kaplan scores low or high ?

Question

Hi, 
 I have read several times about the kaplan tests in "share your experience" section. Virflo and others mentioned that kaplan scores can get you down, i did'nt however understand whether it generally scores lower than actual gmat , or because it scores higher it gets you down in actual gmat. How do they compare to the actual gmat tests ? anybody , a sentence or two in this direction would really help me.

Thanks,

jallenmorris · Answer

In my opinion, the Kaplan tests were lower than the actual GMAT score. Mine certainly were. I scored in the high 500s on the Kaplan test and 720 on the real thing. I also start Kaplan teacher training on Nov. 6th to become a Kaplan GMAT Teacher. I intend to ask them about this so I'll let you know what the answer is, if I get one.

phelpsian · Answer

The most accurate tests are GMATPrep (the official ones) and Princeton Review. Both are adaptive like the real GMAT, but I don't think Kaplan is. Don't give a thought to Kaplan's scores...use them for practice but not for really predicting how you're doing.

musicmba · Answer

besides gmatprep which is an accurate predictor of scores?

jallenmorris · Answer

I'm not sure Manhattan GMAT is a "accurate" predictor of scores, but it certainly will help you. If you do well on their tests, you know you're ready.

highhopes · Answer

Kaplan was really bad for me, my score never budged from 590. I once on a lucky day got 620 or 630 on one of their CAT tests and I got a 740 on the real thing.

I never really understood it frankly, I scored really low on both PR & Kaplan for some reason.

gameCode · Answer

I have finally managed to get a 660 and 690 on kaplan's last tests. Lets see what happens for me on real GMAT, will post the results soon.

HBSBound · Answer

A 760 shouldn't be out of reach if you scored that high on Kaplan.

billyjeans · Answer

gameCode, have you gotten your results yet?

I am really stressed out about Kaplan cat. I have taken 3 of them, scored between 690 to 720. My initial assessment is 700 on paper test. I have not been able to improve my score so far. My goal is 750+. I find their verbal difficult for me as I barely have enough time to finish. The RC question level is much difficult than OG.

PHoyle518 · Answer

Just some more evidence for the "Kaplan practice test scores tend to be low" crowd: I never scored better than a 630 on practice tests yet got a 730 on the real thing. Maybe it was just a good day.

billyjeans · Answer

I think my confidence has been completely destroyed by Kaplan cats.
I am thinking about taking MGMAT Cat to gain some confidence back. (my rebounding cat)

jallenmorris · Answer

Not sure that would give you much of a rebound. How about you take some of the GMATClub CATs? or better yet, a GMATPrep CAT. The Kaplan stuff appears to give an artificially low score. Evidently to get students to buy their materials to increase their score.

diogoguitarrista · Answer

my real test is next Tuesday and I scored a 530 on Kaplan's test. :cry:

I almost had a heart attack but it seems it is not accurate, right? I will still focus on learning from my errors until the real deal...

gmattokyo · Answer

Hi Everyone!

I tried taking the Kaplan trial test for the first time today. Unlike the other company's tests this one seems to be real-time and needs to be scheduled/booked in advance. 
As it turned out, the only timing available for the test was 1pm EDT, which translates to morning 2am here!

Well, so got up early and logged in to find that it cannot be used.. what a drag!

Did anyone else try this format of Kaplan mock-test and have such issues?

gmattokyo · Answer

Please ignore my previous post. Just heard from them. The test today was canceled due to technical issues and next test is on 15th Nov!

bb · Answer

1. This is new - was not aware of such "scheduling" issue - good to know
2. That sucks!

gmattokyo · Answer

Thanks for always keeping the spirit high here, bb. Yaa, it sucked not to be able to take the kaplan one... but gave an attempt on Veritas as I wz already pepped n all... Well, not because I scored really **** there, but just IMHO, it didn't feel like the real test scenario replication. Here I was in the verbal section getting happy to see one difficult Q after another (thinking, o yeah! the level is getting harder)... in final result Q43, V20 :lol:

(total 550, lowest until now) V20! not a confidence booster for sure... but an eye opener that with just few weeks to go before the G-Day, there is lot of ground to be covered. Key points I saw about Veritas: - The quality is not that high (specially when compared to the mock-tests here... imagine one of the questions missing "=" sign after Y in a line equation, got at least ~30 secs wasted, another DS Q ~30 secs were wasted because the info given was "length of a semicircle"... well finally I assumed it to be the perimeter which turned out correct) - There is some variety for Traps practice. So members here should give it a try (I don't know if I'd try it closer to the exam date though) - Some tough SC and RC questions in Verbal. Another reason to give it a try - Just on a personal note, no exams 3 in the morning :wink:

and to quit studying the day before final exam... fatigue is a performance killer (just a excuse for the crappy-V score heeheh)

vraptor · Answer

I believe, Kaplan has made some drastic changes to their algorithm recently.

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kaplan scores low or high ?

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