Are Kaplan CAT exams...

Question

the same level of difficulty as the ones on the CD?

People say that Kaplan exams are typically tougher than the usual thing....I thought Kaplan Quant was a tad easier than GMAT Prep and easier than MGMAT. However, their Reading comps were a lot harder than the real deal and the SC and CRs were just a bit different as compared to both MGMAT and GMATPREP.

Any advise would be helpful.

thanks,

bigoyal · Answer

I agree with what you have observed. Also, generally people tend to score less in Kaplan CAT tests.

CAzer · Answer

From my experiece, the CAT exam difficulty goes from highest to lowest:

1. Manhattan GMAT
2. Princeton Review
3. Knewton

I haven't taken Kaplan yet.

jzd · Answer

I scored from 620 to 710 on my Kaplan CATS but on real GMAT I got 640

Kaplan Quant is easier than real GMAT
Kaplan RC is way harder than real GMAT

11MBA · Answer

I agree with all these observations. I only get 3-4 wrong on the quant part of the exam but on the verbal I'd usually get about 1/3 wrong, which is odd since my verbal is usually better than quant on the GMATPrep. Kaplans's verbal questions are just different from the real thing.

bb · Answer

I have been hearing this as well, but no one was able to ever get a confirmation from Kaplan. I will ask again because it is a pretty important issue.

It used to be that Kaplan was harder, but looks like the scoring system has been changed or revised to be adaptive. I never got more than 640 on my Kaplan tests.

trzaskm · Answer

I have Kaplan Premier 2008, is everyone referring to the 2009 edition of the Kaplan books?

GmatNY86 · Answer

This was actually my experience. I had the worst quant timing since I scored a 510 on my first CAT. I think I actually did a good job answering the questions correctly for the most part since I guessed so much at the end and still got an ok 44. Now verbal, I thought that the reading comp was just a piece of cake. Both the questions and the actual passages. I had the best timing in verbal that I've ever had as a result. RC is what takes up the most time. I had 3 minutes left when I finished that section (for some people that's nothing, not for me).

The scoring is very stingy also for Kaplan. I had 2 scores where I had a 710. The splits were Q47 and V45 and Q48 and V45. With my experience with GMAT scores around here, I feel comfortable saying that those scores would be higher on the real thing.

jzd · Answer

My problem with Kaplan CAT was not as much as with its scoring. Yes, the low scores I got on Kaplan CATS were demoralizing and not-confidence-building.

I have a bigger problem with how verbal RC are so unnecessarily hard and long, where I was completely stumped. And Quant does not reflect real GMAT hurts too.

orsang8 · Answer

I totally agree. Kaplan scores are kinda off. I got the following

Kaplan 1 610
GmatPrep 1 560
Mgmat 1 610
Kaplan 2 690 Q52 V 31 (finished quant 15 min early)
Mgmat 2 660
Kaplan 3 690 Q52 V 30 (finished quant 10 min early)
mgmat 3 610 (was hungover)
Kaplan 4 650 Q 47 V 31 (ran out of time on Q because I was taking my own sweet time, thinking I will have time at the end) 
mgmat 4 700
gmatprep 2 710
Kaplan 5 700 Q 53 V 32 (finished quant on time but was super easy)

I dont think its even possible to get 53 in real test.

However this score is also similar to my other mgmat and gmatprep score. So although scoring is off (Q easy and V hard), I think the total score balance it out. Also I find mgmat quant tough and too many layers to solve any problems. I have 95% correct rate with OG but with mgmat I am at level 49.

But I agree that kaplan tests are no longer harder. My husband who scored 750 in real test never got more than 650 in Kaplan (4 years ago). So definitely they have made some changes to their test.

I also think their verbal is kinda off, specially CR. 
I am giving the test on Dec 7th. I will share my experience. Hopefully, it will be a good one.

Good luck all you people.

rajivn · Answer

I agree with the observations that you guys have shared about Kaplan CAT.

I have taken three tests so far.
Quant is a tad easy. More questions on Number Properties, Percents, Fractions. You,ll find very little questions to no questions on Probability and PandC in Kaplan CAT Quant.

Verbal is tough. RCs are long and challenging. SC and CR not gmat representative.

Overall, these tests cannot be written off. I find Quants is really good if you are not already in 650 - 700 league. If you are in 500 - 650 range, solving these Quants and analyzing your mistakes can fill certain weak areas especially areas on Percents, Fractions, Number Properties, VICs, Geometry and DS type questions. Kaplan CAT can give you a good foundation on these that when you graduate to take MGMAT or GPREP, you shud be able to ease thru these type of questions.

Forget the final score, see the number of rights and wrongs you have got, you shud be faily able to guess where you stand.

To dispell the myth, let me repeat what others have said above. Kaplan CATs are not tough anymore.  Dont go by this "you can safely add 70 - 100+ to your Kaplan CAT score" . Its not the case anymore.

agnese · Answer

I also find Kaplan CAT quant part easier. I scored Q54 on Kaplan CAT 2. I don't think that is realistic. I'm scoring horribly on Kaplan verbal. I also believe that verbal is harder than actual and might not be that representative of the actual verbal questions.

My results so far:
Kaplan diagnostic: 660
Kaplan CAT 1 : 640 (45, 30)
Kaplan CAT 2 : 710 (54, 32)
Kaplan CAT 3 : 680 (50, 32)

GMAT Prep CAT 1 700 (both quant/verbal in 40's, do not recall the split, will post later)

I definitely feel more confident with quant than with verbal. I'm not sure if I should proceed with Kaplan verbal practice materials. Any thoughts?

Thank you!

11MBA · Answer

agnese, the exams are still worthwhile to take. This concensus is that RC is a lot harder than the real thing, so you shouldn't get too dejected if you're not doing too well. However, I think you should still take them to practice.

AN225 · Answer

Guys, something is wrong with Kaplan. I am using the CAT tests from 2011 Premier and it looks like the tests were created in 2007.
Now... compare these:
Kaplan CAT1 - 700
Kaplan CAT2 - 630
Kaplan CAT3 - 800 (the only time in life when I ever saw and will see 800

GmatPrep - 750

MGMAT CATs - 650, 680, 700, 660, 650, 730
===
It looks like Kaplan's CAT are very inconsistent in scoring

GmatPrep - 750 MGMAT CATs - 650, 680, 700, 660, 650, 730 === It looks like Kaplan's CAT are very inconsistent in scoring

spizzl · Answer

this looks really really strange -_-
i averaged in kaplan ~ 620, gmatprep ~ 700, first mgmat cat was a 710 .. dont know what kaplans doing, but i'd assume mgmat is more in line with gmac!

spizzl · Answer

just another kaplan cd cat result!

quant 36 .. last 20 answers -> 18 crct! all in all 23 correct! strange score ..

verbal 33 .. first 20 questions -> 19 correct! guessed rest because kaplan verbal is getting on my nerves .. strange RC -> ~ 3/4 thereof wrong!

all in all 580 (think with accomp the verbal proper -> 630/640

compared to last mgmat cat (710) really funny .. strange scoring algorithm ..

phighter · Answer

Please advice:

I took Kaplan CAT 1 a week ago and scored 580( quant 50-6 mistakes, verbal-28-20 mistakes)

Today, i tool Kaplan CAT 2 and scored 610( quant 50-3 mistakes, verbal-32-15 mistakes)

Don't understand the logic of scoring, quant 50 and verbal 32 gets you close to 680 if you check 800 score etc

and how can both 6 mistakes and 3 mistakes get you 50, i thought 3 mistakes should be a clear 51

	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	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.
	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

Are Kaplan CAT exams...

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