<p><a href="http://www.princetonreview.com/mba/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=79&TYPE=GMAT-PRACTICE-TEST%5B/url%5D">http://www.princetonreview.com/mba/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=79&TYPE=GMAT-PRACTICE-TEST</a></p>
<p>I just took this (you need to register first), and I have a question. Is this GMAT comparable to actual GMAT's?</p>
<p>I'm 18 years old, and decided a few hours ago that I'd take it for the heck of it. I'd never seen a GMAT before this, and I did absolutely no preparation. I ended up scoring a 710 (48 on the math, and 41 on the verbal; scores were 29/38 on math, and 36/41 for the verbal; overall 88%); which completely shocked me. I mean, I'm a smart guy (I'm a member of Mensa), but I have a hard time believing that this is legitamite, given that the top schools usually have average GMAT scores under 710; and I did it after 1 year of University, without any preparation.</p>
<p>So I'm just wondering if anyone can give me any insight as to whether or not this is a valid means of guaging my future success on the GMAT, or whether it is incredibly inaccurate.</p>
<p>Edit: Not 88% overall; it said 88% in the verbal section. My bad.</p>
<p>and 29/37 on the math, not 29/38.</p>
<p>The GMAT is a much stupider test than most people think. Many dumb people take it after realizing that their careers will stall without an MBA.</p>
<p>The problem is, being smart and good at standardized tests is only a very small component of what business schools are looking for. They'll take a more professionally-polished candidate with more impressive experience and lower GMATs over the reverse any day.</p>
<p>-Steve</p>
<p>Is the Princeton Review GMAT prep test the equivilent of the real GMAT? Good question. I think it's pretty impressive that you did so well, but supposedly no practice test can mirror the actual GMAT test. I am currently studying for the GMAT myself and the Princeton Review review book I have says to use their practice tests, but they highy recommend taking using the questions available from previous GMATs. They're available online at GMAT.com or in gmat.com's prep books.
Companies like Princeton Review, Kaplan, Manhattan, etc. don't have exact GMAT questions necessarily, but rather just very, very good duplicates. If you want to take as accurate a practice test as you can without actually taking the GMAT go to GMAT.com and download the free software from ETS (they make the GMAT). It has two practive tests that, according to them, simulate the GMAT exactly.</p>
<p>Princeton Review test is easier than the "real deal" but still very good practice. Denzera, I actually think most B-schools rely too much on the GMAT score, it's pretty important even if it shouldn't be.</p>