Studying for the GRE

December 7, 2006 8:53 AM

Are catprep.com and 800score.com legit sites for GRE prep?

I'm looking for real-life Computer Adaptive Tests (like what I'll have on test day) that I can use to practice. Most of the major companies (Kaplan, Princeton Review, Barron's, etc) only offer static computer tests that don't actually adapt to your performance like the real GRE does. Besides the measly two tests I can download from ETS, I've run across two companies on the internet that claim to offer adaptive tests more like the real GRE: catprep.com and 800score.com.

Has anyone ever used one of these companies? Are they legit? Do the resulting scores reflect reality? Are there other sites I've missed?

posted by jk252b to Education (6 answers total)

I've never tried any of those, but are you sure Kaplan's tests aren't adaptive? I bootlegged one of their CD-ROMs, and while the presentation was childish to an almost insulting degree, when you got into the three practice tests they were the same length as the real GRE tests and I assumed they were adaptive, although I didn't specifically check for that and I can't anymore because I deleted the CD image.

Anyway, the Kaplan practice tests worked out well enough for me. I did get higher scores on the ETS provided stuff - on the two ETS practice tests I got 800 math both times, while I was at 770-790 on the Kaplan ones. On the real GRE I got 800 800 where I think I'd only reached 770 verbal max on any practice test.

When are you practicing for? I think they're dumbing down the test pretty soon.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 9:07 AM on December 7, 2006

Response by poster: I'm pretty sure Kaplan's test aren't adaptive, but not 100% actually. In either case, the CD I have from them provides only three tests, and a very limited pool of questions. I want to maximize my CAT prep time.

My test is next Friday, 12/15. Yeah... not a lot of time to study. And I suck at math.
posted by jk252b at 9:35 AM on December 7, 2006

Do you know about PowerPrep? Look for it on the ETS website.
posted by Skwirl at 10:19 AM on December 7, 2006

Kaplan has adaptive tests online.

But the test is changing to non-adaptive in January anyway. It is worth it to wait!
posted by k8t at 11:02 AM on December 7, 2006

It's my understanding that the adaptive test is going away in September 2007, not January, though I'd be overjoyed if I was wrong.
posted by lpqboy at 3:18 PM on December 7, 2006

Woops, messed up the link. Let's try again!
posted by lpqboy at 3:20 PM on December 7, 2006