Customer Reviews

Kaplan GMAT CAT 1999-2000 with CD-ROM

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I recently took the Gmat and the Kaplan book/ CD package was my main preparation tool. I found the book to be outstanding. The advice and test taking techniques are superb. The CD is a little cheesy, but it's good for adapting to the computer format. I agree that the Kaplan problems are much harder than the actual test. I scored a 570 on the Kaplan full length test, and a 700 on the real thing. The whole point is to do well on the real test, and the Kaplan package was the main reason I did just that. I also highly recommend getting the Official Guide to the Gmat, which includes real test questions that have been retired. The strategies and question explantations are far inferior to Kaplan's, but it gives you plenty of practice problems, which is important. If you're rusty on math (like I was), Arco's Gmat - Gre math review is excellent, although it explains the "long route" approach to most problems. The Kaplan package tells you how to take shortcuts, which is essential on the test. I highly recommend it.

I recently completed the GMAT CAT and scored marginally higher versus the Kaplan CD ROM. Agree with another reviewer that the quantitative questions on Kaplan were harder but the verbal seemed easier.

My advice, if you're weak in math, algebra and problem solving, you should definately challenge yourself with Kaplan. However, if your weakness is in verbal skills, you may want to look for additional reference. In fact, recommend that you acquire a second study guide (without CD-ROM to save costs) to get a good understanding and feel for the test.

The simulated Kaplan CAT is very similar in design and execution to the real thing (sorry didn't try out other simulated CAT's to compare). I found this to be very helpful as you will know exactly what to expect on test day.

Lastly, recommend that you study about one month in advance (but not too much longer than that, since you will tired yourself out). Most important, take the few days before the test off and relax!

Good luck!

The Kaplan software for this book is over two years old. Quicktime suppled on the CD is version 2.x from 1996. The software will NOT RUN on a stock Dell that is six months old.

The software also does not run with the current verion of Quicktime.

Given the age of the software and its inability to run on a current machine with Windows 98, this is not worth the premium for the CD. And given that the CD has not been updated sinc mid 1998, I would question the book it comes with also.

I think that it is a good book overall. The key is the CD. (However, I wholeheartedly agree with the other reviewer who said the car thing was cheesy - boy, did I ever get sick of the music.) You should practice as much as possible on the computer and build stamina, etc. The math questions on the 3 full-length GMATS are ludicrously difficult, but after you've done them, you are ready for the the real GMAT math portion. The verbal seems pretty comparable with the real deal. The explanations are good, as are the shorter math and verbal practice sets. I recommend doing this and power prep (from the test adminitrators) for a total of 5 tests. For a frame of reference, I scored over 100 points higher (actualy 140) on the real GMAT than my average on the three Kaplan tests. Good luck!

The Kaplan GMAT book/cd was worth the money I paid for it. I started with it in June and took all of the practice tests. Most of the techniques suggested in the book were common sense, but I still found the reinforcement and repetition helpful. It also helped build my 4-hour test endurance. Like all the other reviewers stated, the full-length Kaplan tests were unrealistically difficult, so don't get discouraged. My scores on Kaplan's full-length CATs were 590, 600, & 580. In August, I began using the ETS Official Guide along with their Powerprep software. I was told that they are the most accurate predictor of your eventual test-day score. This was indeed the case. I got a 710 & 730 on the Powerprep tests and then took the GMAT on Sep 13 and scored a 740. My advice: start with Kaplan, don't worry about your low-ball Kaplan scores, then move to the Official materials, get a fair idea of your scoring ability there, rest and relax, then tear it up on test day. You'll surprise yourself. Good luck!

The CD which comes with this book cannot be installed in Windows NT platform. It only work on win 3.1x, 95,98 . So check very carefully which System u have with u. No where in the book its written that the software cannot be installed on NT . It only says it works with Windows . Argggggg....

Kaplan's GMAT CAT is definitely one of its kind. None comes close to be this hard and it is worth every penny. There are three sets of practice CAT on the CD-ROM. I took each set twice. It preps me up for the real CAT. And in the end, I got the score of 700. I strongly recommend this product to anyone serious. It's much harder but it prepares you for the real thing.

Although its user interface is a little screwy, the Kaplan software worked flawlessly (win 95 SR2).

The Kaplan program includes several practice drills on each section, four "full" tests (including essays), lessons, tutorals and games. There is also a *great* section on stress-management that everyone should read. The games are not very useful, in my opinion.

The lessons have an emphasis on (re)building math skills, although the test questions seemed much easier than on the Princeton Review software. More emphasis could be put on the verbal sections as the Kaplan questions were, by far, the hardest of the lot.

For practice essays, you can try [looking online]

As other readers have noted, the exams scoring mechanism is punishing: I scored 100 lower on the Kaplan exam than I did the actual test. (versus 30 points lower on Princeton Review's tests.)

Reviewing the exams was awkward, especially compared to the Princeton Review software where you get a graphic overview of all of the questions and how they rated in difficulty and how much time you spent on each one. (This is important in showing how the test "adapts" in difficulty.) Kaplan makes you review questions sequentially.

Kaplan provides additional insight into some more subtle areas of testing such as whether changing answers improves your score, and allows you to tailor a lesson plan to your particular needs. Obviously, the more time you have to practice, the better.

I attribute my high score on the actual exam to being smart, well-rested, and familiar with the test format. The Kaplan product is great for reviewing the format of the GMAT and would be especially well-suited for someone who hasn't taken a standardized test in a long time.

Finally, my advice for test takers:

1. Do something relaxing the night before. (For example: Practice your Swedish Massage lessons on your significant other. :-)

2. Eat a good breakfast.

3. Don't freak out.

Everybody here says that Kaplan is much harder than the real test, it is only partially tru. I did 630, 640 and 650 on Kaplan, but I got only 580 on the real test! This is because Kaplan is harder only on Quantitative section but easier on Verbal. So, it is premature to say that Kaplan is much harder, it depends.

The study guide was excellent. It gives hints on finding short cuts to answers. It focuses on what you need to know. The only problem is with the CD rom. It didn't install successfully and Kaplan offered no support. If you go to the Kaplan web site read the FAQ ... you'll see many on the FAQs addresses GENERAL PROTECTION FAULTS and SYSTEM CRASHES. Kaplan knows the software is unrealiable... purchase the study guide without the CD. Use another software for simulated GMAT CAT exams.