Richardson Prep - GMAT

ADVANTAGES:

  • You can take the test anytime you want.
  • You will get an instant score.

DISADVANTAGES:

  • You won't get the same test as other test takers.
  • Some students will not be comfortable doing the test (particularly the reading passages) on a computer screen.

COMENTS

The CAT is Here!!

June 21, 1997 was the date of the last GMAT administered in North America that is in the traditional "paper and pencil" format.

The GMAT is now a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT). There are both advantages and disadvantages to this. But, before getting into those let me explain that a computer adaptive GMAT is not the same thing as simply doing the GMAT on computer. The GMAT CAT will similar to the GRE CAT. This means:

  1. Not everybody will get the same questions. After answering the first question the computer will generate the next question based on how you responded to the previous question. If you answered it correctly you will get a harder question. If you answered it incorrectly you will get an easier question.
  2. The questions must be answered in the order you receive them. This means no more doing the questions that you are most comfortable with first. There will be no penalty for putting the wrong answer. (On the "paper and pencil" GMAT you lose 1/4 of a point for every wrong answer.)
  3. Instead of being restricted to taking the GMAT on only four test dates, you will be able to take the GMAT on almost day you choose by making an appointment through Sylvan Technologies.

John Richardson

The following are some comments sent to John Richardson regarding the CAT.

    John,
    Here are a few thoughts about my computer adaptive GMAT experience.

    I enjoyed doing the analytical writing on the computer. It felt like word processing; it felt more organized and more clear than writing by hand.

    I did not enjoy the other aspects of the computer test. In the reading comprehension sections of the test, you cannot see the entire passage at a glance. You have to scroll up and down, frequently losing your place. It is impossible to make any notes beside the passage. I also found that this was a problem with any questions that involved a diagram. Although you don't always need to make any notes or marks on the diagram, sometimes it is helpful. I found that this made it more difficult to become engaged with the question. Another aspect of the test that I didn't like was the lack of choice in your approach. In the computer test, you have to pick an answer and keep going--you can't skip a question or return to it later. Every question must be answered, in the sequence it appears.

    I also found the timing of the test difficult. Instead of smaller sections of 25 or 30 minutes, in the computer test you have 2 sections of 70 minutes. A clock is provided on the screen and it counts down the remaining time, but I think it is more difficult to gauge your time when there is such a big chunk of time available.

    These bigger sections also mean that the test mixes the various types of questions: problem solving and data sufficiency, reading comprehension and critical reasoning.

    Although I am glad I did the computer version of the test (for the practice), I am looking forward to doing the paper and pencil test. If I had to choose between them, I would choose the paper and pencil test.

    Hope these comments are helpful.


    [anonymous author]




    Hi John,

    My name is [anonymous author], I was in your most recent GMAT prep class.
    You had asked for comments on the computerized GMAT. Hope you get this.

    There were only 2 of us writing the test today in a small room with 6 computers at the Sylvan Institute.

    My exam was scheduled for 10:00 and I got there at 9:30 as suggested. I was writing the exam by 9:45.

    The exam is broken into 3 sections. Essay writing 60 minutes, quantitative 70 minutes (about 40 questions) and writing section 70 Minutes (about 42 questions).

    You are allowed to take a 5 minute break between the three sections but, if you are late the computer starts the clock without you.

    The test is completely windows driven. The time and questions left are on each page.

    The essay is written on something similar to a word processor. It is possible to edit, cut and paste. You can scroll back and forth through your essay. The question is always at the top of the screen.

    You are given 6 pages of scrap paper to use and can ask for more if needed.

    The quantitative section toggles between the math questions and the critical reasoning. You have to pay attention to the section you are in because you may only get 1 question and move to the next section. It's frustrating because you know you got the last one wrong when the next Question is easier (if you are doing badly, the computer automatically Gives you an easier question). It's also hard because you can't indicate to yourself the ones you know are wrong by scratching them out and you can't write on the diagrams.

    The written section is also hard. It's habit for most writers to cross out the answers they know are wrong. You can't do this. The reading comprehension is difficult because you can't circle key words.

    This is the same with sentence correction obviously as well.

    I finished the exam at 12:30. The computer allows you to move to the next section if you are done.

    One disadvantage is that the keyboards aren't quiet. It can be frustrating to hear everyone typing their essays while you are trying to concentrate.

    They indicated that as of October 1997 there would be no paper test.

    Hope this helps the next student.


    [anonymous author]

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