Graduate Management Admission Test

GMAT

GMAT – Graduate Management Admission Test

o GMAT is used to promote fairness, objectivity and validity in selection, and provides supplementary information to that contained in your application form

o It DOES NOT test knowledge in specialized academic subjects, but provides an indication of the ability for clear and systematic thought

Who should take GMAT?

o All applicants to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program are required to take the GMAT

o It is also required by approximately 1,000 other business school programs around the world, and is administered worldwide by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) who are based in the USA

Test format

o 3 Sections Measuring: Verbal Quantitative Analytical Writing Skills

o In most countries GMAT is administered as a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT), but in a few locations only the paper-based GMAT is available

When and Where?o The GMAT takes about four hours to complete and is

offered in most major cities worldwide

o Visit www.GMAC.com for testing centers

o Test Insight: If you will be taking the exam in a new

city or unfamiliar location, it is advised that you visit

the testing center in advance of your exam date.

Arrange accommodations to minimize travel time, and

be well rested!

How to register for the GMAT o There are two ways to register:

By telephone if paying vis-à-vis credit card By fax or downloading information from the web

o Visit www.GMAC.com for contact informationo The fee is currently $200(USD)o Test Insight: Even if you do not plan on taking the GMAT

for several weeks, we would advise you to register early

so that you have the greatest choice of times and dates

Test Scoreso When you complete the GMAT you will get an

unofficial score report, which you should fax, mail, or

deliver to Brock’s Graduate Program Directoro Official scores reports are typically mailed to requested

schools 2 weeks after the exam dateo While minimum requirements are a score of 550, to

stand a good chance of being short listed for a place in

Brock’s MBA program you should aim for a total

GMAT score over 575

Retaking the GMAT o You can retake the GMAT once per calendar month,

but retaking the test is only recommended if you underperformed significantly in the previous attempt

o If you take the test more than once, Brock MBA Admissions may take the average or highest of the two scores

Do I have to take the GMAT before I submit my application?

o If the rest of your application is complete it may be possible for us to start reviewing your application before we receive your GMAT

o DO NOT delay submitting your applicationo Send your application, register for GMAT, and notify the

Graduate Programs Director of when you will be writing

The Big Day

• Check in at least 30 minutes before assigned time

o If late, fee will be forfeited

• Current Photo ID required

Examples: driver’s license, passport

NOT STUDENT ID!

• Verification process

o Sign confidentiality statement and rules agreement

o Thumbprint, photo and audio/video taping

Rescheduling and Canceling

• Rescheduling

o At least 7 days in advance - $50 rescheduling fee applies

o Less than 7 in advance - full fee is forfeited

• Canceling

o At least 7 days in advance – $ 80 partial refund

GMAT Format

General Tips!• The first questions are weighted more heavily than the

rest• It’s not the number of questions you get correct that

determines your score – it’s the level of difficulty• Questions increase in difficulty as you answer questions

correctly • Concentrate on getting a series of questions in a row

correct• Answer as many questions as possible• If you are not sure, guess!• Pace yourself, but be aware of your time• Confirm your answers only when confident • Be careful about exit and quit commands

Analytical Writing

• 2 types of essays analysis of an issue analysis of an argument

• 30 minutes each• Scored 0 - 6 in 1/2 point increments• To score high

Use pre-built template Use a combination of short & long sentences Write as much as possible Save time to edit carefully

Steps for Issue Analysis

• Read the topic and decide your position• Brainstorm for supporting ideas• Outline essay ideas on scratch paper• Use strongest 3 -5 supporting ideas• Use a template• Write and edit carefully

• Introo The issue of _____is controversial, on the one

hand______. On the other hand _________. However, I believe __________.

• Paragraph 2 - 4o One reason for my belief is ...o Another reason is ...o Perhaps the best reason is...

• Closingo For all these reasons, I therefore believe ...

Sample Issue Analysis Template

Steps for Argument Analysis

• Critique the argument, not your opinion

• Separate the conclusion from the premise

• Concentrate on the assumptions made

• Outline your 3 strongest arguments

• Add how the assumptions could have been strengthened

• Again, use a template and edit carefully

Sample Argument Analysis Template

• Introo The argument that (conclusion) is not convincing, since

it ignores certain assumptions.• Paragraph 2 - 4

o First, the argument assumes ...o Second, the argument never ...o Finally, the argument omits...

• Closingo Thus the argument is not convincing….o Ultimately, the argument might have been strengthened

by…...

