GMAT Paper Tests (downloadable) from MBA.com

Question

Yes, you can purchase them from GMAC here: https://www.mba.com/mba/store/ProductInfo?SKU=1103260X

Each set consists of 3 tests and costs $25. There is some overlap with OG 10 and most of the questions are not very difficult.
These are on the lower spectrum of value when compared to the Official Guide or OG Quant and OG Verbal. However, if you live in a country without access to the Official Guide materials, this may not be a bad choice. otherwise, OG 12 has 900 retired questions and these tests 329 for the same amount of money.

I own the set that has tests 14, 31, and 55.
Here is what each of the PDF documents contains and also - there are no explanations!

Test 14 Contents

2 AWA Essays
CR section with 16 questions (25 mins)
DS section with 20 questions (25 mins)
RC section with 23 questions (25 mins)
PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)
SC section with 22 questions (25 mins)
PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)

Total: 113 questions and 150 mins

Test 31 Contents

2 AWA essays
RC section with 18 questions (25 mins)
DS section with 20 questions (25 mins)
SC section with 22 questions (25 mins)
PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)
CR section with 16 questions (25 mins)
PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)

Total: 108 questions and 150 mins

Test 55 Contents

2 AWA Essays
CR section with 16 questions (25 mins)
PS section with 16 questions (25 mins) (question 7 is not scored)
RC section with 18 questions (25 mins)
DS section with 20 questions (25 mins)
SC section with 22 questions (25 mins)
PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)

Total: 108 questions and 150 mins

Edit: The following info was generously contributed by Kissthegmat:

Test Code 25

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays
• SC section with 22 questions (25 mins) (question 14 is not scored)
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• RC section with 23 questions (25 mins)
• DS section with 20 questions (25 mins)
• CR section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)

Total: 113 questions and 150 mins

Test Code 28

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays
• CR section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• RC section with 23 questions (25 mins)
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• SC section with 22 questions (25 mins) (question 3 is not scored)
• DS section with 20 questions (25 mins)

Total: 113 questions and 150 mins

Test Code 37

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins) (question 5 is not scored)
• SC section with 22 questions (25 mins)
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• CR section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• DS section with 20 questions (25 mins) (question 3 is not scored)
• RC section with 18 questions (25 mins)

Total: 108 questions and 150 mins

Test Code 42

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays
• DS section with 20 questions (25 mins)
• RC section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• PS section with 26 questions (25 mins)
• SC section with 22 questions (25 mins)
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• CR section with 16 questions (25 mins)

Total: 116 questions and 150 mins

Test Code 48

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays
• SC section with 22 questions (25 mins)
• CR section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• RC section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• DS section with 18 questions (25 mins)
• PS section with 20 questions (25 mins)

Total: 108 questions and 150 mins

Test Code 52

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays
• RC section with 16 questions (25 mins) (question 6 is not scored)
• CR section with 18 questions (25 mins)
• SC section with 20 questions (25 mins)
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• DS section with 16 questions (25 mins)
• PS section with 22 questions (25 mins)

Total: 108 questions and 150 mins

Here is more feedback by Bigoyal:

are-the-gmat-paper-tests-any-good-79589.html

What I noticed is:
1. The paper test starts with easier questions and level of difficulty increases as you reach the end (This is applicable to each section separately) .

2. For PS, there were two sections (with 16 questions in each). One was little difficult as compared to the other, with focusing more on word problems.

3. Quant was easy as compared to CAT tests (except for the last few questions in each section). Verbal was comparatively similar to CAT tests.
Note: My observations here can be flawed, because I'm quite good at Quant, but not very good at verbal. So its possible that in CAT I would have never came across the toughest verbal questions.

4. Negative marking of 0.25 points for each incorrectly attempted question. For each correct one, you get 1 point. No -ve or +ve marking for un-attempted question.

5. It seems, paper format stresses more on Time, rather then difficulty (As in verbal we have 80 mins for 61 questions and Quant 75 mins for 52 questions)

6. Although answer key has been provided, but explanation for answers is not available

.

7. Few questions overlapping with OG11, though number of overlapping questions is very less.

Overall a good practice, specially for timing each section. I'm planning to practice on other test papers as well.

. 7. Few questions overlapping with OG11, though number of overlapping questions is very less. Overall a good practice, specially for timing each section. I'm planning to practice on other test papers as well.

Hussain15 · Answer

Thanks bb! So I think in presence of 1000 SC, Brutal, GMAT prep doc, OG 12,11, and All MGMATs it will not be a good idea to purchase those. Thanks for reply again, decision taken!!

kissthegmat · Answer

Has anyone here on community used ETS paper tests? I have heard that many of the questions are from OGs, so is it worth purchasing those ETS paper tests?

Please give your feedback here if you have used.

Thank you!

lagomez · Answer

Personally, no. I used them and I thought the exams were too easy. I think it also depends on your current level. The tests are good for warm-up or going over basic fundamentals.

