All About the GMAT OVERVIEW • The GMAT at a glance • How the computer-adaptive GMAT works • The GMAT CAT interface • The GMAT CAT test-taking experience • Your GMAT scores • Score reporting • How business schools evaluate GMAT scores • Top10tipsforGMATprep • Summing it up THE GMAT AT A GLANCE The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a standardized test of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which develops guidelines, policies, and procedures for the graduate business school admission process and provides information about the admission process to the schools and to prospective applicants. The test provides graduate business schools, vocational counselors, and prospective applicants with predictors of academic performance in MBA programs. Approximately 1,900 graduate business schools worldwide use GMAT scores as a part of their admissions process. The GMAT is currently developed by ACT, Inc., and delivered by Pearson VUE. It is administered only by computer and is given in a computer-adaptive (CAT) format. This means that each section of the test starts with a question of moderate difficulty. If you answer correctly, the computer will follow with a more difficult question. If you answer incorrectly, the question that follows will be easier. chapter 1 3 The GMAT contains three parts: an Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section, a Quantitative section, and a Verbal section. The total testing time (excluding breaks) is 3 hours, 30 minutes. Here’s the basic structure of the test. Analytical Writing Assessment (Sections 1 and 2) Analysis of an Issue (one writing task, 30-minute time limit) Analysis of an Argument (one writing task, 30-minute time limit) Optional break (10-minute time limit) Quantitative (Section 3) (37 multiple-choice questions, 75-minute time limit) Problem Solving (22–23 questions) Data Sufficiency (14–15 questions) Optional break (10-minute time limit) Verbal (Section 4) (41 multiple-choice questions, 75-minute time limit) Critical Reasoning (14–15 questions) Sentence Correction (14–15 questions) Reading Comprehension (12–13 questions, divided among four sets) Sequence of Exam Sections Sections 1 and 2 (the two timed essay sections) always appear first, before the two timed multiple-choice sections. Section 3 is always Quantitative Ability, and section 4 is always Verbal Ability. Sequence of Questions in Quantitative and Verbal In each of the two multiple-choice sections, question types are interspersed. Here’s a typical sequence for each section (on the actual GMAT, the sequence might be different): Quantitative Ability (Typical Sequence of Questions) Questions 1–2 Problem Solving Questions 3–7 Data Sufficiency Questions 8–13 Problem Solving Question 14 Data Sufficiency Question 15 Problem Solving Question 16 Data Sufficiency Questions 17–21 Problem Solving Questions 22–27 Data Sufficiency Questions 28–34 Problem Solving Question 35 Data Sufficiency Questions 36–37 Problem Solving 4 PART I: GMAT Basics www.petersons.com Verbal Ability (Typical Sequence of Questions) Questions 1–3 Sentence Correction Questions 4–5 Critical Reasoning Questions 6–8 Reading Comprehension Question 9 Sentence Correction Questions 10–11 Critical Reasoning Questions 12–14 Sentence Correction Questions 15–17 Reading Comprehension Questions 18–21 Critical Reasoning Questions 22–24 Sentence Correction Questions 25–26 Critical Reasoning Question 27 Sentence Correction Questions 28–30 Reading Comprehension Questions 31–33 Critical Reasoning Questions 34–35 Sentence Correction Question 36 Critical Reasoning Questions 37–39 Reading Comprehension Question 40 Critical Reasoning Question 41 Sentence Correction Ground Rules Here are some basic procedural rules for the GMAT (we’ll cover test-taking procedures in greater detail later in this book): • Once the timed test begins, you cannot stop the testing clock. • If you finish any section before the time limit expires, you have the option of proceeding immediately to the next section. • Once you exit a section, you can’t return to it. • Pencils and scratch paper are provided for all exam sections. • You select a multiple-choice answer by clicking on an oval next to the choice. (All multiple-choice questions include five answer choices.) • You compose both essays using the word processor built into the GMAT testing system. (Handwritten essays are not permitted.) The Four Timed GMAT Sections Here’s a quick look at what each of the four timed test sections covers. Chapter 1: All About the GMAT 5 www.petersons.com ANALYSIS OF AN ISSUE (1 ESSAY, 30 MINUTES) This 30-minute section tests your ability to present a position on an issue effectively and persuasively. Your task is to compose an essay in which you respond to a brief (one to two sentence) opinion about an issue of general intellectual interest. You should consider various perspectives and take a position on the issue and argue for that position. Your essay will be evaluated based on content, organization, writing style, and mechanics (grammar, syntax, word usage, etc.). ANALYSIS OF AN ARGUMENT (1 ESSAY, 30 MINUTES) This 30-minute section is designed to test your critical reasoning and analytical writing skills. Your task is to compose an essay in which you critique a paragraph-length argument based on the strength of the evidence presented in support of it and on the argument’s logic (line of reasoning). You can also indicate what additional evidence would help you evaluate the