Okay guys...
Just got done with my testâ¦I got a 600 on the dot!!!
It was brutal though...no test I have taken compares to the length and amount of concentration required for the GMAT. The good thing about the test is that it is not really on any particular subject, so you don't really need to study any one subject. Well, I would have done better if I had reviewed some math, especially Geometry.
Here is a brief synopsis of the GMAT:
GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test. It costs $250 and it is administered by Pearson VUE centers. If you have taken an EC exam, the GMAT is very similar in the way the exams look.
The test consists of 4 sections - the first 2 sections are basically short essays. Each of the first 2 sections are 30 minutes long. The first section requires you to read an argument that someone has written on a particular subject and then you must analyze it and determine if the argument is sound and if not, where it is weak and what could be done to make it a better argument. The second section is similar except that you are given a general statement about a particular subject and then you must present an argument from your point of view and back it up with logic and reason.
The third section is the quantitative section - 75 minutes - 39 questions - multiple choice. Some call it the math section because it deals with numbers, but most of it is critical thinking and problem solving. To explain further; the quantitative section is really about deductive reasoning, requiring you to analyze and figure out the best way to solve problems.
The last section is Verbal - 75 minutes - 41 questions - multiple choice. This one was the most difficult for me because there is so much reading. There are 3 different types of questions. The first is where you read a passage and then answer questions related to the passage. The second is related to proper sentence structure. They will give you a sentence with part of it underlined and then give 4 alternate options with how to write the underlined portion. The last part is analyzing a statement and then determining which option would best support or challenge the conclusions made in that statement...those are tricky.
The test is graded once you complete it. I am not really sure how they grade the written essay section. I read something about 2 grading programs that somehow grade your short essays and if they agree within a certain range than a score is given. Apparently that occurs 98% of the time. If the scores are not within the range then the essays are graded by an actual person and you do not get a score when you finish the test. I found that interesting.
As far as scores go...Ironically, I did better on the Verbal section than I did the Quantitative section. I have always prided myself as being a math guy, but I did much better on Verbal. I scored in the 51st percentile on the Quantitative section and in the 74th percentile on the Verbal section. That amounted to an overall percentile of 66. The scores for the GMAT range from 200-800 and I just read a study that said 66% of all testers score between 400-600. I am really happy with the 600, especially being that I really did not study for this because I did not need a great score (only 400 minimum score needed at JSU). Keep in mind that most schools do not require a score above 500 for admission into MBA programs unless it is a competitive school environment that turns away applicants and that only includes about 10% of schools.
My advice for anyone planning on taking the GMAT is to take the 2 free practice exams that come from the maker of the exam on mba.com. I would also recommend a full review of math below calculus.
I am so glad to have this done with...this was my last hurdle to get accepted into the MBA program at Jacksonville State. It looks like I will be starting there in September...
Thank you all for all of your support...
Ben
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