Dawgie · Answer

You can purchase these on the website?

bb · Answer

There is some overlap with the OG 10.

See this thread for discussion: has-anybody-practiced-retired-gmat-paper-tests-from-mba-com-45891.html
See this for the description: gmat-paper-tests-worth-it-or-useful-84064.html

Keep in mind, these don't have any explanations!!!

bb · Answer

Yes, see here: gmat-paper-tests-worth-it-or-useful-84064.html

kissthegmat · Answer

I'm going to buy those tests and will update everyone soon!

kissthegmat · Answer

Test Code 25

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays 
• SC section with 22 questions (25 mins) (question 14 is not scored)
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• RC section with 23 questions (25 mins) 
• DS section with 20 questions (25 mins) 
• CR section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins)

Total: 113 questions and 150 mins

Test Code 28

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays 
• CR section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• RC section with 23 questions (25 mins) 
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• SC section with 22 questions (25 mins) (question 3 is not scored)
• DS section with 20 questions (25 mins)

Total: 113 questions and 150 mins

Test Code 37

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays 
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins) (question 5 is not scored)
• SC section with 22 questions (25 mins) 
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• CR section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• DS section with 20 questions (25 mins) (question 3 is not scored)
• RC section with 18 questions (25 mins)

Total: 108 questions and 150 mins

Test Code 42

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays 
• DS section with 20 questions (25 mins) 
• RC section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• PS section with 26 questions (25 mins) 
• SC section with 22 questions (25 mins) 
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• CR section with 16 questions (25 mins)

Total: 116 questions and 150 mins

Test Code 48

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays 
• SC section with 22 questions (25 mins) 
• CR section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• RC section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• DS section with 18 questions (25 mins) 
• PS section with 20 questions (25 mins)

Total: 108 questions and 150 mins

Test Code 52

Contents:
• 2 AWA Essays 
• RC section with 16 questions (25 mins) (question 6 is not scored)
• CR section with 18 questions (25 mins) 
• SC section with 20 questions (25 mins) 
• PS section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• DS section with 16 questions (25 mins) 
• PS section with 22 questions (25 mins)

Total: 108 questions and 150 mins

bb · Answer

Thank you kissthegmat! I have added your contribution to the original thread (i hope you don't mind)

srivicool · Answer

thanks for all the inputs on Paper tests.. i will buy them after finishing the OG

crackHSW · Answer

Thanks for the info about the paper based GMAT tests. Are these worth spending the time?

sagnik2422 · Answer

update for 2014 in other words is it still worth it? have you gone through them?

chwirawangmat · Answer

Hi

its any explaination for the retired paper test out there? 
thank you

dabral · Answer

I generally recommend the GMAT paper tests to students who are struggling with the basics. For example, when I have a student who is scoring say a Q35 in quant, then I need easier questions for practice that have the same style and structure as the official GMAT. The questions in the paper test are in order of increasing difficulty in each section, this allows one to a see a spectrum of difficulty of questions. This is really helpful for students who struggle with the language of GMAT questions, this is a very common problem.

However, I do want to point out that if you are scoring above say Q46, then these tests may not be appropriate for you. You would be better off focusing on the harder content that is part of say GMATPrep Question Pack 1. Also, the questions in GMAT Paper tests were written by ETS, who no longer write the current GMAT, and there is a slight difference in style and emphasis.

The test codes with the least overlap with the official guides are: 55, 52, 48, 42, 37 and 31.

Cheers,
Dabral

ninofls · Answer

I have a few of these paper test and they seem pretty tough on verbal and super easy on quant.

I noticed that the conversion table presented is different for each test, what makes me think that the result table is based in real results of each set of exercises (or the entire test). I scored a  630  in one of the paper tests designed in 1996-1997 (test 52). Considering the evolution and increase in scoring, this score represent something around the  83 percentile * by that time and in today's standards the same percentile would give  670-680 .

*source: i couldn't post the website but it's an evolution of scores vs percentiles

Are these results comparable?

Thanks,

dabral · Answer

I am no longer active on this forum.

AjiteshArun · Answer

They  should  be, but they probably are not. At least not for the quantitative section.

The pool of people taking the GMAT  should  not make any difference. A Q47 on a paper test  should  translate to a Q47 on the current GMAT. What  should  change because of the change in test takers is the meaning of a Q47. A Q47 was much more valuable at the time these paper tests were administered than it is now.

Practically though, you should not use quant scores from paper tests as anything other than a broad indicator of your score. The verbal, on the other hand, is extremely useful. I personally think those scores (provided you do all the verbal questions included in a paper test within the time limit) are really representative.

Nina1987 · Answer

bb , has gmac stopped selling them now? the links dont work

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

It's quite possible they have stopped selling them. I would contact the folks at GMAC to get confirmation.

	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Manhattan Prep: $79 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Target Test Prep - Save up to $325 $200 Discount + $79 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

GMAT Paper Tests (downloadable) from MBA.com

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards