CATPrep.com

Using the CATPrep #GRE Test Simulator

2010-03-02T21:39:00.000-05:00

Our practice tests are best used when the student treats our simulated test as if it were the real test and completes every part under realistic conditions with no breaks or distractions. Our tests are not designed for practicing specific question types or for drills. Instead, they offer students the opportunity to simulate the real test and practice handling the rigors of the test experience in combination with the challenges of the questions themselves.

Tutors typically offer one or two of our GRE Practice Tests to a student to find a baseline performance level, then they design a course of study for the student. Some offer another exam mid-way through the course, but others save the remaining tests until the end of the course. Your preference will depend on your current performance level and your goals.

We typically recommend that you complete all the study and drills you intend to perform for GRE Test preparation. Afterwards, schedule time to complete our exams as if they were the real thing. If you score in your desired range, you should feel confident that you have met your goal and sit for the real GRE Test asap. If not, then address your weaknesses with more drilling or professional assistance.

#GRE Practice Test Video Content

2010-02-28T13:37:00.000-05:00

We're pleased to announce that we've begun publishing short GRE Test videos to assist students in using our computer adaptive test simulator software. Our first videos demonstrate starting our GRE Test software and using it to recreate options for students with ETS approved disabilities.

#GMAT Practice Test : Customer Query

2010-02-12T00:20:00.000-05:00

A. Borhan recently wrote us asking whether our #GMAT Practice Test Simulator software intentionally skewed scores lower. He had received lower sectional scores with our simulator relative to some other practice software he had used - despite correctly answering approximately the same percentage of questions correctly in each corresponding section.

We explained that in fact there is very little relationship between "percentage correct" and your sectional score on the GMAT. For example, if two students both get 80% correct but the first student misses questions at the end of the section while the second student misses questions at the beginning of the section - the first student will receive much higher marks.

This is the nature of a Computer Adaptive Test - signup for our GMAT newsletter to receive more detailed information regarding GMAT scoring and how it affects you.

New GRE Practice Test Simulator Released

2010-02-09T11:50:00.001-05:00

We've just updated our GRE Practice Test Simulator. This latest release includes visual enhancements to insure a standard look across all student platforms and minor content updates. The new version is available immediately and automatically loaded for all students launching the software from our GRE Simulator launch page.

New GMAT Practice Test Simulator Released

2010-02-09T09:49:00.000-05:00

We've just updated our GMAT Practice Test Simulator. This latest release includes visual enhancements to insure a standard look across all student platforms and minor content updates. The new version is available immediately and automatically loaded for all students launching the software from our GMAT Simulator launch page.

Download our free practice tests!

2010-01-30T13:18:00.000-05:00

We've had a number of students post comments recently on our GRE and GMAT Practice Test pages asking how they can access our free demo exams. It's easy - just signup for our GRE or GMAT Tips Newsletter and we'll send you a special link granting access to our free demo test!

New GRE Test Preparation Articles Available!

2010-01-18T01:50:00.001-05:00

We've just published two new GRE Test preparation articles under our GRE Simulator section. Students can read these articles for insight into GRE Test Scores and information regarding registration for the real GRE General Test with ETS.

Customer Query: How often can I review each of my answers after I complete a test?

2010-01-03T20:58:00.000-05:00

We recently responded to a customer query regarding how often saved sessions were available for review and we responded with the following:

You can review your completed and saved sessions with all your answers and corresponding questions & explanations as often as you would like. Your access codes will never expire. They are valid indefinitely. Any of your saved results will be tied to your redeemed access code and can therefore be reviewed indefinitely.

Customer Query:

2009-12-30T00:40:00.000-05:00

We recently received the following query from a prospective customer:

"I plan to take the GRE with extended time due to a disability. In the past, the ETS gave me 100% extended time on the SAT, and I am applying for similar accommodations on the GRE. If I were to purchase your product, would it be possible to reset the timer to simulate an extended time CAT"

It's certainly true that Educational Testing Service makes several accommodations available to test takers with documented disabilities such as extended time, longer breaks, or differently contrasting background and foreground colors. Our Simulator recreates the actual nonstandard options available to these candidates and allows them to practice under the true conditions they will experience on test day.

In order to initiate an exam session using an approved disability configuration, simply select the 'Disability Configuration' choice on the Options menu before clicking the 'Login' button on the first screen (Login Screen) of the Simulator. After setting the desired options, click the 'OK' button in the bottom right-hand corner to return to the 'Login Screen'. Note that disability configuration options can not be set or modified after logging into a new exam session.

Upgrades for GMAT and GRE Practice Test Simulators

2009-12-21T23:28:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to announce that all our GRE and GMAT Practice Tests have been upgraded to take advantage of significant performance improvements in Adobe's latest Flash Player. This software release vastly improves both response times and our MathML formula rendering engine resulting in a better overall experience for all our students.

We welcome your feedback on these changes and any other aspects of our practice test simulation software!

User Comments by Intense Debate

2009-12-07T00:35:00.000-05:00

We're pleased to announce that we've integrated user comment support from Intense Debate into our GRE Practice Test and GMAT Practice Exam launch pages. Feel free to let other students know your thoughts about our offerings. We love and respond to all user feedback!

Website & Newsletter Upgrades

2009-10-11T09:24:00.003-05:00

We're pleased to announce that we've just completed a set of upgrades to our website and newsletter. Our GMAT Test Prep and GRE Test Prep newsletters are now delivered by the great folks over at MailChimp insuring prettier emails and more reliable delivery to your inbox! We've also added ShareThis links throughout our content allowing you to easily share our content using email or any of a host of popular social networking websites.

As always, we welcome your feedback on these changes or anything else via our UserVoice "Feedback" system or just contact us directly using our customer support system.

New Affiliate Program

2009-09-27T01:11:00.002-05:00

We are pleased to announce a new affiliate program offered through HasOffers.com. This program will allow all our affiliates to continue to earn the same generous 30% revenue share we currently offer through our RegNow program but will also allow affiliates to send prospects directly to our domain and landing pages which will dramatically increase conversion rates.

We will continue to maintain both affiliate networks, so partners who prefer RegNow are free to continue using them.

Platform upgrade for GRE Test and GMAT Exam Simulators

2009-08-19T17:25:00.001-05:00

CATPrep.com is proud to announce several more platform enhancements for our GRE Test and GMAT Exam Simulators. Our underlying software platform has been upgraded to better render formulas and equations and minor adjustments have been made to our scoring algorithm in our ongoing effort to remain the most accurate score assessment tool available.
The upgraded software is available immediately to both our direct customers and those interacting with our third-party whitelabeled offerings.

Question Selection Algorithm Upgrade

2009-05-25T23:24:00.004-05:00

In our continuing efforts to provide the most accurate GRE Test and GMAT Exam Simulators available, we've just released an update to our adaptive test question selection algorithm. The new algorithm includes adjustments based upon analysis of our question pools and an updated assessment of each question's difficulty ranking. We calculate these rankings by compiling statistics from the thousands of simulated sessions we generate for students each year and we use them along with direct feedback we receive from tutors and students worldwide to regularly enhance our question pools and algorithms.

How often is your patent bar material updated?

2009-04-08T13:32:00.000-05:00

We get regular queries from candidates for the USPTO Patent Registration Exam asking about the question sets and answers used in our Patent Bar Simulator offerings.

Typically, we do not modify the original exam questions in any way. If subsequent MPEP updates invalidate a question, then we simply flag that question and accept all answers for scoring purposes. The primary intent of our simulator is to enable candidates to practice with a similar interface as the one used during the official USPTO exam and to offer such a practice under timed conditions.

Major platform enhancements for GRE Test and GMAT Exam Simulators

2008-12-01T11:23:00.002-05:00

CATPrep.com is proud to announce several more platform enhancements for our GRE Test and GMAT Exam Simulators. Our underlying software platform has been upgraded to support automatic session saves so that students can continue a simulated session after an interruption and we have also introduced a "practice mode" allowing students to optionally ignore time expiration for a session and complete it without an enforced time-limit.
The upgraded software is available immediately to both our direct customers and those interacting with our third-party whitelabeled offerings.

Major platform enhancements for GRE Test and GMAT Exam Simulators

2008-06-25T11:01:00.003-05:00

CATPrep.com is proud to announce several major platform enhancements for our GRE Test and GMAT Exam Simulators.
Our underlying software platform has been upgraded to support true formula rendering eliminating the need for conventional character-based notation for exponents, fractions, subscripts and other mathematical symbols and formula components.
The upgraded software is available immediately to both our direct customers and those interacting with our third-party rebranded offerings.

Three new GRE tests available!

2008-03-30T17:57:00.002-05:00

CATPrep.com is proud to announce the release of three new GRE tests. With the addition of three additional GRE test question pools, we now offer six complete and comprehensive GRE test simulations.

Major Upgrade to CATPrep's Simulator platform released!

