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Kaplan CAT exams - accurate?

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utfan2424
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Kaplan CAT exams - accurate? [#permalink] New post   01 Dec 2010, 06:40
I just took 2 Kaplan exams and answered more questions on the 2nd test correct but got a worse raw and aggregate score. I know this is possible b/c it is adaptive but this seems highly unlikely.

Also, I have scored SIGNIFICANTLY worse on these than other practice exams I've taken. I've heard people say they're tough but are they 100 points different tough?

Any other experiences out there?
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gmat1011
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Re: Kaplan CAT exams - WTF? [#permalink] New post   01 Dec 2010, 06:52
i am "scared" to even take these kaplan tests (though i have access through one of their books) after reading all these reviews on almost all the fora/bulletin boards... almost everyone seems to say they are off by a large margin. last thing i need is an unreal score creating some kind of doubt in my sub-conscience about my ability. there can't be smoke all around without fire....

seriously, why does kaplan do it? or, why do they not correct their algorithm? kaplan is a large company with resources... why don't they want to change their image... i don't get it.
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linkiswickeddank
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Re: Kaplan CAT exams - WTF? [#permalink] New post   01 Dec 2010, 13:04
Kaplan tests are just inaccurate.
I took the free test only as part of my no-frills preparation package, and it scored me 60 points below any other practice test I took even though my number of correct answers and placement of correct answers were very similar, even better in Kaplan for quant.

Do not trust the Kaplan test, use it as practice for timing and questions only, not for an actual data point for your score progression.

It could be that maybe they just don't weight questions appropriately, but something is seriously off.

Don't be disheartened!
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Re: Kaplan CAT exams - accurate? [#permalink] New post   01 Dec 2010, 13:22
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What tests were these? Online or on a cd? If on a CD, what year were they?
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Re: Kaplan CAT exams - WTF? [#permalink] New post   01 Dec 2010, 15:02
I had the same feeling, they use to score you in a very "tough" manner. As someone said, juste use the test for training and try to learn from your mistake, the power prep are more representative (even if I read somewhere that they overscore a little bit).

Some of my friends, who recently took the GMAT told me that this might be a "trick" to discourage you, and make you enroll in a class...
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Re: Kaplan CAT exams - accurate? [#permalink] New post   01 Dec 2010, 15:04
btw, for me , getting those lower score works well to motivate me to go back to study... hope it does for you too ;)
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Re: Kaplan CAT exams - accurate? [#permalink]
01 Dec 2010, 15:04

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