Coming April 8th: Great Updates for the GMAT Online
GMAC, the organization that makes the GMAT, has just announced some great news regarding the GMAT Online!
Beginning April 8th, we’ll gain a bunch of features that currently exist only for the testing center-based GMAT:
- You’ll be able to choose one of three section orders for the exam (Quant first, Verbal first, or Essay first); currently, you’re locked into the Quant-first testing order.
- You’ll get two 8-minute breaks (placed at the usual times that we get our breaks in the testing center); currently, there’s only one 5-minute break.
- You’ll see your scores on screen at the end of the exam (for everything but the essay); currently, you have to wait several business days to get your scores for the GMAT Online.
You might have noticed one other change that I snuck into that list without making it explicit: You will have to write the Essay section. (Currently, that section doesn’t appear on the GMAT Online.) This is a tiny drawback, really, compared to the goodness of all of the other updates.
So, starting April 8th, the test center GMAT and the GMAT Online will be almost identical. The only substantive difference will be the scratch paper. It’s still the case that you’ll get the laminated yellow pad in the testing center, but when you take the test at home, you’ll use your own dry erase whiteboard and have access to an online whiteboard.
I’m really excited about this news because it means that your preparation for either version of the exam is basically the same. So you can just get down to the business of studying and decide later whether you’ll take the exam in the testing center or at home (or both!).
We still have a few questions for GMAC about some other implications of this update—we’ll update this post as we learn the answers.
The Executive Assessment Online
[Note: I first wrote this right after I took the official Executive Assessment Online in May 2020. At that time, we had to use an online whiteboard for all of our work. In June 2020, they fixed that: Now, everyone can use both a physical whiteboard and an online whiteboard. I’ve updated this article accordingly; otherwise, the post is exactly what I wrote right after I took the exam.]
I took the GMAT Online about a month ago and I was getting restless (nothing to do during the pandemic!), so I signed up to take the Executive Assessment (EA) Online. The EA Online was a much better experience—I’ll tell you why below. (And since everyone always asks: I scored a 166 overall: 15 on IR, 13 on Verbal, and 18 on Quant. Verbal is usually my best section, so I was surprised by that score. My score also dropped on the Verbal when I took the GMAT Online, but my Quant and IR scores were fine / what I usually get.)
What’s Tested on the Executive Assessment?
The Executive Assessment is an entrance examination for Executive MBA programs and it’s also now accepted by a number of MBA and specialized Master’s programs. It’s made by the same organization, GMAC, that makes the GMAT—and, in fact, the two exams are very similar.
The Executive Assessment (EA) is made up of three sections that appear on the EA in this order: Integrated Reasoning (IR), Verbal Reasoning (Verbal), and Quantitative Reasoning (Quant). (The GMAT contains these same three sections plus an Essay section. I’ll continue to address some of the main differences between the GMAT and EA as we go.)
How to Prepare for the Executive Assessment
Looking to take the Executive Assessment (EA) exam? The Executive Assessment, launched in 2016, is a very streamlined cousin of the GMAT. It was designed with Executive MBA (EMBA) candidates in mind—but the EA has broadened its reach and you can now take it for many regular MBA and other business Master’s programs.
Everything You Need to Know about GMAT Time Management, Part 3
Guess what? You can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GMAT courses absolutely free—we’re not kidding! Check out our upcoming courses here.
You’ve made it to part 3 of our Time Management series!
Everything You Need to Know about GMAT Time Management, Part 2
Did you know that you can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GMAT courses absolutely free? We’re not kidding! Check out our upcoming courses here.
Welcome to the second installment of our GMAT time management series! In the first part, we addressed the following:
- Why is time management so important on the GMAT?
- Know (generally) how the scoring works on the GMAT
- When solving problems, follow two principles: first Exam Mode, then Study Mode
Today’s installment is all about per-problem timing.
Read more
Everything You Need to Know about GMAT Time Management, Part 1
Did you know that you can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GMAT courses absolutely free? We’re not kidding! Check out our upcoming courses here.
You have a lot to learn in this series! And it won’t happen overnight; you’ll need to build these skills over time. Bookmark this article and return to it frequently throughout your studies. At the least, revisit these articles before and after every practice test you take.
One more note: We’ll address per-question and per-section time management. We’ll also address how you keep track of your time for the test-center based GMAT. For the GMAT Online, the test sections themselves are the same, but the scratch paper situation is different, and that affects how you’ll keep track of your time during the exam. Read this series first; at the end, we’ll link to another post that addresses how to use your whiteboard to keep track of your time on the GMAT Online, specifically.
Today, we’re going to discuss the overarching principles for managing your time on the GMAT. Ready? Let’s dive in!
The GMAT Online: What to Expect
UPDATE: I took the GMAT online! And boy, do I have a lot to tell you. Read all about my experience here.
NOTE: This post was accurate when published but is now outdated. Please follow the link above for updated information regarding all things GMAT Online.
You can take the GMAT online! The test will be available from Monday April 20th until (at least) Monday June 15th; GMAC, the organization that makes the GMAT, will reevaluate the timeline as we get closer to June. Read more
My GMAT Was Canceled. Now What?
Update: On April 14th, 2020, GMAC announced that an online GMAT will be available starting on April 20th. I’ve posted some of the main details in another post. I’ll be taking the exam on the 20th and will tell you what to expect and how best to get ready—keep an eye on our blog on Tuesday April 21st.
Some of you will decide to take the online GMAT; if you’re in this group, look for my post next week. Others will decide to wait until the GMAT is available again in testing centers; if you’re in this group, read on.
As you no doubt know by now, many GMAT testing centers are currently closed as a result of the pandemic. GMAC has announced that the test will move to a take-at-home option sometime in April. How do you keep getting ready for the GMAT in the face of this uncertainty?
The Official Guide 2021 Review and Highlights
GMAC published the 2021 edition of its Official Guide series in late June and we’ve got all of the highlights for the main guide.