Devastated: Barrons GMAT 580 (Q44/V23)

Question

I took a Barron's test this morning. Completely devastated. Got 8 quantative and 19 verbal questions wrong. While I noticed some typos on the test, I was wondering if anyone else who had used the Barron's test prep material can comment on the difficulty / accuracy of the Barron's test wrt the real GMAT.

I have about 4 weeks to go for the GMAT. I've already finished the Kaplan, PR and OG books. I am using the MGMAT SC, Geometry and Number Properties guide to address those problem areas and taking as many tests as I can get my hands on. Pointers on how I should spend the next 4 weeks would be really helpful.

Thanks people. You guys have been really helpful.

jallenmorris · Answer

I've never used Barrons and it's hardly ever mentioned on this forum as either good or bad. The reason it may not get any press on here is that it's bad. If it were good, there would certainly be people recommending it.

When did you start studying? What methods did you use when working through the OG books? Do you have access to any other CAT tests?

snoor · Answer

I've been studying for about 4 weeks. I took a PR class last year, but just recently got serious about the GMAT. When going through the OGs I timed myself and marked out all the questions I got wrong and reviewed them. I still look through them once in a while. T-2 weeks I plan to spend revising all the questions I got wrong in the OG, Kaplan and PR books.

I have access to a bunch of tests (6 MGMAT, 7 PR, 6 Kaplan, 2 Powerpreps, 4 Barrons.) At this point I am trying to take a test atleast once every 2-3 days to get the timing and pacing down to a tee.

terp26 · Answer

worry about studying questions and fundanmentals and worry about tests later. And with regards to tests, gmatprep and powerprep were the only useful ones for me. Buy the gmatclub challenges as well. Spend the next month on the gmatclub challenges, all the OG questions, getting familiar with the patterns, the types of questions you see, how to solve them quick. Then spend the month after that doing gmatprep questions over and over again. For verbal, learn all the SC rules, do problems on gmatclub verbal, find the patterns there as well.

GMATBLACKBELT · Answer

Barron's is trash as well as Kaplan.

Use something better such as MGMAT or the GMATPrep's

lsuguy7 · Answer

First you should never be devastated by a practice test. Second, you should not be taking so many practice test if you are scoring below 600 unless the reason you are scoring so bad is timing. You MUST analyze what you are doing wrong then go back to the books and fix your mistakes.

I went from mid 400 to over 700 on the real thing. Don't be devastated by practice test, just focus on your mistakes and you'll be fine.

I went from mid 400 to over 700 on the real thing. Don't be devastated by practice test, just focus on your mistakes and you'll be fine.

snoor · Answer

Thanks for the pointers and encouragement. I'll come back to you guys if I have any questions. Cheers!

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Devastated: Barrons GMAT 580 (Q44/V23)

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