Are you Ready for the GMAT Test?
Written: Feb 25 '03 (Updated Jan 28 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good general tips and test info.
Cons: Sample test is easier than the real thing.
The Bottom Line: Kaplan's on- line course is very helpful, but some more improvements would make it even better.
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| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Kaplan GMAT Online Course |
Kaplan is a well- known and well- trusted name is test preparation, offering training courses to prepare prospective students for the SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, and other college- level entry examinations. This company is an independent business that specializes in familiarizing students with the test- taking process in order to maximize scores on test day.
I have taken a couple of college entry tests in my day, but I did not use Kaplan (or any other service) until recently when I decided I needed to retake the GMAT test. I originally took this test in 1993. The scores are good for only seven years, so I needed to take the test again in order to apply for more graduate school. And because it had been ten years since my last test- taking experience, I decided that it would be a good idea to take as many practice tests as possible and obtain as many tips as possible. I had already purchased the Kaplan GMAT test guide (a book with tips and practice tests), but since the test is now administered via computer, I decided that an on- line practice test would be the best because it would be the most like the real thing. I logged onto Kaplan’s site, and signed up.
How Does This Site Work?:
When you logon to the site (www.kaplan.com), you will see a listing of college prep tests on the left side of the screen. For information on the GMAT, you just click the appropriate link and you will then be taken into kaptest.com. Here, you will see that the site is divided into six main sections:
Courses and Services- This lists the basic services that Kaplan offers for GMAT preparation. These options include books to buy, software, class tutorials, and even private tutoring for those with money to burn.
Test Information- This gives a breakdown of what you can expect on the GMAT test, including what areas you will be tested on (verbal, quantitative, and written assessment), number of questions, time limits, and some practice questions.
Practice Lab- Here you will find strategy sessions and practice questions covering the six categories found on the GMAT test: Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Data Sufficiency, Problem Solving, and Written Assessment.
Free Events- Kaplan offers a few free seminars, strategy sessions, and workshops around the country at various times. If you are looking for some that might be offered in your area, just logon here, enter your zip code into the search box, and hope for the best. You should know, however, that this search function will display not just free events, but all Kaplan- related events coming to your area, including classroom instruction and other events that require paying a hefty fee.
Free Practice GMAT- This is a free test that is meant to simulate the actual test that you will take in the test center. To take this test, you need to sign up as a Kaplan member (there is no charge for this) and then click the link. When you are finished, the site will show you a breakdown of your score by section.
Test Registration- This will link you into the official site where you can register to take the GMAT test, at your local testing center. The current cost to take the test is $200, non- refundable. If you decide you want to take the test over again, you will have to cough up another $200. You cannot take the test more than once in a single calendar month, so you should schedule it far in advance of your university’s deadline.
Costs to use This Service:
Kaplan services range in price from free to very expensive. You can take the GMAT practice test- a full length test that’s similar to the one you will take on test day- completely free of charge. You can also access the practice sets and read tips and test information for no cost. But if you feel you need more help, it could possibly take a large chunk out of your wallet. Some items, like the GMAT workbook (which I own myself) are relatively cheap, costing about $20. The prices climb from there, with on- line workshops (an on- line video tutorial that you can access from your home PC) costing $29 each and quiz banks and other assorted testing aides selling for anywhere from $30 to $180 each.
If you’re the type who needs live, hands- on instruction, then you might want to consider signing up for the classroom instruction or the private tutorial. These are expensive options, with the classroom training selling for $1,250 per person and the deluxe course selling for $1,598. And if that’s not enough strain on your finances, there’s the private tutoring service which will cost you either $1,999 for 15 hours; $2,999 for 25 hours; or $3,999 for 35 hours! These private sessions are intended for those who are extremely serious about the GMAT and in critical need of the highest possible score.
Final Thoughts:
Kaplan.com is a helpful test- prep service for the GMAT, and everyone who takes this test should at least logon and read over the test information section and the practice labs. It’s not a good idea to walk into a test like this without first familiarizing yourself with the format and the procedures.
The practice test that the site offers is good, but it’s not exactly accurate. First of all, it doesn’t cut you off when the time limit expires. I think it would be better if it did, because that’s how the real test works. Also, I felt that the questions and problems on this practice test were easier than those on the actual test. I found the Kaplan practice tests to be only moderate in difficulty level. The real test that I took was a little harder than this.
Of all the things that you need to be prepared for, I think the changes and restrictions with the new computerized format are the most critical to know about. The test is very different from the old paper version, which was phased out just a couple of years ago. With the new computerized version, you need to be prepared for certain things that you will probably not like. For instance, on the computerized version, you cannot go back and change your answers. You can’t skip a question and that means that, in some cases, you will be forced to make your best guess and move on. Another bad thing is that, since the test is now on a screen, the reading comprehension questions will present new challenges because you cannot take your pencil and underline key words and phrases. And you cannot view the entire reading comprehension passage on your screen all at once. There isn’t enough room, so you have to keep scrolling your screen up and down. Still another bad point is that the questions and problems are different for each test taker and they are programmed to change based on whether or not you got the previous question correct. If you get a question right, the next one will be slightly more difficult. If you get a question incorrect, the next one will be slightly less difficult. Because of this, the test is not really standardized anymore. No two people take exactly the same test. About the only good thing about the new format is that you will know your score instantly, when you finish. You do not need to wait for it to me mailed. A few seconds after you finish, the score will be displayed, right before your eyes. Kaplan on-line explains these new changes, and I recommend that every test- taker read through them.
Kaplan’s on- line course helps prepare you for the verbal and the quantitative parts of the GMAT, and it does a pretty good job accomplishing this. But there is one other part of the GMAT test that’s not quite as easy to cover: the written assessment. Kaplan does make mention of this part of the test, and it provides some advice along with some samples. But it can’t really test you on this because there is no way to properly grade it on- line. With the written assessment, you have to compose two written responses to questions. One is an analysis of an argument, and the other is an analysis of an issue. You have to rely on your own writing and communication abilities here, since there is no way to grade you in a practice test format.
Strategy sessions and practice questions are provided in each section of Kaplan’s GMAT course. Each set of practice questions contains a total of five problems/questions. You can click a link to find the answer and get an explanation of how it was arrived at. These explanations are very thorough and easy to understand. But the strategy sessions are a little too brief, in my opinion. I think the reason is intentional. At the bottom of each strategy session you will find a few links to purchase additional Kaplan services. The reason for the less- than- adequate strategy sessions is to get you to want more, with the hope that you will make a purchase.
When I used this service, I didn’t buy any of the specialized services or the private and/or group tutoring. I just took the free test and I also purchased a workbook. I can’t see paying these high prices for tutoring. If you have your mind set on attending Yale, MIT, Duke, or some other prestigious university, then the money you pay might be worth it. But if you have more realistic prospects for graduate school, then I think these additional services are probably not going to pay off. The extra cost is not justified.
The maximum GMAT score is 800. There is no guarantee that Kaplan’s materials can help improve your score, but they sure can’t hurt. If you plan to take the GMAT (or any other college- prep test, for that matter) then I recommend that you logon to Kaplan.com and lookup some facts about the test and how it works. Even if you decide not to pay for any of Kaplan’s special services, you should still take advantage of the practice sets and the on- line test itself. This is your future, so you shouldn’t take any chances. It’s better to be prepared!
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Recommended:
Yes
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