Master gmat 2010 part 4 pdf

The CUT Button If you wish to delete text but want to save it to a temporary clipboard for pasting elsewhere, select that text and then click on the CUT button. Cutting text is not the same as deleting it. When you delete text (using the DELETE key), you cannot paste it elsewhere in your document (but see UNDO below). The drag-and-drop cut-and-paste function of most computers is not available on the GMAT computer. To copy, you must first cut the text and then paste it in the desired spot. The PASTE button If you wish to move text from one position to another, select and cut the text, then reposition your cursor where you want the text to go and click on the PASTE button. The UNDO button Click on this button to undo the most recent delete, cut, or paste that you performed. There is no multiple undo function on the GMAT computer. The CAT word processor stores only your most recent delete, cut or paste, or keyboard entry. The Vertical Scroll Bar Once you key in ten lines or so, you’ll have to scroll to view your entire response. A vertical scroll bar also appears to the right of the AWA prompt. Be sure to scroll all the way down to make sure you’ve read the entire prompt. Spell-Checking, Grammar-Checking, Fonts, Attributes, Hyphenation The CAT word processor does not include a spell-checker or grammar-checker, nor does it allow you to choose typeface or point size. Neither manual nor automatic hyphenation is available. Attributes such as bold, italics, and underlining are not available. THE GMAT CAT TEST-TAKING EXPERIENCE When you take a test as important as the GMAT, it’s a good idea to minimize test anxiety by knowing exactly what to expect on exam day—aside from the timed test itself. Let’s walk you through the various pre-test and post-test procedures and describe the physical testing environment. When You Arrive at the Test Center Here’s what you can expect when you arrive at the test center: • The test administrator will request that you present valid photo identification and will ask you to agree to the GMAT Examination Testing Rules & Agreement. NOTE It’s okay to leave as is any words that you might otherwise italicize or underline (such as titles or non- English words). The exam readers understand the limitations of the CAT word processor. Chapter 1: All About the GMAT 13 www.petersons.com • The administrator will digitally take your fingerprint, signature, and/or palm vein pattern and will photograph you. Audio and video are recorded in the testing room at all centers during the exam. If you refuse to participate in any part of the check-in process or if you do not agree to allow audio/video recording, you will not be permitted to take the GMAT and you will forfeit your entire test fee. • Before you begin taking the exam at a test center workstation, you’ll be asked to agree electronically to the 9GMAT Nondisclosure Agreement and General Terms of Use9 statement. This is required for you to be permitted to take the exam. If you don’t agree to the statement, you cannot take the GMAT and you will forfeit your test fee. • Testing aids are not allowed during the test session or during breaks between sessions. These include beepers, pagers, calculators, books, pamphlets, notes, blank paper, rulers, stereos or radios, telephones or cell phones, stopwatches, watch alarms, dictionaries, translators, thesauri, and PDAs. • Testing begins promptly once you’re seated at your workstation. Expect to be there for about four hours. • Two optional 10-minute breaks are scheduled during the test administration. If you exceed the time allowed for these breaks, that amount of time will automatically be deducted from the time you have to complete the next section of the test. • During breaks, you must remain in the test center building or its immediate vicinity. This policy varies depending on the test center location, so be sure to ask the test administrator where you are permitted to go—for example, to the nearest restroom or smoking area. If you violate this policy, the administrator may refuse to allow you to reenter the testing room to continue your exam. Testing Procedures and Rules • If you want to exit the testing room for any reason, you must raise your hand and wait for the administrator to come in and escort you from the room. (You won’t be able to pause the testing clock for any reason.) • No guests are allowed in the waiting room during your test. • No food, drink, or tobacco is allowed in the testing room, although you may be able to store such items in a locker and take them outside during breaks. • No hats are allowed. • You must provide a digital fingerprint and/or palm vein pattern whenever you exit or return to the testing room. • You’ll receive a booklet of five “noteboards” before the exam. If you need more during the exam, raise your hand and request it from the administrator. You cannot remove any noteboards from the testing room during or after the exam. • The administrator will replace your dull pencils with fresh, sharp ones upon your request anytime during the exam (just raise your hand). 