argument and how the argument could be improved. Like your Issue Analysis essay, your Argument Analysis essay will be evaluated based on content, organization, writing style, and mechanics. QUANTITATIVE ABILITY (37 QUESTIONS, 75 MINUTES) This 75-minute section consists of 37 multiple-choice questions designed to measure your basic mathematical skills; understanding of basic mathematical concepts; and ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems, and interpret graphical data. The Quantitative Ability section covers the following topics: • Arithmetical operations • Integers, factors, and multiples • The number line and ordering • Decimals, percentages, ratios, and proportion • Exponents and square roots • Descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation) • Basic probability, permutations, and combinations • Operations with variables • Algebraic equations and inequalities • Geometry, including coordinate geometry Algebraic concepts on the GMAT are those normally covered in a first-year high school algebra course. The GMAT does not cover more advanced areas such as trigonometry and calculus. Each Quantitative question appears in one of two formats (any of the topics listed above is fair game for either format): 6 PART I: GMAT Basics www.petersons.com Problem Solving questions require you to solve a mathematical problem and then select the correct answer from among five answer choices. Some of these questions will be “story” problems—cast in a real-world setting. Data Sufficiency problems each consist of a question followed by two statements labeled (1) and (2). Your task is to analyze each of the two statements to determine whether it provides sufficient data to answer the question and, if neither suffices alone, whether both statements together suffice. Every Data Sufficiency question has the same five answer choices. As with certain Problem Solving questions, some of these questions will be so-called “story” problems, cast in a real-world setting. VERBAL ABILITY (41 QUESTIONS, 75 MINUTES) This 75-minute section consists of 41 multiple-choice questions. Each question will be one of the following three types (each type covers a distinct set of verbal and verbal reasoning skills): Critical Reasoning questions measure your ability to understand, criticize, and draw reasonable conclusions from arguments. Each argument consists of a brief one-paragraph passage. Sentence Correction questions measure your command of the English language and of the conventions of Standard Written English. Areas tested include grammar, diction, usage, and effective expression (but not punctuation). In each question, part (or all) of a sentence is underlined. Your task is to determine which is correct— the original underlined part or one of four alternatives. Reading Comprehension questions measure your ability to read carefully and accurately, to determine the relationships among the various parts of the passage, and to draw reasonable inferences from the material in the passage. You’ll encoun- ter four sets of questions; all questions in a set pertain to the same passage. The passages are drawn from a variety of subjects, including the humanities, the social sciences, the physical sciences, ethics, philosophy, and law. HOW THE COMPUTER-ADAPTIVE GMAT WORKS A “computer-adaptive” feature of the GMAT CAT makes it an entirely different animal from conventional paper-based tests. The following are five key features that set the CAT apart. During the two multiple-choice sections, the GMAT CAT will continually adapt to your ability level. The “A” in CAT stands for “Adaptive,” which means that during each of the two multiple-choice sections, the testing system tailors its difficulty level to your level of ability. How? The initial few questions of each type are average in difficulty level. As you respond correctly to questions, the CAT system steps you up to more difficult questions. Conversely, as you respond incorrectly to questions, the CAT steps you down to easier ones. Thus, the CAT builds a customized test for you, drawing on its very large pool of multiple-choice questions. NOTE Early in an exam section, the CAT can shift from the easiest level to a very challenging level (or vice versa) in as few as3or4 successive questions. Later in the section, when your ability level is established, the difficulty level will not vary as widely. Chapter 1: All About the GMAT 7 www.petersons.com The GMAT CAT does not let you skip questions. Given the adaptive nature of the test, this makes sense. The computer-adaptive algorithm cannot determine the appropriate difficulty level for the next question without a response (correct or incorrect) to each question presented in sequence. The GMAT CAT does not let you return to any question already presented (and answered). Why not? The computer-adaptive algorithm that determines the difficulty of subse- quent questions depends on the correctness of previous responses. For example, suppose you answer question 5 incorrectly. The CAT responds by posing slightly easier questions. Were the CAT to let you return to question 5 and change your response to the correct one, the questions following question 5 would be easier than they should have been, given your amended response. In other words, the process by which the CAT builds your GMAT and determines your score would be under- mined. The GMAT CAT does not require you to answer all available questions. The CAT gives you the opportunity to respond to