Why the 6 Official GMAT Computer-Adaptive Tests Are a MUST

Every GMAT study plan should account for the use of full-length practice CATs

When putting together a group of study materials to help you prepare for the GMAT, there are lots of different options to choose from. Among the various print materials, test-prep courses (both online and in-person), online practice materials, website forums and practice computer-adaptive tests (CATs) out there, trying to put together the right ‘combo’ for yourself might seem overwhelming. The one aspect that every study plan should account for, though, is the use of full-length practice CATs (taken with the essay and integrated reasoning (IR) sections, under realistic conditions). Unfortunately, not all the available CATs that you’ll find on the market are of the same quality.

Only one source has the official scoring algorithm, and that’s GMAC.

Taking CATs at regular intervals is one of the fundamental ways to measure the effectiveness of your studies and your readiness to take the official GMAT. Relative to all of the various print books and online materials, the number of available GMAT practice tests is rather limited. Some GMAT companies have therefore created ‘homemade’ practice tests that try to mimic the official scoring algorithm – and, to be fair, some of those GMAT practice tests are accurate enough to provide you with a reasonably accurate score assessment.

However, some of the available practice tests are far from realistic. Since the official scoring algorithm is proprietary, none of the test-prep companies that have created their own homemade CATs know exactly how that algorithm works, so their score results can vary from what you would score on the official GMAT, based on their designs and inherent faults. Thankfully, GMAC released ‘Exam Pack 2’ this year – increasing the number of official computer adaptive tests to SIX!

Official GMAC CATs are SO important

The details behind your specific test-day experience are important – and you can train for many of them. You really have to put some effort into defining those details though. As an example, you should take the full CAT every time (even though you probably don’t want to do the essay and IR sections, you will have to face them on test day, and you have to sit in that computer lab for the better part of four hours, so you have to train for that full timeframe).

Unfortunately, there are a variety of variables that you can’t typically control, including the quality and amount of sleep that you get the night before your GMAT, your overall stress level during the test, the potential distractions in the computer lab, etc. You can, however, make sure to take the most realistic GMAT practice tests possible so that you experience the best (and most accurate) practice questions and earn a score result that can help you to hone your studies and score higher and higher. Those six official GMAC CATs use the same scoring algorithm as the official GMAT, and all of the questions included are ‘retired’ GMAT questions (ones that once appeared on the official exam), so the quality and accuracy of those score results are undeniable.

The big business of selling practice tests

The specific way(s) in which you choose to prepare for the test and the study materials that you use will play a HUGE role in how you score on the official GMAT. You have to remember though that all of this test prep is big business.

The test-prep companies that sell their own homemade computer-adaptive tests would rather you buy their practice tests than the official CATs – since those homemade GMAT practice tests make those companies a lot of money each year. As such, you’ll only find a few test-prep courses available that include the official CATs as part of their overall study materials (and, when offered, these can sometimes even come at a discount).

Whether you self-study or invest in a GMAT course of some type, you really have to consider how realistic your CATs are – they are arguably some of the most important practice materials that you will work with. Since your GMAT score is vital to the strength of your business school application(s), you really have to be sure that you’re training with the best GMAT practice tests available – and those are the six CATs offered by GMAC.