MGMAT CAT vs Actual exam

Question

Hi Everyone:

I've taken the GMAT once before and I scored a 570. I wasn't happy with that score so I'm using the Manhattan GMAT strategy guides to study, now. I've been through 1 and 2 of the math strategy guides but scored a 530 on a practice MGMAT CAT, this morning.

Can anyone tell me about the level of difficulty of the MGMAT vs the actual exam? Are they similar or is one more difficult than the other?

I'm so disappointed about the 530 on the practice exam. I'm hoping that my score continues to increase as I complete the strategy guides and continue to work practice problems.

Thanks!

heygirl · Answer

I had the same issue with MGMAT. I have even written about my last practice CAT experience in my thread. Apparently, some of their tests are really hard,especially the Quant. What is your break up in Verb and Quant?
Also, once you do one review of the MGMAT strategy guides, you WILL improve a lot. So, just keep working toward that and take a GMAT prep test once you are ready to take the next test.

mohater · Answer

Refer to the practice test thread:
all-gmat-cat-practice-tests-links-prices-reviews-77460.html

I've found MGMAT tests pretty similar to the real test (people report MGMAT is a bit more difficult, I agree with this).

bulletproof · Answer

Thanks for the responses... I scored a 29 (Q) 34 (V) on the practice... I expected to do better than the 570 I scored 2 years ago but I knew I wasn't really ready to take a practice. Do you think I should wait to take another practice after I get through all of the strategy guides?

Also, I'll refer to the practice test thread. Thanks, again!

Also, I'll refer to the practice test thread. Thanks, again!

mohater · Answer

Make sure you keep an error log. This is key to over coming your weakness on the test.

M23A · Answer

Have you gone through all the MGMAT guides before taking the CAT?

I plan to do the MGMAT CAT after I finish studying all MGMAT guides.

https://gmatclub.com/static/posted_from.png     Posted from    GMAT ToolKit

heygirl · Answer

Your verbal is pretty good for a start! Go through MGMAT Quant giuides first and note down stuff that is new to you/hard for you. Do the In-action problems. The number properties guide is awesome. This guide alone will take your accuracy up! Once you are done with the Quant guides, take another MGMAT CAT. If you wish, you could take another CAT after 2 weeks too. I generally take CATs every 10 days or so.
 I think it should take you 3-4 weeks,at the maximum, to complete the Quant guides. Your CAT score should definitely be higher in this second one.
For Verbal, find your weakness, RC,CR,SC??, and improve upon it.

Good Luck

bulletproof · Answer

heygirl: haha, like the sn.

Thanks for the suggestions. If anything, I think the score I got this morning was a huge wake up call... I need to really study! Yes, the Quant guides seem to be really helpful so far. Take care!

bulletproof · Answer

No, I didn't go through all of the MGMAT guides, yet. I just started the third guide, tonight. I think it does make sense to wait to take the CATs until I've completed all strategy guides but I wanted to see where my problem areas were. Best of luck to you as you study!

mbanimal2011 · Answer

Keep time on your practice problems by using a stop watch. Even though each question won't be timed individually (which you could do I guess with the lap button) you will be aware of the time it takes for practice problems, similar to what you will experience on the test. Like others have said keep an error log, also keep a log of problems that take you too much time. I think that is one of the most underrated aspects of the test, especially since you can't skip a question. If you cut down on your time for some problems you will have more time on problems above your difficulty, which you will able to get right and thus raise your score. I'm no expert on the GMAT but I did raise my score by 50 using this method.

oski24 · Answer

I definitely thought the MGMAT cats were more difficult than the gmat prep cats. But strangely, i felt the real deal math section was pretty difficult.

mbanimal2011 · Answer

yeah the first time I took the test I thought I was looking at Hieroglyphics

jonblazon · Answer

I agree with the fact that MGMAT is more difficult that the real GMAT. I always struggled to complete the MGMAT tests on time, and had spare on the real GMAT. I also had much easier questions on the real GMAT than on MGMAT. Maybe I just had a lucky streak on the real GMAT, but in my opinion it was both easier than MGMAT and the practice GMAT software

spizzl · Answer

think my test results show you sth about the relationship .. i completely underestimated the gmatprep (knewing that mgmat is more difficult) and this resulted in an annoying 650 in gmatprep cat1 yesterday .. i gave the 2nd gmatprep directly (30min break) afterwards and tried to focus a bit more .. as you can see in my profile it worked!

i'd conclude the following
- verbal: RC seems really easier for me .. made no mistake in my 2nd gmatprep cat! CR .. same level, bit more concise .. SC same!

- quant: depends on your level, i got a 49 in the 2nd try yesterday and the questions were quite hard .. but not as hard as mgmat!

niharikasharma93 · Answer

i just gave the mgmat free test online and i got 650

i want to target 700 plus and my gmat is in 1 week!! i got quant 46 and verbal 33

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