Repeating/Resetting CAT exams

[joie_bernabe]

Hello MGMAT instructors:

This is my second round of GMAT studying. On the first real GMAT, I scored a 600 - I knew I was going to score about this since I had taken 5 MGMAT CATs and my scores were between 540 - 640, with my last two practice tests below 600. I went into the first real GMAT as a "dry run." My goal for my next GMAT is to score above a 700+, and at least an 80th percentile on Quant (47-49 range).

For this second round of studying, I have taken the following MGMAT CAT and GMAT Focus exams:

Took Real GMAT - November 2010

Tests after February 2011:
GMAT Focus: 45-49 Scale on Quant, with 80% accuracy range
MGMAT CAT 6: Q40 V38, Overall 650
MGMAT CAT1A: Q43 V40, Overall 690 (highest MGMAT CAT)

The MGMAT CAT 1A I just took had a lot of repeat questions, more in the verbal than in quant, and I have thoroughly reviewing my exams. For both MGMAT CAT 6 and 1A (both taken in Feb/Mar respectively), I had not looked at a MGMAT CAT exam since taking my real GMAT.

I am not sure whether to feel happy that I am making progress, and I wanted to ask how accurate retaking the MGMAT CATs was. I know the score is inflated, but I don't want to get overconfident, but I also don't want to feel defeated because I know that resetting exams inflates the score. I do plan to take other CATs from other companies (Kaplan, 800score, GMATPrep), but I want to save my GMAT prep for my last month of study. I don't know have a good gauge if I am really improving--that's my big concern.

Any advice on how to approach re-set MGMAT CATs (1A-6A) would be great. I have a lot of time - I don't plan on re-taking the GMAT until June, but I am also starting to feel a lot of GMAT study burnout out which is why I am concerned. Thanks again for all your help!

Cheers,
Joie

[StaceyKoprince]

Resetting doesn't automatically inflate your score. It's really whether you see questions that you remember.

You can still take both GMATPrep and MGMAT CATs with repeats as long as you follow a few guidelines to minimize the chance of artificially inflating your score via question repeats. First, anytime you see a problem that you remember (and this means: I know the answer or I'm pretty sure I remember the answer, not just "hmm, this looks vaguely familiar..."), immediately look at the timer and make yourself sit there for the full length of time for that question type. This way, you don't artificially give yourself more time than you should have.

Second, think about whether you got this problem right the last time. If you did, get it right again this time. If you didn't, get it wrong again. If you *completely honestly* think that you would get it right this time around if it were a new question (even though you got it wrong last time) because you've studied that area and improved, then get it right this time.

Also, you are doing the essays, right? Skipping the essays can also inflate your score (stamina is a factor; the test is an hour longer with the essays).

Going forward on MGMAT CATs, don't go back to review questions from your first batch of 6 tests because you might see those repeated in the second batch of 6. It's okay to review the 1A questions, though, because you won't see those again in the second batch of tests.

[alpanasavarna]

Hi Stacie.. Could you help me please-I was taking my 6th MGMAT practice test.. and in the middle of the Quant section I realized that I had been marking the wrong choice for my Data sufficiency questions. Basically, I didn't read the instructions and carelessly marked 'Both 1 and 2 are NOT sufficient' when I wanted to mark 'Both are individually sufficient'. Due to this, I did not get the level of math questions that I should be practicing (I realized that this time round, the other questions were fairly easy). I have stopped the test mid way and am happy with the other MGMAT practice tests that I have taken so I would not like to reset those as of now. Is there any way for me to only retake the 6th test?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Alpana.

[StaceyKoprince]

Hmmm... I don't think so. FYI "resetting" will not cause you to lose all of the other tests - you always have access to all of your previous test results, so don't worry about that. But I don't think there's a way to tell the system "just erase T6 and let the student start over from there."

I'm not 100% positive though. You can send an email to techsupport@manhattangmat.com to ask.

[alpanasavarna]

Thanks Stacie!

[StaceyKoprince]

you're welcome!