weeks.

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

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Thanks for the advice dabral Sir, will be taking one ..



To answer your questionEMPOWERgmatRichC Sir,

Kaplan GMAT1 - 590 (Q46 V25) (Without Prep)
Veritas Prep GMAT1 - 660 (Q47 V34)
Princeton GMAT1- 620 (Q45 V31)
Princeton GMAT2- 670 (Q48 V33)
Princeton GMAT3- 660 (Q48 V32)
Kaplan GMAT2 - 660(Q48 V32)
Kaplan GMAT3 - 680(Q45 V34)
Economist GMAT free test - 650 (Q46 V35)

As i am entering the final lap of my preparation,
What would one advice me to do in order to enter into the 700+ range?

Thanks,
Aditya

Hi Aditya,

Most of your CAT scores are 'clustered', which means that you're remarkably consistent - both in the things that you do correctly and in the silly mistakes that you make. Thus, you've likely developed some bad habits that you have not been able to fix on your own (which is why you haven't scored 700+ yet). Since none of these scores are from the Official GMAC CATs, I think that it would be a good idea to see how you handle one of those CATs under realistic and test-like conditions (so you should take the FULL CAT, away from your home, at the same time of day as your Official GMAT, etc.).

If your next CAT falls into that same score range, then you really should consider pushing back your Test a few weeks. The two weeks of study time that you currently have might not be enough time for you to make those fundamental adjustments to how you 'see' (and respond to), the GMAT; you would have a much better chance if you had 4-5 weeks though.

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