14 PART I: GMAT Basics ALERT! By 2009, the digital finger- printing used at GMAT testing centers will be replaced with a sensor that records the unique pattern formed by a person’s palm veins. The new technology ensures that each test taker has a single GMAT record, prevent- ing people from taking the test for others. ALERT! First-time GMAT test takers will have both palms digitally scanned. If you are retaking the test and have a fingerprint on file, you will be asked to provide a matching print as well as palm scans. You will also be required to sign a digital signature pad. www.petersons.com What You Should Know About the CAT Testing Environment • Individual testing stations are like library carrels; they’re separated by half-walls. • The height of your chair’s seat will be adjustable and the chair will swivel. Chairs at most testing centers have arms. • Computer monitors generally measure 15 inches. You can adjust contrast. If you notice any flickering, ask the administrator to move you to another station. (You won’t be able to tell if your monitor has color capability, though; the GMAT is strictly black and white.) • If your mouse has two buttons, you can use either button to click your way through the exam (both buttons serve the same function). Don’t expect a mouse with a scrolling wheel. Trackballs are available, but only if you request one before you begin the test. • Testing rooms are not soundproof. During your test, you might hear talking and other noise from outside the room. • Expect the administrator to escort other test takers in and out of the room during your test. Do your best to ignore this potential distraction. • If the testing room is full, expect to hear lots of mouse-clicking during your test. • Earplugs are available upon request. • Room temperatures may vary, so it’s a good idea to dress in layers. • You’ll be under continual audio and video surveillance. To guard against cheating, and to record any irregularities or problems in the testing room as they occur, the room is continually audiotaped and videotaped. Before You Begin the Test—The Computer Tutorial The administrator has just escorted you into the exam room and to your workstation and has wished you luck. Before you begin the exam, the CAT System will lead you through a tutorial that includes five sections (each section “steps” you through a series of screens): How to use the mouse (6 screens) How to select and change an answer (6 screens) How to scroll the screen display up and down (6 screens) How to use the toolbars (21 screens). Here you’ll learn how to: • Quit the test. • Exit the current section. • Access the directions. • Confirm your response and move to the next question. How to use the AWA word processor features (14 screens) ALERT! You can’t change the size of the font on the GMAT computer screen unless you specifically request before the exam begins that a special ZOOMTEXT function be made available to you. Chapter 1: All About the GMAT 15 www.petersons.com Here’s what you need to know about the tutorial: • You won’t be able to skip any section or any screen during the tutorial. • As you progress, the system requires that you demonstrate competency in using the mouse, selecting and confirming answer choices, and accessing the directions. You can’t begin taking the actual test unless you’ve shown that you know how to use the system. • At the end of each tutorial section (series of screens), you can repeat that section if you’d like—but you will have to step through the entire sequence of screens in that section again. You can’t return to a section once you’ve left it. • The AWA section of the tutorial allows you to practice using the word processor. • If you carefully read all the information presented to you, expect to spend about 20 minutes on the tutorial. Post-Test GMAT CAT Procedures It’s been about 4 hours since you first entered the testing center, and you’ve just completed the second of two multiple-choice GMAT sections. You may think you’ve finished the CAT, but you haven’t—not quite, anyway. You need to do four more things before you’re done. Respond to a brief questionnaire. The CAT will expect you to complete a brief questionnaire about your demographics, background, plans for graduate school, and whether you’d like to participate in surveys or receive information from GMAC, graduate business schools, organizations that grant scholarships, and/or strategic partners of GMAC. The answers may be prepopulated with responses you previ- ously