2008-03-16T23:11:00.002-05:00

CATPrep.com is excited to announce the release of a major upgrade to our Computer Adaptive Test Simulator platform. The latest release is now available for both our GRE Test Simulator and GMAT Exam Simulator and includes the following new features:

The Java runtime requirement has been removed. Users are no longer required to install or enable Java in order to use our simulator software.
Completed exam sessions are now automatically saved locally as well as remotely on our servers, dramatically decreasing the possibility of losing saved exam results.
Several updates to our question pools and adjustments to our scoring algorithm.
Improved support for various browsers and operating systems.
Better overall performance and accessibility of the software platform.

This latest release is available immediately from http://www.catprep.com/exams/

Customer Queries: GMAT and GRE Simulator Software

2007-11-15T23:01:00.000-05:00

Azli R. wrote:

I have a couple of quick queries regarding your Simulator software:

1. Will I need to download the Java Runtime software every time I want
to take a test?

2. Do I need a different access code everytime I want to take a test? Once I
enter an access code and choose to disconnect from the internet, do
I need to immediately go online again to get the results or can I wait
for a couple of hours / days to go online and get it?

3. Can I take and re-take the tests again or can these tests be taken
only once? If I can re-take, will I come across similar questions?

4. If I start doing a test, what happens if I have to stop mid-way?
Will it continue to score me based on where I stop or can I pause and
continue the test at a later time? If it continue to score me, can I
re-take the test again?

5. Will there be any explanation to the answers or will I simply get
the scores at the end of the online tests?

Azli, thanks for the queries! I've attempted to answer them all by number here:

1. No, the Java installation is a one-time requirement.

2. You need one access code for each simulated exam session and your results will be available indefinitely. You can review them at anytime.

3. If you retake an exam using the same question pool then you will most likely see several repeat questions. Each simulated session will require a new access code.

4. If you stop mid-way, just like during the real exam, you will not receive a score and your progress will not be saved. However, your access code will not be "used" and you will be able to reuse that code.

5. Yes, the scoring and review screens will provide answers as well as explanations.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,
Rick Jones

Customer Queries: Patent Bar Simulator Software

2007-07-15T09:34:00.001-05:00

Recently, Bob F. wrote:

Does your course offer background information about the MPEP? Do you provide a MPEP manual? How does your software compare to Patent Bar Prep courses that charge 600.00 to 2500.00 dollars?

Do I need a more extensive course in addition to your services?

We responded to Bob's queries with the following:

"Our service is intended to emulate the USPTO's computer-delivered Patent Bar exam as closely as possible. We offer a test simulator, but not a course. The need for supplementary material is unique to each student. Most students find that well over half of their actual test questions appear in our material (because we use actual test questions from previous years). If you haven't already seen it, you would probably benefit greatly from this long-running thread on intelproplaw.com

Customer Support: The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" error message when you install a program in Windows XP

2007-06-29T18:07:00.000-05:00

A recent customer wrote to support concerning a known potential issue with Microsoft Windows's Windows Installer program. He was encountering the following error message when attempting to install our software:

"The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" error message when you install a program in Windows XP"

Luckily we were able to refer him to a document on Microsoft's Website for resolving this issue. Here are the relevant links:

For windows 2000, please refer to this Microsoft support to fix the problem.
For windows XP, please refer to this Microsoft support to fix the problem.

Customer Query: Why can I not save a partially complete exam?

2007-06-19T21:36:00.000-05:00

A customer recently inquired why we do not support saving and grading partially complete exam sessions. We responded:

"While we understand that it is difficult to find the time to complete a simulated GMAT or GRE test session in a single sitting, based upon our extensive experience, it would be a disservice to you to grade a partially complete simulated exam.

While practice sessions and drills have their place in GMAT and GRE test preparation, our software is meant to recreate the actual exam experience from beginning to end. Both exams require a significant time investment. In fact, time management throughout an entire GMAT or GRE test session (both maintaining uninterrupted focus and working efficiently) is the major factor in every student's final score. Thus, we want our software to assist students by preparing them for the rigors of comprehensive time management throughout a complete exam session.

Although it can be an inconvenience, we believe you'll thank us for forcing you to find the uninterrupted time to practice with an authentic simulator. Good luck on your upcoming exam and please let us know if we can answer any other questions for you."

Customer Query: Is your Patent Bar Material current?

2007-05-10T21:38:00.000-05:00

"I just received USPTO approval to take the patent bar exam and am looking for a good exam simulator. Do your answers and explanations reflect the changes in revision 4?"

-Nika T.

Hi Nika,
Yes, our answers and explanations are current with MPEP edition 8 revision 4 (the current revision used for the USPTO exam). We even offer some great MPEP study aids for revision 4 including quick search and a downloadable single-file version of the MPEP. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,
Rick Jones