Practice Tests - Urgent Help

[Guest]

Need help in identifying good practice tests. (CATs).

I scored a 650 on my first GMAT (V34, Q47). I am preparing for it again; aiming for 700+; I have 3 more weeks for my next GMAT.

For the first attempt, I used
6-MGMAT CATS (the BEST)
2-GMAT Prep
1 - Kaplan (got scared with the low score I got)

Now I am looking for new practice tests.
I will definitely take the 2-GMAT preps again before the exam.
I tried 800score tests but somehow I feel that they are not representative of the actual test. Math is good but Verbal--- no comments....u can guess. Scoring algorithm is different and you would see a low score.
I re-took a test from MGMAT CATS but I am seeing the same questions again. So this is not helpful.
I have the Kaplan tests but I am afraid that they will depress me.

Please post your suggestions. I have already over searched the internet. Thanks for your help.

[StaceyKoprince]

I haven't taken tests from other companies in a really long time, but I have heard from other forum users that the Kaplan scores tend to be very low and people get depressed - so I would avoid those. I've heard good things about Princeton Review tests. I have also heard that the 800score verbal is pretty good, actually! If you can find the old PowerScore tests, those are pretty good (PowerScore is the predecessor to GMATPrep). The only drawback to PowerScore is that it also uses questions from OG (as does GMATPrep). I have also heard that if you retake GMATPrep, you may not see too many repeats the first time.

By the way, if you take a test on which you recognize a question, glance at the timer immediately and make yourself sit there for the full length of the question - that way it doesn't also artificially help you elsewhere in the test (via having more time than you should really have).

By the way - you've already taken 9 tests. How often are you taking them? It might just be that you're spreading your prep over a very long period of time, but you may also be taking tests too frequently. Generally, if you are studying every day (or almost every day), you should be taking a practice test about once every 3 weeks. If you are taking them more frequently than that (or if you are studying less frequently than every day but still taking a test every 3 weeks), then you are taking too many tests.

The actual act of taking a practice test is useful but doesn't actually teach people as much as they think it would. Most of your learning comes from looking at the detailed reports, crafting a study plan based upon your strengths and weaknesses, and then going ahead and doing that study before you take another test.

[Guest]

Thanks Stacey. I did the 9 practice tests while I was preparing for my first GMAT attempt in May. Now I am retaking the actual test the second time.

[StaceyKoprince]

Ah, got it. Well - you might have forgotten a lot of them, then, so it might be okay to retake some of those tests.