provided if you’re retaking the GMAT. Cancel your test, at your option. The most important question you’ll answer while seated at your testing station is this one. The CAT will ask you to choose whether to cancel your scores (no scores are recorded; partial cancellation is not provided for) or see your scores immediately. Once you elect to see your scores, you can no longer cancel them—ever! So be sure to take a few minutes and think it over. The CAT gives you 5 minutes to decide; if you haven’t decided within 5 minutes, the CAT will automatically show you your scores and you forfeit your option to cancel. View and record your scores. If you elect to see your scores, write them down on your scratch paper. Although you can’t take your scratch paper outside the exam room, the supervisor will allow you to transcribe your scores onto another sheet of paper that you can take home with you. Direct your scores to the schools of your choice. Once you’ve elected to see your scores, the CAT will ask you to select the schools you wish to receive your score report (the CAT provides a complete list of schools). 16 PART I: GMAT Basics NOTE GMAC provides a variety of samples of the GMAT tutorial screens in its official GMAT Bulletin. TIP Read the review of the CAT tutorial on this page, and you can step more quickly through it on test day. The less time you spend on the tutorial, the less fatigued you’ll be during the actual exam. ALERT! If you click on the CANCEL SCORES button, the CAT will then give you another 5 minutes to think over your decision. So you really have 10 minutes altogether to make up your mind. www.petersons.com Before You Leave the Testing Center When you exit the testing room for the final time, the following three things will happen: The administrator will collect your pencils and scratch paper and will count the number of sheets of paper to make sure you aren’t taking any with you. The administrator will remind you to collect your belongings from your locker (if you used one) and turn in your locker key. The administrator will provide you with a pamphlet that explains how to interpret your test scores. (You can take this home with you.) YOUR GMAT SCORES You’ll receive four scores for the GMAT: A scaled Quantitative score on a 0–60 scale A scaled Verbal score on a 0–60 scale A total score, on a 200–800 scale, based on both your Quantitative and Verbal scores An AWA score on a 0–6 scale, which averages (to the nearest one-half point) the final scores for each of your two GMAT essays For each of these four scores, you’ll also receive a percentile rank (0–99%). A percentile rank of 60%, for example, indicates that you scored higher than 59% (and lower than 40%) of all other test takers. Percentile ranks reflect your performance relative to the entire GMAT test-taking population during the most recent three-year period. How the Quantitative and Verbal Sections Are Scored The scoring system for the Quantitative and Verbal sections is a bit tricky. Your score for each of these two sections is based on three factors: The number of questions you answer correctly The difficulty level of the questions you answer correctly The range of question types and topics among the questions you answer correctly So even if you don’t respond to all 37 Quantitative or all 41 Verbal questions, you can still attain a good score for that section if a high percentage of your responses are correct—especially if you respond correctly to a wide variety of question types. The CAT system’s scoring algorithms are well-guarded secrets; however, knowing exactly how the system works wouldn’t affect your exam preparation or test-taking strategy anyway. How the GMAT Essays Are Scored The evaluation and scoring system for GMAT essays is also a bit tricky. Initially, one person will read and evaluate your Issue Analysis essay and a different person will read and evaluate your Argument Analysis essay. Each reader will award a single score on a scale of 0–6 in whole-point intervals (6 is highest). TIP After the exam, you can select as many as five programs or schools to receive your GMAT scores without an additional fee. Take full advantage of it and compile your list before exam day. Once you select them, you cannot change or delete your choices. NOTE Some questions on each of your two multiple- choice sections won’t be scored. The test makers include unscored, “pretest” ques- tions on the GMAT t o assess their integrity, fairness, and difficulty. Pretest questions are mixed in with scored questions, and you won’t be able to tell them apart. Chapter 1: All About the GMAT 17 www.petersons.com Readers apply a holistic scoring approach, meaning that a reader will base his or her evaluation on the overall quality of your writing. In other words, instead of awarding