a total of 37 Quantitative and 41 Verbal questions. But the CAT does not require you to finish either section. The CAT will tabulate a score regardless of the number of available questions you’ve answered, except if you fail to respond to at least one question during a section, in which case an “NS” (no score) will appear on your score report for that section only. During each section, the GMAT CAT automatically warns you when time is running out. When 5 minutes remain during each timed section, the on-screen clock (in the upper left corner of the screen) will blink silently several times to warn you. This 5-minute warning will be your only reminder. THE GMAT CAT INTERFACE The three simulated screen shots on pages 9 and 11 show the GMAT CAT interface for the AWA sections, the Quantitative section, and the Verbal section. Let’s first examine the features of the interface that are common to all exam sections. The CAT Title Bar A dark title bar will appear across the top of the computer screen at all times during all test sections. (You cannot hide this bar.) The CAT title bar displays three items: Left corner: The time elapsed for the current section (hours and minutes) Middle: The name of the test (GMAT) and current section number Right corner: The current question number and total number of questions in the current section 8 PART I: GMAT Basics NOTE During each of the two essay sections, if you fail to type at least one character, you’ll automati- cally receive a score of 0 (on a scale of 0 to 6) for that section. This score will appear on your report. www.petersons.com 00:28 Computer-Adaptive GMAT-Section 2: Analytical Writing 2 The following appeared in a memo from the manager of UpperCuts, a hair salon located in a suburb of the city of Apton, to the salon’s owner: “According to a nationwide demographic study, more and more people today are moving from suburbs to downtown areas. So in order to boost sagging profits at UpperCuts we should relocate the salon from its current location in Apton’s suburban mall to downtown Apton, while retaining the salon’s decidedly upscale approach in terms of services, products and pricing. After all, HairDooz, our chief competitor at the mall, has just relocated downtown and is popular among The manager’s argument relies on a series of unproven assumptions and is therefore unconvincing as it stands. To begin with, the argument assumes that Apton’s demographic trend reflects the national trend. Yet, the mere fact that one hair salon has moved downtown hardly suffices to | Cut Paste Undo Test Quit Section Exit Time ? Help Answer Confirm Next Beginning CAT Title Bar Name and Number of Text Section Time elapsed Next button Confirm Answer button Help button Exit Section button Quit Test button Time button The AWA Editing Screen AWA Topic The CAT Toolbar A series of six buttons appears in a toolbar across the bottom of the computer screen at all times during all test sections. (You cannot hide the toolbar.) Here’s a description of each button’s function: Click on this button to stop the test and cancel your scores for the entire test. (Partial score cancellation is not allowed in any event.) If you click here, a dialog box will appear on the screen, asking you to confirm this operation. Stay away from this button unless you’re absolutely sure that you want to erase your GMAT score for the day and you’re willing to throw away your GMAT registration fee. Click on this button if you finish the section before the allotted time expires and wish to proceed immediately to the next section. A dialog box will appear on the screen asking you to confirm this operation. Stay away from this button unless you’ve already answered every question in the current section and you don’t feel as though you need a breather before starting the next one. Chapter 1: All About the GMAT 9 www.petersons.com Click on this button to display the time remaining to the nearest second. By default, the time elapsed is displayed (in the upper left corner) in hours and minutes, but not to the nearest second. Click on this button to access the directions for the current question type (for example, Data Sufficiency or Sentence Correction), general test directions, and instructions for using the toolbar items. Until you confirm, you can change your answer as often as you wish (by clicking on a different oval). But once you confirm, the question disappears forever and the next one appears in its place. Whenever the NEXT button is enabled (appearing dark gray), the CONFIRM ANSWER button is disabled (appearing light gray), and vice versa. Click on the NEXT button when you’re finished with the current question. When you click on NEXT, the current question will remain on the screen until you click on CONFIRM ANSWER. The AWA Screen As illustrated in the screen shot on page 9, the AWA prompt appears at the top of your screen, and your essay response appears below it as you type your response. (The screen in the figure includes the first several lines of a response.) Notice that you have to scroll down to read the entire topic and question. You compose your essays using the CAT word processor. (Later in this chapter, we’ll review its features and limitations.) The Quantitative and Verbal Screens To respond to multiple-choice questions, click on one of the ovals to the left of the answer choices. You can’t use the keyboard to select answers. Notice that the answer choices are not lettered; you’ll click on blank ovals. SPLIT SCREENS For some multiple-choice questions, the screen splits either horizontally or vertically, depending on the section. Reading Comprehension The screen splits vertically. The left side displays the passage; the right side displays the question and answer choices. 