There are a few exciting developments coming out later this month concerning the MGMAT 6 full-length adaptive exams that I wanted to let visitors know about.

The MGMAT tests have always given very detailed feedback and explanations in terms of what you got right and wrong, and how long you took on each question. Students have always found these detailed explanations to be invaluable.

However, by the end of March, students will have the added ability to compile and combine data across multiple tests as well. In other words, if you take 2 or 3 or more MGMAT adaptive exams, you will be able to run a report that uses data from ALL of your tests to point out your strengths and weaknesses, in terms of format and question type (e.g. Data Sufficiency, Sentence Correction), content (e.g. Number Properties, Verb Tenses) and timing. These reports will add explanatory depth to student test results, and will, we believe, make a valuable tool even moreso.

(If you’ve already taken MGMAT adaptive exams, not to worry. You’ll be able to run reports based upon your past exams! So your reports will already be chock full of results to work with.)

In addition, by the end of March, we will be offering one full-length adaptive GMAT test for FREE. We think that access to this diagnostic practice tool will help many students in their preparation.

Again, we are very excited about these developments, but even as the assessment reports become available, we’re working on other possible innovations and improvements . . . we’re also continuously open to other suggestions as to how we can best serve our students. So keep the ideas and suggestions coming!

We have had a number of reports that the number of Data Sufficiency Questions (previously pegged at 15 of the 37 Quantitative questions) has been fluctuating. A couple of recent test-takers have reported numbers higher than 15 in the past two months.

GMAC has not confirmed it, and does not share information. But we will be keeping an eye on this issue, and hope to have confirmation in the next several weeks.

In the meantime, if anyone has any data regarding this, let us know via comment.

To start our blog off, we’re going to recap a long conversation we had with Graham Richmond, founder of ClearAdmit. Graham is a former admissions officer at Wharton.

Manhattan GMAT: Why do business schools require applicants to take the GMAT?

Graham Richmond: For a variety of reasons. First, they see it as a measure of certain specific math and verbal skills. Second, they see it as a measure of your ability to think under pressure – the exam is timed. Third, it allows them to compare the academic preparation of people from very different backgrounds. A high GPA from one college, for example, may not represent the same level of achievement as a high GPA from another. But the GMAT allows business schools to level the field, so to speak. Finally, it is important to remember that business schools are evaluated in several areas for the purposes of published MBA rankings, and that the average GMAT score of the incoming class is one of those areas. As such, the schools do have an additional incentive to require candidates to take the test (and to ideally accept students who perform well on the exam

Manhattan GMAT: Does one’s GMAT score correlate with one’s eventual performance in business school?

Graham Richmond: Studies have shown that one’s GMAT score is a pretty good predictor of one’s academic success during the first year of business school.

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