Powerprep Overestimate?

Test Preparation
1

<p>Hello,
I've been taking multiple practice tests and have scored a variety of scores on them. Here is a rundown of my scores thus far:</p>

<p>Princeton Review (CATs that came with the 2009 book): 640V/630Q and 610V/710Q
Kaplan (I took the course): 600V/620Q, 600V/570Q, 600V/690Q, and 640V/700Q
Powerprep (the free software from gre.org that comes with your exam registration): 710V/730Q</p>

<p>The last test from Kaplan and Princeton Review were both taken after the PowerPrep exam. Although I have read in several places that the Powerprep is the most accurate, for me it was substantially higher (particularly in verbal) than I had ever scored before or since. What am I missing? Is there another Powerprep that people are referring to? Please help!</p>

2

<p>No, the PowerPrep you’re referring to is accurate. If it’s any consolation, when I took the Kaplan practice tests, and the Barron’s practice tests, I was scoring in a similar vein: my Quant score never broke 650 or so, while my verbal was hit-or-miss (500-600). </p>

<p>When I took the official PowerPrep software, I scored 750 and 770 Q on the two tests, and 540 and 590 (or something like that) V. My real score was 770 Q and 640 V, so…I think other tests might underestimate your score. From what I’ve seen on this board, the PowerPrep tends to be fairly accurate in terms of Q, but the Verbal is really hit-or-miss.</p>

3

<p>The powerprep greatly over-estimated my scores. I received 800 and 800 on quantitiative, and 680 and 640 on verbal. However I just took the real GRE today and got a 750 on quant. and 590 on verbal, which I am kind of bummed about. I’m not sure whether to re-take…</p>

4

<p>Thanks for your help! I actually took the exam last week and powerprep didn’t seem to be terribly off after all. I made a 730 Q and 670 V (lower than PP, but higher than the other practice tests).</p>

5

<p>I think powerprep is the most accurate of them all, even if its off by a little.
I took a couple Kaplan tests and scored 550-590 V and around 700Q
On Powerprep tests I scored around 600-620 V and 740-760 Q (Don’t remember exactly).
Actual test was 700 V and 780 Q. Like someone else said I think its pretty close on Q, and V can be hit or miss</p>

6

<p>Power Prep is the most accurate. Kaplan is horrible. Their algorithm to calculate score is totally wron.</p>

7

<p>I found PowerPrep to be extremely accurate in predicting my scores, although I believe (overall) it is more accurate for the quantitative section than the verbal. I say this because my friend’s actual quantitative score was only slightly higher than her PowerPrep quantitative score (within thirty points), but her actual verbal score was significantly lower than her PowerPrep verbal score (a 100 point gap). My results were:</p>

<p>PowerPrep:
610V, 620Q</p>

<p>Actual:
610V, 630Q</p>

<p>So for me it was pretty dead on. Again, I still think the verbal results depend more on the words/passages you happen to get—more of a crap shoot there.</p>

8

<p>I know this is an old post, but I’m here to evlauate whether or not to retake.</p>

<p>I got these PP scores:
CAT1: Q740 V650
CAT2: Q760 V650</p>

<p>This was my recent actual score: Q660 V580</p>

<p>So what’s the deal? Was I just unlucky on the exam to get the questions I got? Or was I lucky on the PowerPrep?</p>

9

<p>I would retake the test, especially if you are applying to Eng Grad Schools. I looked at US News and Report and the lowest average GRE Quantitative score was about 740.</p>