separate sub-scores for content, organization, writing style, and mechanics, the reader will consider how effective your essay is as a whole—accounting for all of these factors. SCORING CRITERIA FOR THE GMAT ESSAYS All readers are trained to apply the same scoring criteria. Here are the essential requirements for a top-scoring (“6”) Issue Analysis essay. Note that you can attain a top score of 6 even if your essay contains minor errors in grammar, word usage, spelling, and punctuation: • You develop a position on the issue through the use of incisive reasons and persuasive examples. • Your ideas are conveyed clearly and articulately. • You maintain proper focus on the issue, and you are well organized. • You demonstrate proficiency, fluency, and maturity in the use of sentence structure, vocabulary, and idiom. • You demonstrate an excellent command of the elements of Standard Written English, including grammar, word usage, spelling, and punctuation—even if the essay contains minor flaws in these areas. Here are the essential requirements for a top-scoring (“6”) Argument Analysis essay. Notice that the last two requirements are the same as those for a top-scoring Issue Analysis essay: • You identify the key features of the argument and analyze each one in a thoughtful manner. • You support each point of critique with insightful reasons and examples. • You develop ideas in a clear, organized manner, with appropriate transitions to help connect ideas. • You demonstrate proficiency, fluency, and maturity in the use of sentence structure, vocabulary, and idiom. • You demonstrate an excellent command of the elements of Standard Written English, including grammar, word usage, spelling, and punctuation—even if the essay contains minor flaws in these areas. The criteria for lower scores are the same as those listed above; the only difference is that the standard for quality decreases for successively lower scores. COMPUTERIZED RATING OF YOUR TWO ESSAYS Although two human readers evaluate your GMAT essays (one reader per essay), a computer program called E-Rater® will also evaluate your essays in terms of grammar, syntax (sentence structure), repetitiveness (overuse of the same phrases), sentence length, and spelling. Like human readers, E-Rater awards a score of 0–6 for each essay. 18 PART I: GMAT Basics NOTE All GMAT readers are college or university faculty; most teach in the field of English or communications. Each reader evaluates your writing independently of other readers, and no reader is informed of other readers’ scores. NOTE The scoring criteria for all six score levels are published in the official GMAT Bulletin and on the official GMAT Web site. www.petersons.com In many respects, E-Rater is similar to the grammar- and spell-checkers built into popular word processing programs such as Word and WordPerfect. However, E-Rater is custom- designed for ACT to weigh certain criteria more heavily than others. For instance, very little weight is given to minor mechanical errors (e.g., in punctuation and spelling). Also, E-Rater overlooks so-called gray areas of grammar (for example, use of the passive voice), and flags certain problems (such as repetitiveness) that off-the-shelf checkers might not. Of course, E-Rater is only useful to a point. It cannot evaluate your ideas or how persuasively you have presented and supported those ideas. That’s what the human readers are for. COMPUTING YOUR AWA SCORE Here are the five specific steps involved in calculating your AWA score: As mentioned above, one reader will read and score your Issue Analysis essay, and a different reader will read and score your Argument Analysis essay. Each reader will award a single score on a scale of 0–6 in whole-point intervals (6 is highest). E-Rater will also evaluate and award a score of 0–6 for each essay. For either essay, if the human reader’s score differs from E-Rater’s score by more than one point, a second human reader will read and score the essay (and E-Rater’s score will be disregarded). For each essay, your final score is the average of the scores awarded by the human reader and E-Rater (or by the second human reader). Your final AWA score is the average of your final scores for each essay; AWA scores are rounded up to the nearest half-point. Here’s an example showing how the AWA scoring system works: 4 Reader A’s evaluation of the Issue Analysis essay 2 E-Rater’s evaluation of the Issue Analysis essay 3 Reader B’s evaluation of the Issue Analysis essay 3.5 Final score for the Issue Analysis essay 3 Reader C’s evaluation of the Argument Analysis essay 3 E-Rater’s evaluation of the Argument Analysis essay 3 Final score for the Argument Analysis essay 3.5 AWA score Notice in this example that a second human reader evaluated the Issue Analysis essay, and that