Quantitative Section: What’s Covered

• 37 questions in 2 formatso Problem Solving (much like the SAT): 19 questionso Data Sufficiency (unique to GMAT): 18 questions

• Test general knowledge of arithmetic, basic algebra, & basic geometryo No calculus, trig, or complicated geometry

General Advice…

• Always reread the last line of the problem to make sure you’ve actually answered the question

• Use Process of Elimination: o To eliminate obviously wrong answers quicklyo To avoid overworking the problemo To maximize opportunity to “guess” correctly

Arithmetic• Topics tested

o Axiom and Fundamentals (properties of integers, + & - numbers, even & odd)

o Arithmetic Operations ( + - x / etc.)o Fractions & Decimalso Ratioso Percentageso Averageso Exponents and Radicals

Algebra

• Cosmic Problems: asked to write an equation that will answer a question regardless of what a “certain number x” iso PLUG IN: pick numbers for the letters in the problemo Plug in from the outside in (A,E,B,D,C)

Avoid using 0, 1, and numbers in the problemo Why not solve algebraically?

Makes difficult problems easy Test designed with many ways for you to screw up

using algebra

Solving Non-Cosmic Problems

• Non-cosmic problems have specific answerso WORKING BACKWARDS

Start with choice C, plug number into problem to see if it works

If choice C is too small, choose the next larger number If choice C is too big, choose the next smaller number

Geometry

• YOU MUST MEMORIZE ALL FORMULAS• Study problems that are drawn to scale to eliminate crazy

answerso Not all diagrams are drawn to scale

• Geometry problems always involve more than 1 step• Topics Tested

o Degrees and angles, triangles, circles, four-sided objects, solids and volume

Data Sufficiency

• Consists of a question followed by 2 statements• You don’t decide what the answer is• You decide WHETHER the question can be answered

based on the info in the 2 statements

Data Sufficiency Answers

• The first statement ALONE answers the question• The second statement ALONE answers the question• You need both statements TOGETHER to answer the

question• Both statements SEPARATELY answer the question• Neither statement together or separately answers the

question

How to Crack Data Sufficiency

• Look at one statement at a time• Memorize AD or BCE

o If statement (1) answers the question, write down AD If statement (2) also answers the question, the final

answer is Do If statement (1) DOES NOT answer the question, write

down BCE Evaluate statement (2) to narrow down the remaining

choices

A Hidden Trick

• If a data sufficiency problem asks a yes/no questiono A statement is sufficient if it ALWAYS gives the SAME

answer, yes or noo If the answer is SOMETIMES yes and sometimes no, the

statement is insufficient

Verbal Section

• Sentence Correction: 15 questions• Reading Comprehension: 15 questions• Critical Reasoning: 11 questions

Sentence Correction

• Two techniques:o Look for specific errors as you reado Treat differences among the answer choices as clues to

finding the erroro Remove portion of sentence in parenthesis and read the

sentence again• About 1/5 of the sentences are correct as written

o Choice (A) repeats the sentence word for word

Sentence Correction Errors

• Pronouns: should clearly refer to noun• Misplaced modifiers: noun should come directly after

modifying phrase• Tense: verb tense should be consistent• Subject-verb agreement: subject and verb should agree• Apples-and-oranges: things being compared should be

comparable• Quantity words: countable vs. uncountable words used

correctly

Reading Comprehension

• 3 types of questionso Social Scienceo Scienceo Business

• Three most common questionso What is the primary purpose of this passage?o What is the author’s tone?o Which choice given best describes the structure of the

passage?

Reading Comprehension - Tips

• Read for main ideas • Watch for trigger words (however, but) which signal a change

in direction of passage • Use line numbers & lead words as guides • Take notes • Use Process of Elimination

o Read quickly to understand main ideao Watch out for “always, must, all, never, complete”o Quickly eliminate obviously incorrect answers

Critical Reasoning

• Short passages with one or two questions• Three parts

o Conclusion (what author is convincing us of)o Premises (evidence to support conclusion)o Assumptions (unstated ideas; without which entire

conclusion may be invalid)

Critical Reasoning Tips

• You should never skim, each word is important• Always read the question first• Use process of elimination to eliminate answers outside the

scope of the argument• 8 types of questions

Critical Reasoning

• Assumption - Look for a flaw in the argument • Weaken the Argument - Look for flaws in reasoning • Strengthen the Argument - Look for support answers• Find the Conclusion- Break down the argument• Supply the Conclusion • Inference - Concern the premises, not the conclusion• Resolve the Paradox Questions - look for contradiction• Mimic the Reasoning Questions - find argument that

mimics the method of reasoning used [if A, then B]

Study Strategies

• Buy a book!• Treat it like a class

o Commit to specified study time(s)• Test yourself realistically

o Do use downloadable GMAT softwareo Do take full length test to identify weak areas and

get rough estimate of scoreo DO NOT allow yourself to exceed time limitso DO NOT use calculators