The Kaplan CATs aren't very good imo. Everyone scores poorly and it contorts the way you practice the test. With the exception of doing some of the Kaplan 800 book problems to get a feel for some more challenging problems, I'm not sure if any of the Kaplan content is useful.
I hadn't done the relevant math in a decade.
I bought a lot of books. Were I starting over, I would do the following:
1. Get the
MGMAT strategy guides. I found all of them to be good except for maybe RC.
2. Buy the GMAT Hacks Math Bible
3. Buy the
MGMAT CATs
4. Buy the
OGThen I'd proceed as follows. Jumping around is fine, but you need the fundamentals to practice the
OG the right way, imo (focus on timing and execution, not problem solving):
- Work through the MGMAT SGs, do their problems. Now you have the basic techniques and tricks required (particularly for Q)
- Work through the GMAT Hacks Math Bible - more good Q practice
- Start pounding out the OG questions. If you need more to practice, GMAT Hacks some and there are the OG supplements for Q/V.
- Start doing the MGMAT CATs about once a week. Work back through every wrong and right questions, the explanations are good.
- If you're testing well at this level and having problems with the 700-800 level questions, the GMAT Club challenge questions are indeed challenging and will work you over well.
Hunt around here, there's virtually more good tips than you'll be able to leverage. Two key things to keep in mind:
1. Quality practice > quantity practice. Work small sets but know everything you did right and wrong therein. Blasting through 50
OG questions without understanding if you got it right intentionally or why you got it wrong... well that's sort of useless.
2. Be mindful of your energy levels/frame of mind when taking CATs. Test day has a stamina/energy component. It has a mindset component. You want to be rested and relaxed when you start, the test will make sure that's not the case later. So don't practice when you're tired--it will impact your score, and then you get a confidence hit, etc. Being at your mental best has to be a given to practice well.