EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote:
Hi vigneshvrk,
A CAT is really a 'measuring device' - when used correctly, it will give you a realistic score and help define your strengths and weaknesses, but it will NOT help you to fix any of those weaknesses. To raise your scores, you have to learn the necessary Tactics and put in the proper practice and repetitions. The CAT will show you whether your studies are helping you to improve or not. In addition, the process of taking (and reviewing) a CAT requires a significant amount of energy and effort - and takes time to 'recover' from. This is one of the reasons why you typically shouldn't take more than 1 CAT per week - and your last CAT should be taken about 1 week before Test Day. Going forward, you really shouldn't take more than 1 FULL CAT per week.
While the most realistic CATs available are the 6 from GMAC, retaking a CAT that you've already taken is NOT a realistic way to assess your skills - since you will likely see some 'repeat' questions that you have already faced. Unfortunately, seeing even a couple of repeats can 'throw off' the Scoring Algorithm and impact your pacing, energy levels, fatigue, etc. (meaning that they would likely all appear to be better than they actually are). Thankfully, the CATs from Kaplan,
MGMAT and Veritas are all 'close enough' to the real thing that they will provide you with a relatively realistic score assessment (assuming that you correctly take the CAT in a realistic fashion that matches the parameters that you will face when you take the Official GMAT) - so you can use any NEW CATs from any of those sources next.
1) What study materials have you used so far? What version(s) of
the Official Guide have you worked with - and how much of each of those books have you completed?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
I mostly used the
Magoosh materials that i had purchased and over that i was also solving questions from
the Official guide. I was also solving question here in GMAT club from time to time. And i was not going to just take CATs. I just wanted to make sure i have enough CATs to check my progress each week without having to repeat the ones that i have already used.
Since i have been studying for close to 4 months and mostly used the
Magoosh materials, i did not complete the entire
OG. I don't have hard copy materials of the latest version of the
OG as quite frankly they are way too pricey here in India. I have the 13th edition hard copy and a soft copy of OG19. Any suggestion would be helpful. Thanks.