HELP! GMATPrep math vs actual math

Question

Ugh.....

I'm sorry to post this topic which isn't an experience with the real thing but I'm posting it here because I need thoughts from those who have taken the actual exam. :cry:

Took GMATPrep practice test 2 (the mba.com software) For some reason, I was able to solve only 24 problems out of 37 in given time (75 min)... The problems appeared difficult and I spent a lot of time with some of them... I COMPLETELY FAILED in time management... :cry:

The level of difficulty was as high as Manhattan gmat I dare say...(maybe only SLIGHTLY less...) I had this feeling that even though it was CAT, the level of difficulty was RANDOM (3rd prob and onwards was harder than 20th prob and onwards...) and that it did not steadily increase as it should have... I know that I should be able to solve GMATPrep math questions most (above 30) if not all in time to expect 700+... Please, for those who have taken the acutal test and GMATPrep, tell me how the math sections compare... I feel so bad cuz with GMATPrep practice test 1, that I took nearly a month ago, I scored 770 (Q50 V44) though I must say I had a few lucky guesses in math... with test 2, I ran out of time in math, and depressed, I didn't even bother to do the verbal section...just guessed all of them to see how many questions I got wrong in math despite having solved only 24... As GMATPrep is known by many to be a close estimator of the actual score, I have bad feelings that ppl will say that math sections in both are about the same in difficulty.... :cry:

Have 9 more days till the exam...

I just can't lose confidence now. Please advise.

OasisNYK · Answer

If I were you I would review the ones you got wrong, and give it another try. If a question is too hard for you after 2-3 minutes then guess and move on. Your first attemt makes it seem like you were ready so maybe you are just over thinking.

And remember - you have up until 7 days before the exam to move it - so you can always delay. 

Try another GMAT Prep - make sure you monitor your timing (maybe even write down where you should be 1/3rd of the way through and 2/3rds of the way through so you have some idea of how well you are doing on timing). 

Good luck.

ricokevin · Answer

Thank you OasisNYK for your reply.

I shall retake my GMATPrep 2 and try to regain my confidence. If I still have that feeling that I'm not doing well in time management, I'm considering a rescheduling of my gmat appointment at $50 extra. I have it scheduled for 27th (1pm) so I'll have to make that decision by tomorrow morning. I have never taken gmat before, this will be my first time, and though I may sound greedy, I just want to do it right the first time. I'm aiming for 740+. If $50 can help me save $250 by not having to take it again (plus clean record too!) the money will be worth it. Plus, I haven't had much time to prepare for the essays, which I believe is more important for an international student (non-native speaker) like me. (I also heard that international students should score higher on GMAT to be able to compete with American/native English students for admission?) God, I feel sooooo stupid. Never thought that one GMATPrep 2 math taking would exterminate my confidence...(I had high hopes for doing well in math...) I made the appointment nearly three months ago and now I'm thinking of rescheduling it just because I messed up my GMAT Prep math... what a loser... but I can't help it. I believe confidence is 50% of the preparation for gmat. Arrrgg... Best of luck to all gmatclub members.

kidderek · Answer

I hope I am not too late, but I would postpone the test. If you are aiming for a 740+ and you can't get to the last 13 quant questions, there's a major problem.

OasisNYK · Answer

I think he shoudl retake a practice first and concentrate on his timing before he postpones - it sounds like he just messed up his timing which as you know is a critical part of GMAT success.

If it happens again, then postpone.

kidderek · Answer

740+ is a pretty tough task if he doesn't have timing down by now. Also, I wouldn't want to waste the other GMATPrep on a timing practice. I took my GMATPreps as if they were actual gmat's, only doing them when I was fully prepared.

ricokevin · Answer

Thank you kidderek for your reply.

I have retaken GMAT Prep 2 (Q 49, V 38, 710) but I ran out of time and had to guess the last 4 math probs and last 2 verbal probs. (got 27/37 in math

and 30/41 in verbal

) I'm not satisfied with my timing (and performance in both math and verbal...

). Thought I was pretty much ready when I scored 770 in GMATPrep 1 (Q50 V44) a month ago but like I said, I felt I was lucky on some of the math questions... This shouldn't be happening if I'm to aim 740+... I'm disappointed at myself and I just rescheduled my test to the first week of May. Sufficient time to improve on time management and my weak areas in math (number properties arrgh!) and verbal I hope. NO slacking off from now on, will prepare HARD for D-45 days!!

Thanks to OasisNYK and kidderek. Without you guys, I wouldn't have rescheduled in time to pay only $50 (it was close!) and perhaps I'll have just sat for the exam on 27th relying pretty much on luck that I'd see questions I'm comfortable with... :wink:

kidderek · Answer

If taking the test soon is not an issue, then you're doing a good job by delaying the test. You need to get all the kinks out before you go in there. 

You don't necessarily have to take a GMATPrep to practice timing. You can just do an exercise of 10 questions for 20 minutes or 20 questions for 40 minutes.

HongHu · Answer

There are two things I would like to comment on. First, although the test questions are random, it is very likely that for each person he or she would feel one test easier than another, because of different strengths and weaknesses of different people. You need to be prepared for a hard test, even though you may hope for an easy one. When you get a hard test, first you need to make sure you don't panic and still stick on your time line. Try to solve each question under 2 minutes. If you can't, make an educated guess and move on. Taking too much time in the begining and making continued guesses in the end will result in very bad scores.

Second, you seem to have a misconception regarding CATs. Remember that the questions being random means it will not steadily increase from easy to hard. It is as likely as not that you'll get a very hard question in your third question. Each questions have two parameters attached to it. One is it's difficulty level, the other is its specificity level, ie. how narrow it could pin down people's ability. If you didn't make your third question it will not substantially affect your score. It is only when you have contineously wronged that the higher end of your score range will be greatly reduced. If you are at this point, it will be true that you only get easy questions, because the test questions are always chosen within your estimated range of ability. In other words, you should treat all questions the same. Spending too much time on a hard question to the extent that you don't have time to finish the whole section is going to be a very very costly strategy.

ricokevin · Answer

Thank you HongHu for your insightful comments. :-D

I'm planning on doing the challenges to make myself more comfortable with harder problems and to work on time management.

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