Manhattan Grade Inflation

[Instigate]

Hi, I have experienced a huge variation in my scores throughout practice tests. What made it so for me were factors like - what time of the day did I take the test, how much did my parents bother me on skype while I am doing the test, fatigue, how much work have I done throughout the day before I did the test, and general lack of concentration. So, don't panic a lot of things can influence your score greatly. Just make sure everything goes smooth before the test on test day and you should be able to achieve the maximum you did on practice tests.

[alf10087]

@Taylor Dearr: thank you very much for your reply. I'll probably never find out if it is test day jitters or sth else but it doesn't matter anymore (I am definitely not going to do it again) .

@alf10087: congrats! this is a great score!!

Thank you swiss, I hope it is a competitive score for top MPP/MPA programs.

[Dimbulb]

Thanks for the input decaf!

I am consistently scoring around 1100 to 1200 and going through the Big Book (old test quant questions mostly).

Anybody have any suggestions on more practice CAT's? My Mac won't allow Power Prep software to run, I have exhausted all 6 Manhattan's and Magoosh, while a really great site, has quants that discourage me a bit (they are similar to the toughest GRE questions I have seen).

Thanks in advance!

[alf10087]

Find another computer for the Powerprep. That's what I did.

Go to an internet cafe or something, it actually helps you to practice in an unknown environment and with a computer that's not yours. Those will be the real conditions of the actual test.

[Dimbulb]

Thanks everyone! I took the GRE today. On my way I had a flat about 10 miles from the testing center, arrived late and BOMBED. I scored an unremarkable 295.

Manhattan prep is solid but the verbal on the GRE tests subtleties and nuances of words in context. I found the quant harder than Manhattan and out of 6 Cats, scored between 299 and 308.

Going to hit the books again tomorrow and retake it in 30 days using Magoosh and old fashioned hard work.