Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
May 2008:00 AM PDT
-08:30 AM PDT
What’s in it for you- Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with Jenifer Turtschanow, CEO, ARINGO. Come with your details prepared and ARINGO will share insights! Pre-MBA Role/Industry, YOE, Exam Score, C/GPA, ECs Post-MBA Role/ Industry & School List.
Jun 1006:00 AM PDT
-06:15 PM PDT
Register for the GMAT Club Virtual MBA Spotlight Fair – the world’s premier event for serious MBA candidates. This is your chance to hear directly from Admissions Directors at nearly every Top 30 MBA program..
Mothakes
Joined: 25 Jun 2009
Last visit: 01 Jan 2015
Posts: 17
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 2
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Schools: Booth '16 (M)
GMAT 1: 720 Q46 V44
26 Jun 2009, 18:59
Kudos
Bookmarks
After reading various online guides and many topics on this forum, I was under the impression that it is best to take as many practice tests as you can possibly handle before taking the real GMAT. The logic is pretty obvious: build up your stamina, simulate the test environment to reduce anxiety, figure out weaknesses, etc.
However, this morning I was reading Jeff Sackmann's GMAT Tips over on gmathacks.com, and he recommended something completely different. Sackmann recommended taking very few tests, just two to three, stating that your time would be better served working, analyzing, and reworking timed practice problems than taking actual CATs.
I have counted and found that I have about 50 days of 2-4 hours study time and about 15 days of 1-2 hours study time before my test. Thanks to the donation of materials from a friend, I also have the following CATs available:
2 - GMATPrep
6 - Manhattan GMAT
6 - Kaplan 2009 (online)
4 - Princeton Review 2009 (online)
Originally I was planning to dive into these CATs and take one every two to three days for preparation (in addition to working OG problems, reading the MGMAT guides, etc.), but after reading Sackmann's article I am not so sure anymore.
What are your thoughts, is it better to work CATs or practice problems? (or a combination thereof?)
However, this morning I was reading Jeff Sackmann's GMAT Tips over on gmathacks.com, and he recommended something completely different. Sackmann recommended taking very few tests, just two to three, stating that your time would be better served working, analyzing, and reworking timed practice problems than taking actual CATs.
I have counted and found that I have about 50 days of 2-4 hours study time and about 15 days of 1-2 hours study time before my test. Thanks to the donation of materials from a friend, I also have the following CATs available:
2 - GMATPrep
6 - Manhattan GMAT
6 - Kaplan 2009 (online)
4 - Princeton Review 2009 (online)
Originally I was planning to dive into these CATs and take one every two to three days for preparation (in addition to working OG problems, reading the MGMAT guides, etc.), but after reading Sackmann's article I am not so sure anymore.
What are your thoughts, is it better to work CATs or practice problems? (or a combination thereof?)
26 Jun 2009, 21:29
Kudos
Bookmarks
You should not need a ton of tests - taking 4 hours at a time is quite taxing.
I got 750 with 4 Kaplan Tests, 4 PR and 2 PowerPrep tests.
I think it is important to study the concepts and REVIEW very carefully, keeping an error log, and then AFTER you are done with the math or verbal section - it is great to start taking CAT tests but only for that section.
Then, a few weeks before the test, it is good to start taking full tests with AWA and train yourself how to pace yoruself and handle 4 hour tests - this was my most hated part about GMAT (i liked the overall experience though).
I believe I took 3-4 CATS at the end - the rest were taken section by section.
I also took a PowerPrep (download PowerPrep) the day before the test (same time as i would have at the test center) and took the rest of the day off. This was my test simulation experience....
I got 750 with 4 Kaplan Tests, 4 PR and 2 PowerPrep tests.
I think it is important to study the concepts and REVIEW very carefully, keeping an error log, and then AFTER you are done with the math or verbal section - it is great to start taking CAT tests but only for that section.
Then, a few weeks before the test, it is good to start taking full tests with AWA and train yourself how to pace yoruself and handle 4 hour tests - this was my most hated part about GMAT (i liked the overall experience though).
I believe I took 3-4 CATS at the end - the rest were taken section by section.
I also took a PowerPrep (download PowerPrep) the day before the test (same time as i would have at the test center) and took the rest of the day off. This was my test simulation experience....
27 Jun 2009, 03:34
Kudos
Bookmarks
I tend to agree with Sackmann's philosophy, but I probably lean closer toward bb's advice. If you're using CATs to benchmark your performance, 5 is probably sufficient. If you're looking to build stamina, 10 is probably sufficient. Some people would recommend that you take as many possible, but it's really a matter of preference. What I don't like about taking lots of tests is that you can't spend that time strengthening specific weak areas.
Of the CATs you listed above, I would recommend doing each GMATPrep at least twice in addition to your MGMAT CATs. This will provide you with 10 CATs if you only do the MGMAT CATs once each. Although I believe this should be sufficient, it will really depend on your specific needs. I think it's a great idea to take a CAT at least once every two weeks, but probably not more often than once a week. Do it whenever you think you've made significant gains.
Of the CATs you listed above, I would recommend doing each GMATPrep at least twice in addition to your MGMAT CATs. This will provide you with 10 CATs if you only do the MGMAT CATs once each. Although I believe this should be sufficient, it will really depend on your specific needs. I think it's a great idea to take a CAT at least once every two weeks, but probably not more often than once a week. Do it whenever you think you've made significant gains.
