Are Kaplan MST scores a good predictor of actual gre scores?

[JWPoods]

I am taking the GRE next week. I have been finding the Kaplan MSTs to be rather difficult. I took the Powerprep II exam released by ETS and scored much higher (6 points!) on the Quant section than I have been on the Kaplan MSTs. The Powerprep Quant sections seemed extremely easy compared to the problems I get from Kaplan.

Anybody here have any experience with this? Anybody feel like sharing their Kaplan v. Powerprep v Actual gre scores.

I am pretty terrified over the variability right now and would love to hear from others. I appreciate it!

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[mixolyd]

Powerprep is more accurate

 

[AnnoyedByFreud]

My real score was about 70-100 points higher than my Kaplan test score. I personally think that the Kaplan tests are much harder than the actual exam. I took the old GRE, though.

 

[JWPoods]

I really hope you're right! Anybody have this same experience with the revised test?

 

[mixolyd]

Yes my actual result on revised test was higher than Kaplan.

 

[futureapppsy2]

I had the same experience. Powerprep is definitely the most accurate, as it uses the actual GRE scoring/CAT algorithm.

 

[jvoges]

Hi JW,

I agree with everyone else who has posted. I took the GRE in July and I found the quantitative section to be about the same as the Kaplan MSTs, but thought the verbal section was MUCH easier on the real thing (I scored 70 points higher on verbal than I did on my best practice test).

 

[JWPoods]

Thanks everybody. This is all very reassuring.

I guess I am also interested to know, with the new revised scoring, what we should be aiming for with the more competitive schools (UCLA, Berkeley). I am scoring about a 160V, 159Q on the Kaplan tests. From what everybody has suggested, I do expect them to go up a couple points on test day.

Would that be enough with an otherwise very competitive application? (excellent research experience and letter of recs?)

I know there is no guarantee - would just like to know what I should aim for to have my application actually get reviewed at those types of programs.

 

[PsychGal222]

Thanks everybody. This is all very reassuring.

I guess I am also interested to know, with the new revised scoring, what we should be aiming for with the more competitive schools (UCLA, Berkeley). I am scoring about a 160V, 159Q on the Kaplan tests. From what everybody has suggested, I do expect them to go up a couple points on test day.

Would that be enough with an otherwise very competitive application? (excellent research experience and letter of recs?)

I know there is no guarantee - would just like to know what I should aim for to have my application actually get reviewed at those types of programs.

There was a thread not too long ago about the relationship between the old and new GRE - might be helpful for figuring out what to aim for with the revised scoring.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=944738

 

[gark]

Can anyone else chime in on this? I'm taking the actual test in 13 days. Up till now I've been taking the kaplan practice tests.

 

[doggums]

.

 

[mewtoo]

Not sure if this will help, but I found the powerprep harder than the real thing. I took one of the powerprep tests and got a V156 and Q 147. On the actual GRE I got a V161 and Q 148. I found Princeton Review waaaaay harder than both. I think the practice test I took from PR I got in the 130's on both sections. I didn't take Kaplan this time around.

 

[gark]

I keep hearing that powerprep is the way to go, but since I'm on a mac (along with everyone else I know) I can't use their software. I'm guessing I'll probably fall somewhere in the ball park of my practice test scores. Just hoping that the kaplan tests aren't significantly easier than the real gre.

 

[AnnoyedByFreud]

Try not to worry. I have a mac and wasn't able to use powerprep either. I found that the Kaplan tests were definitely harder than the actual thing. Good luck!