10 PART I: GMAT Basics NOTE In the sample questions throughout this book, the answer choices are lettered for easy reference to corresponding explanations. www.petersons.com Quantitative Questions Including Figures The screen splits horizontally. The figures appear at the top; the question and answer choices appear at the bottom. VERTICAL SCROLLING For some multiple-choice questions, you’ll have to scroll up and down (using the vertical scroll bar) to view all the material that pertains to the current question. Reading Comprehension Passages are too long for you to see on the screen in their entirety, so you’ll need to scroll as you review them. 01:06 21 of 37Computer-Adaptive GMAT-Section 3: Quantitative Richard began driving from home on a trip averaging 30 miles per hour. How many miles per hour must Carla drive on average to catch up to him in exactly 3 hours if she leaves 30 minutes after Richard? Test Quit Section Exit Time ? Help Answer Confirm Next 35 55 39 40 60 01:09 6 of 41Computer-Adaptive GMAT-Section 4: Verbal Test Quit Section Exit Time ? Help Answer Confirm Next The Andean cordillera is made up of many interwoven mountain ranges, which include high intermountain plateaus, basins and valleys. The Northern Andes contain several broad ecosystems falling into four altitudinal belts. Its northern sub- region is distinguished from the rest of the region by higher relative humidity and greater climatic symmetry between the eastern and western flanks of the range. The Central Andes are characterized by a succession of agricultural zones with varied climatic conditions along the mountains’ flanks and by large, high- altitude plateaus, variously called puna or altiplano , which do not occur in the Northern Andes. The soil fertility of the northern altiplano is generally good. The western Central Andean ranges are relatively arid with desert-like soils, whereas the eastern ranges are more humid and have more diverse soils. The eastern slopes of the Central Andes in many ways are similar to the wet forests In the passage, the author’s primary concern is to describe the climate and topography of various regions of the Andean c ordillera discuss the factors affecting the climate of the Andean cordillera suggest various alternative explanations for the diversity of climate among the various regions of the Andean cordillera examine the effects of topograpy on the climate and vegetation of the Andean cordillera compare and contrast the climate and topography of the Northern Andes to that of the Central Andes (5) (10) (15) (20) BeginningQuestions 6 to 8 Chapter 1: All About the GMAT 11 www.petersons.com Quantitative Questions Including Figures Some figures—especially charts and graphs—won’t fit on the screen in their entirety; you might need to scroll. The CAT’s Word Processor During the two essay sections, you’ll use the simple word processor built into the CAT system. While the word processor includes some features that are standard in programs like Wordt and WordPerfectt, it also lacks many of these programs’ features. KEYBOARD COMMANDS FOR NAVIGATION AND EDITING Here are the navigational and editing keys available in the CAT word processor: • Backspace removes the character to the left of the cursor • Delete removes the character to the right of the cursor • Home moves the cursor to the beginning of the line • End moves the cursor to the end of the line • Arrow Keys move the cursor up, down, left, or right • Enter inserts a paragraph break (starts a new line) • Page Up moves the cursor up one page (screen) • Page Down moves the cursor down one page (screen) Certain often-used features of standard word processing programs are not available in the CAT word processor. For example, no keyboard commands are available for: • TAB—disabled • Beginning/end of paragraph • Beginning/end of document • No key combinations (using the CTRL, ALT, or SHIFT key) or other so-called macros are available for editing functions. (You’ll use your mouse for cutting and pasting text.) MOUSE-DRIVEN NAVIGATION AND EDITING FUNCTIONS Just as with other word processors, to navigate the editing screen you can simply point the cursor to the position at which you wish to begin typing, then click. The CAT word processor also includes mouse-driven CUT, PASTE, and UNDO. Selecting Text You Wish to Cut You select text the same way as with standard word processing programs: either (1) hold down your mouse button while sweeping the I-beam on the screen over the desired text, or (2) hold down the SHIFT key and use the navigation keys to select text. 12 PART I: GMAT Basics www.petersons.com . Sentence Correction Questions 28 30 Reading Comprehension Questions 31 33 Critical Reasoning Questions 34 35 Sentence Correction Question 36 Critical Reasoning Questions 37 39 Reading Comprehension Question. Sufficiency Questions 28 34 Problem Solving Question 35 Data Sufficiency Questions 36 37 Problem Solving 4 PART I: GMAT Basics www.petersons.com Verbal Ability (Typical Sequence of Questions) Questions 1 3 Sentence. All About the GMAT OVERVIEW • The GMAT at a glance • How the computer-adaptive GMAT works • The GMAT CAT interface • The GMAT CAT test-taking experience • Your GMAT scores • Score reporting •