Kaplan GMAT Premier 2012-2013 CAT Scores

Question

Hello !

I have just completed my online CATs available in the Kaplan GMAT Premier 2012-2013 package and following 
are my scores:

CAT 1 : 600
CAT 2 : 590
CAT 3 : 630
CAT 4 : 680
CAT 5 : 620

I have my actual test on the 28th of August this year and i'am aiming for a 700+ score.Is it possible with these scores?
Also, i'am finding the verbal very tough on these tests.Any suggestions ?

getsunny · Answer

Hi Jaydeep, Your scores look promising, but it would be difficult to judge your current level with Kaplan mock scores. I think it would be best if you take the full GMAT prep CAT from the software, and only then you can access how you might score on the real GMAT. Remember, only GMAT prep mocks are the best indicator your true performance level on the GMAT. Ideally, you should give the full GMAT prep mock in the next 1-2 days and review the results thoroughly. Go through each question that you get wrong and analyse why you go it wrong - silly mistakes, lack of basics, panic, confusion, etc. Also, identify the sections that are weakest for you - is it PS or DS in quants and is its SC, CR or RC in verbal. Work towards developing a sound strategy to solve questions from your weak areas, and learn to execute them during your mocks. Finally, give both the GMAT prep mocks before your real GMAT. This will help you in getting into the zone and understanding the real thing. Go through the following debrief, which I find is great for someone if you situation: ten-essentials-for-gmat-660-to-740-its-all-about-strategy-168560.html All the best!

JaydeepR · Answer

Hello once again,
Thank you very much for helping me out.I gave the first of the 2 GMAT Prep tests today and scored a dismal 640 (Q45,V33).
I realize my verbal score is pulling my overall total down to a great extent.How do i go about that?
I got 4 wrong in CR,5 wrong in SC and 4 wrong in RC.
With a 640 in my first prep test, and ten days in hand, can i break the 700 barrier?

getsunny · Answer

Hi Jaydeep, You need to develop a strategy for each question type in verbal. So basically, you should have a way of solving a CR question that you would apply every single time without fail. Similarly, you should have a strategy for SC and RC as well. This way, you will be able to solve with an accuracy of over 80%, and that will help you in scoring over 700. Read the following debrief for great ideas on what strategies to develop. This is really helpful: ten-essentials-for-gmat-660-to-740-its-all-about-strategy-168560.html Hope this helps!

JaydeepR · Answer

Hi again,
I have been giving the MGMAT and my scores range from 570,620,590.
I have been able to make slight improvements to my CR, but i have started falling back on SC and Math.
My scaled score for Math is stagnant at 39 whereas my verbal scaled score is ranging from 30 to 35.
How do i interpret my scores?
I have read stories of people getting horrible scores on these tests but still outperforming them by a huge margin on the actual test.
I have read the link that you posted,it was indeed very helpful.Thank you very much for that !

getsunny · Answer

Hi Jaydeep,

Firstly, are you giving a mock everyday!?? If yes, then that is the wrong approach. The idea of giving mocks is not to score high on them. Instead, you shoudl give mocks to understand your weak areas and work on them. You should give 1 mock per week - Spend 1 day giving the mock, 1 day on analyzing every section and every wrong answer in detail, and then the rest 5 days working on the weak areas identified by you on the mock. Only this way you will be able to improve your test performance. If you keep giving mocks everyday or every alternate day, then you're not spending time on strengthening your weak areas. Your just giving each mock with the same weak skill set and performing badly on them.

I would recommend that you don't give any mocks for the next 6-7 days. Analyse your most recent mocks to figure what your weak areas are. And then spend time on strengthening each of them.

Hope this helps!

JaydeepR · Answer

Hello,
I absolutely agree with you about my approach being flawed.I took a break from my schedule of giving one mock a day,worked on my weak areas in English and gave the MGMAT 5 the next day(i do not have too many days in hand considering that my date is 28th August).
I scored a 660 (Q44,V36) on that test ! A big jump from my string of low scores earlier.Is it a good score considering 1 question was repeated? I will be giving my last mock exam tomorrow,the second of the GMAT Prep Tests.
I have realized that i'm weak in number properties and probability as well as RC.Any last minute tips?

bb · Answer

The best last minute tip I have learned to give over the years (after many that were not best) is - don't improvise on the exam. 
For example, if you did not plan/practice to spend only half a minute on the first 10 questions or 3 minutes on the first 10 questions, don't just decide to do that. Similarly if you have also always taken notes with your RC practice, do that on the test, don't just decide the day before that you will no longer do that. Basically, all strategies, approaches, and flow should be the same you have done before. You should do nothing new on the test.

Good Luck!!!

JaydeepR · Answer

Thank you very much for that, not improvising would be the key.

Considering the unusually large range of my GMAT Mock scores,570-680, and assuming i keep a calm head on the day of exam, is the 700+ score achievable? I found the Quants in Manhattan to be tough, my highest scaled score being 44 in my last test.

prasi55 · Answer

A 700 should be possible, considering you are doing pretty okay on the verbal and are in the mid forties on the quant. You should try to push that quant score a bit higher. Take a GMATPrep test to see how you do on the quant and analyze that test thoroughly. Also, keeping a calm mind on test day helps. You have done the hard work -- try not to think of the score too much and focus on enjoying the test.

getsunny · Answer

Hi Jaydeep,

Yes, it is very much possible to do better than your mocks. Just stick to your strategies and stay cool on the day of the exam. I was scoring 44 or less in quants in MGMAT mocks as well, and was able to get 48 on the real GMAT. The key is to stay focused and try to see how the question is trying to trap you. This holds true especially for DS. So if you see that you're getting an easy "C" answer on any question, check again. It is possible that you missed out on something and you could get the answer from the 1st or the 2nd statement alone.

For number properties, remember to check all possible options in DS. For example, if the question states that "x is an integer", be sure to check -2, -1, 0, 1, and 2. If the question stem doesn't mention anything about "x", then check all possible options like -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, proper fractions, and improper fractions.

For probability, I would suggest that you don't worry about it. It is not a very frequently tested topic anyway. Plus, with just 2 days to go there's nothing much you can do to improve on it. Just stay confident with what you know and be smart on the exam. And no matter what scores you get on your mock today, don't let it get to you (be it a good score or a bad score).

All the best!

JaydeepR · Answer

Hello again,
Thank you both very much for that ! I gave my last mock today, the second of the GMAT Prep tests, and got a 650 (Q48,V31).That does dent my chances for a 700+ right, or no?
I made majority of my errors in Sentence Correction, hope i can improve on that while giving my test !
The last day before my exam i will spend reading a few AWA essays and probably brush up on a few formulae.

getsunny · Answer

Hi Jaydeep How was your GMAT then? Hope you did great!

	Target Test Prep - Save up to $599 $400 Discount + $99 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	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

Kaplan GMAT Premier 2012-2013 CAT Scores

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