the average of the two final scores (3.25) has been rounded up (to 3.5). SCORE REPORTING Once the GMAT readers have read and scored your two essays, Pearson VUE will mail you an official score report for all four sections. (Expect your score report within 10 days after you take the exam.) At the same time, Pearson VUE will transmit a score report to each business school you’ve designated to receive your score report. (You can direct reports to as many as five schools without charge.) NOTE According to the testing service, the human readers’ and E-Rater’s combined evaluation takes into account more than fifty structural and linguistic criteria. Chapter 1: All About the GMAT 19 www.petersons.com Currently, score reports don’t include the GMAT essays themselves. Eventually, the CAT system will provide disclosure of each test taker’s complete exam (including the questions). HOW BUSINESS SCHOOLS EVALUATE GMAT SCORES Each business school develops and implements its own policies for evaluating GMAT scores. Some place equal weight on GMAT scores and grade-point averages (GPAs), others weigh GMAT scores more heavily, and still others weigh GPA more heavily. Pearson VUE reports your three most recent GMAT scores to each business school receiving your scores and transcripts. Most schools simply average reported scores. (Quantitative, Verbal, Total, and AWA scores are each averaged separately for this purpose.) A minority of schools have refined this approach by disregarding a score that is sufficiently lower than another score for the same ability—on the basis that the low score unfairly distorts the test taker’s ability in this area. Other schools disregard all but your highest score of each type in any event. (This approach is increasingly uncommon, since it discriminates in favor of test takers who can afford to take the GMAT repeatedly.) TOP 10 TIPS FOR GMAT PREP Regardless of what books, software, or other GMAT prep resources you’re using, certain time-tested strategies for GMAT preparation never go out of style. To attain your best possible GMAT score, and to maximize your chances of getting into your first-choice business school, follow these 10 tips: Don’t Neglect Your Weaknesses In preparing for the GMAT, many test takers mistakenly focus on their areas of strength and neglect areas where they have weaknesses. They may tell themselves: “I can’t handle this tough material right now; I’ll either review it later or skip it and hope to make some lucky guesses on the exam.” The fact is, you can’t hide any of your individual GMAT scores from business school admissions officers, so don’t waste time by spending energy on an area of the GMAT that you already know. You’ll use your time more efficiently by devoting it to improving on your weaknesses. Don’t Neglect the GMAT Essay Sections GMAT “prep neglect” is especially common with the two GMAT essay sections—and ironically, business schools are focusing more and more on the GMAT essays to help them make tough decisions among applicants, many of whom appear equally qualified otherwise. So your AWA score might very well make the difference be- tween being accepted or rejected, especially for a business school that considers you a borderline candidate. 20 PART I: GMAT Basics NOTE GMAT absences and cancellations also appear on your official report, but they will not adversely affect your chances of admission. www.petersons.com Practice Under Exam Conditions When it comes to GMAT prep, there’s simply no substitute for “putting yourself to the test” by taking practice questions under simulated testing conditions. Here are some suggestions: • Adhere to the time limits imposed by each exam section. • If possible, use a word processor for composing your practice essays; try to use only the features available on the CAT word processor. • If possible, take at least one computer-based practice test. • Don’t underestimate the role that endurance plays in taking the GMAT. Half the battle is just making it through the 4-hour ordeal with your wits intact. Condition yourself by taking at least one full-length practice test straight through, with only a few short breaks. Take the Real GMAT Once—Just for Practice If you have time and can afford it, register for and take the real GMAT once as a “dress rehearsal,” just to get comfortable with the testing environment. You’ll rid yourself of a lot of anxiety and nervousness and, if you’re like most test takers, you’ll be far more relaxed and focused the second time around. In fact, GMAT statistics show that among repeaters, more than 90 percent improve their score the second time around. Keep Practice Scores in Perspective If you’re like most GMAT test takers, you’ve set your sights on two or three particular colleges or universities as your top choices, and you have