GMAT appt at 8am

If you have to wake up at 5am. I don't think it's worth it. If you can afford it. Take an off day from office/your job. You don't want to be hungry and tired at 10am!

You are right. I can't remember the last time I saw 5AM on the clock. I see a 12pm appointment a month from now.. It does overlap with the attention dippping time, but at least I wont have to worry about lunch and such.. I think 10am or so is ideal...

yes 10am is ideal. You would have just had breakfast and after the test you'll be ready for lunch.

Is it also true that even if the appointment is at a certain time, if you showed up earlier, they can start it sooner?

[quote="mainhoon"]
yes, they often let you take your exam earlier than your time slot if they have some seats that are free.

Has anyone here taken the Kaplan Official test day experience? They claim it is identical to the real thing and if so it should be helpful?

Hi mainhoon,

The Kaplan Official Test Day experience is the most test-like practice exam you can take. This is because you're taking it at an actual Pearson center. That means you will fill out the same forms, use the same locker, write in the same note pads, and type on the same computer that test-takers use on test day. The only difference between it and the real GMAT is that the Experience uses a Kaplan practice test, so it doesn't count.

Hope this helps!

Yes. It is tough to find a 12 pm slot since people schedule appointments several months in advance.

The slot might get available anytime though. I was trying to register for GMAT at 12 noon but all they had left was 8 am which is not when I want to take my exam. However, I got lucky and somebody dropped their test, so I ended up with 12 pm schedule. Try to wait and see if somebody drops a test. Getting a 8am test is not that difficult. You can generally schedule your test 2 weeks in advance. So wait for two weeks and look for spots several times a day. If you don't succeed, then go for 8 am.

If I were you I would keep visiting mba.com to schedule your appt. I am in Chicago and was looking at 2 centers. Available times would change every few hours. Some that would disappear would then show back up days later. When I finally found one I wanted I tried to sign up only to realize that I hadn't fully completed my profile and had to wait 48 hours to get it "approved." In the meantime I watched all of the slots for the rest of the month disappear, then a few "bad" times open up, then mba.com down for maintenance almost the whole weekend. Finally, I checked again on Monday and schedule an appt. for this upcoming Saturday at noon, the exact spot I was looking for a couple weeks ago.

In short, keep trying.

this should give you an idea of how the test center will look like. I found it in one of the older posts on the site.
download/file.php?id=3756

that kaplan test at the actual center is an awesome idea!

You have to take the test when youre at peak mental levels. I think it could be the difference between 50 points.

I always do better in the afternoon. I'm just not ready in the morning.

So then has anyone taken this exam? Can
People comment on the official experience? How much does it cost?


Posted from my mobile device

Hi Mainhoon,

A Kaplan test at the Pearson center costs $80--however, with the Kaplan On-Site class, you can take as many of the included CATs as you'd like at the Pearson center at no extra cost.