a good idea what GMAT scores you’ll need for getting into those schools. If that’s the case, you’ve probably also set a goal for yourself with GMAT scores. That’s understand- able, but don’t psyche yourself out by obsessing over your practice-test scores— you’ll be sabotaging yourself. The bottom line: Try to concern yourself not with test scores themselves, but with what you can constructively do between now and exam day to improve these scores. Maintain a Positive Attitude It’s important to maintain a positive attitude about the GMAT—but it’s also impor- tant to keep your self-confidence from turning into complacency and overconfi- dence. Think you can just “wing it” on the GMAT and still crush the competition? Think again. Even if you were a curve-raiser in college, thousands of other test takers like you are taking the GMAT very seriously, and they can easily bump you down on the GMAT-scoring curve. Have Realistic Expectations You’d love perfect GMAT scores, wouldn’t you? In theory, of course, you can attain them. But in reality, you probably won’t score as high as you’d like to. Accept your limitations. With regular study and practice, you’ll perform as well as you can reasonably expect to. Also be realistic about the benefits you expect from this or any Chapter 1: All About the GMAT 21 www.petersons.com other GMAT preparation book. There’s only so much that you can do in a few weeks or months to boost your GMAT score. Take Steps to Minimize GMAT Anxiety Test anxiety, whether before or during a test, can hinder your performance. Al- though it’s a good idea to try and minimize it, don’t expect to eliminate it entirely. If you’re starting to feel the heat, try the following anxiety-busting techniques. • Practice testing under exam conditions is the best method of reducing test anxiety. As you become more comfortable in a simulated testing environment, your nerves will begin to settle down, and the real test will seem more like “just another day at the office.” • Join (or form) a GMAT study group. Openly discuss your insecurities about the GMAT and you’ll notice that they begin to dissipate. • Before taking practice tests, try simple relaxation techniques such as stretching, quieting your thoughts, deep breathing, or whatever else works for you. Some people find a quick burst of vigorous exercise to be highly effective. • You’ll be anxious about the GMAT only if you’re actually thinking about it. So during the weeks that you’re gearing up for the test, keep yourself preoccupied with your everyday activities. Try not to discuss the GMAT with others except during planned study sessions or classes. Know When You’ve Peaked Preparing for the GMAT is a bit like training for an athletic event. You need to familiarize yourself with the event, learn to be comfortable with it, and build up your skill and endurance. At some point—hopefully around exam day—your motivation, interest, and performance will peak. Sure, it takes some time and effort to get comfortable with the exam, to correct poor test-taking habits, to bone up on what- ever math and grammar you might have forgotten, to develop an instinct for recog- nizing wrong-answer choices, and to find your optimal pace. But there’s a point beyond which additional study and practice confer little or no additional benefit. Don’t drag out the process by starting several months in advance or by postponing the GMAT to give yourself more time than you really need for preparation. Take the GMAT Early to Allow Yourself the Option of Retaking It Most graduate business schools admit new students for the fall term only. Although application deadlines vary widely among schools, if you take the GMAT no later than the November prior to matriculation, you’ll meet almost any application deadline. Ideally, you should take the GMAT early enough so that you can take the exam a second time if necessary and still meet application deadlines. In any event, schedule the GMAT so that you’re sure you will have adequate time to prepare. 22 PART I: GMAT Basics ALERT! Fast, accurate typists have a clear advantage in the GMAT essay sections. If you’re a poor typist, work on improving your speed and skill before exam day. www.petersons.com . your request anytime during the exam (just raise your hand). 14 PART I: GMAT Basics ALERT! By 2009, the digital finger- printing used at GMAT testing centers will be replaced with a sensor that records. provides a complete list of schools). 16 PART I: GMAT Basics NOTE GMAC provides a variety of samples of the GMAT tutorial screens in its official GMAT Bulletin. TIP Read the review of the. EVALUATE GMAT SCORES Each business school develops and implements its own policies for evaluating GMAT scores. Some place equal weight on GMAT scores and grade-point averages (GPAs), others weigh GMAT