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10 May 2016, 12:01
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: How Many Questions Can You Get Wrong on GMAT Quant? |
 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. When you took tests in high school or college, your grade was based on the number of questions you got right. The only way to earn an A was by answering almost every question correctly. If you’ve been studying for a while, you’ve probably heard that the GMAT is different — but how different is it, really? You know that you’re supposed to miss questions on the GMAT, but how many can you actually miss on the Quant section and still get a good score? I recently reviewed 15 randomly selected practice tests from a GMAT class I taught. These tests represent a wide range of ability levels. The GMAT Quant section is scored on a scale from 0 to 51, and the Quant scores I looked at ranged from 23 to 45. What I wanted to know was how many Quant questions students were actually missing. Here are the results:
Here’s why that happens. MBA admissions committees aren’t actually interested in whether you’re great at factoring quadratics, or whether you can recognize a misplaced modifier. They care much more about whether you can:
That’s what makes the difference between someone who misses 18 Quant questions and scores a 500, and someone who misses 18 Quant questions and scores a 700. The 500 scorer might miss most of the 18 questions in a row at the end, due to poor time management. The 700 scorer misses those 18 questions throughout the section — she misses roughly every other question. The 500 scorer regularly misses easy questions, whether that’s because she’s weak on the math basics, or because she makes careless errors. The 700 scorer misses hard questions, and she does so deliberately: if she’s probably going to get a question wrong, she chooses to get it wrong quickly and spend her resources elsewhere. In short, you can miss 16-22 questions on the Quant section and still get a good score. But it’s just as easy to miss 16-22 questions on the Quant section and get a bad score. You aren’t going to miss just 5 or 10 questions, unless you’re hoping for a 99th percentile score — and possibly not even then! So, don’t worry about the number of questions you’re getting wrong, whether you’re studying or taking a practice test. Focus on increasing the difficulty of questions you can consistently get right, and on perfecting your test-taking strategy, and your score will improve even as your “grade” stays the same.  Want full access to Chelsey’s sage GMAT wisdom? Try the first class of one of her upcoming GMAT courses for absolutely free, no strings attached. Chelsey Cooley  is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Seattle, Washington. Chelsey always followed her heart when it came to her education. Luckily, her heart led her straight to the perfect background for GMAT and GRE teaching: she has undergraduate degrees in mathematics and history, a master’s degree in linguistics, a 790 on the GMAT, and a perfect 170/170 on the GRE. Check out Chelsey’s upcoming GMAT prep offerings here. The post How Many Questions Can You Get Wrong on GMAT Quant? appeared first on GMAT. |
11 May 2016, 16:01
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: MBA Admissions Myths Destroyed: Round 1 Is Everything |
 What have you been told about applying to business school? With the advent of chat rooms, blogs and forums, armchair “experts” often unintentionally propagate MBA admissions myths, which can linger and undermine an applicant’s confidence. Some applicants are led to believe that schools want a specific “type” of candidate and expect certain GMAT scores and GPAs, for example. Others are led to believe that they need to know alumni from their target schools and/or get a letter of reference from the CEO of their firm in order to get in. In this weekly series, mbaMission debunks these and other myths and strives to take the anxiety out of the admissions process. Many MBA admissions officers will tell candidates that if they can complete their applications and submit them in Round 1, then they should do so. Most programs will also tell candidates that they should try to avoid Round 3, because the majority of the places in their classes will have been filled by then. So, what does that say about Round 2? Candidates sometimes call mbaMission to ask whether submitting an application in Round 2 is worth the effort or whether the opportunity has passed at that point. Unfortunately, when one is being compared against a group of unknown competitors, being concerned about every perceived difference or deficiency is only natural. Some candidates grow concerned if they are a year older than the average at their target school, while others fret if they are a year younger. Many applicants worry if their GMAT score is ten points below a school’s average. And, of course, some worry if they submit their application in Round 2. However, the overall strength of your candidacy, which is a measure of many factors, is far more important than where you fit in relation to any single statistic—not to mention whether you apply in Round 1 or 2. So, we too would encourage candidates to apply early, if they are ready, but we do not believe anyone should give up on their MBA dreams for a year if applying in Round 1 is just not practical. You may be surprised to discover that admissions committees encourage early applications but also concede that the difference in selectivity between the first and the second rounds is very small. To back up this statement, we offer a small selection of quotes from mbaMission’s exclusive interviews with admissions officers: “People ask, generally, is it better to apply in the first round or the second round or third round? We definitely advise people to avoid the third round if possible, because space can become an issue by the time the third round rolls around. But we do view the first two rounds as roughly equivalent.” – Bruce DelMonico, Admissions Director, Yale School of Management “[We] get about a third of our applications in Round 1, about 55% in Round 2, and the remainder in Round 3 … We encourage people to submit their application when they feel that they offer their best possible applications. … So, if you can get everything lined up and completed and you feel really good about it …, then I would encourage you to apply in Round 1. But if it takes you a bit longer, and you want to take the time to look at your application again and maybe have somebody else look at it, then Round 2 is fine, too.” – Soojin Kwon, Admissions Director, University of Michigan Ross School of Business “We look at statistics over the years—how many applications we got, how many we admitted, and how many we yielded—and we try to even it out so we’re not being too generous in one round at the expense of another round.” – Dawna Clarke, Admissions Director, Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business mbaMission is the leader in MBA admissions consulting with a full-time and comprehensively trained staff of consultants, all with profound communications and MBA experience. mbaMission has helped thousands of candidates fulfill their dream of attending prominent MBA programs around the world. Take your first step toward a more successful MBA application experience with a free 30-minute consultation with one of mbaMission’s senior consultants. Sign up today at www.mbamission.com/manhattangmat. The post MBA Admissions Myths Destroyed: Round 1 Is Everything appeared first on GMAT. |
13 May 2016, 15:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Here’s Why You’re Getting Geometry Problems on GMAT Data Sufficiency Wrong |
 Did you know that you can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GRE courses absolutely free? We’re not kidding! Check out our upcoming courses here. I had a student recently whose Data Sufficiency (DS) accuracy was generally very high, and whose knowledge of geometry rules was solid. And yet, she was getting almost every geometry DS question wrong on practice tests! This is actually very common: students who are otherwise good at geometry and/or DS struggle when the two things are put together. Here are the 3 main reasons that students miss geometry DS problems:
 If we want to know the area of the circle, we need to know the radius. Since we have a square inscribed in the circle, the diameter of the circle would be the diagonal of the square:  Therefore, if we have any length of the square – side length or diagonal – we can find the diameter of the circle, and thus the area. Statement (1) gives us a side length, and statement (2) gives the diagonal, so they’re both sufficient. The answer is D. Right? Wrong. There’s a major assumption that we just fell for here: we don’t know for sure that it’s a square! It looks like one, and it probably is, but we can’t assume anything. Some of the sides might be imperceptibly shorter than the others. Just knowing one side length, as in statement (1), would not be enough to find the diameter if ABCD is not a square. Statement (2) tells us that the line from A to C is the hypotenuse of a right triangle. By definition, the hypotenuse of any right triangle inscribed in a circle is also the diameter of the circle. If we have that diameter, we can solve for the radius and thus the area of the circle. The correct answer is B. You have to prove it. Don’t just rely on your eyes! Ask yourself if they’re given you enough information to PROVE that the shape is what it appears to be. [*] They don’t unpack the diagram before going to the statements[/list] Try this problem:  You probably memorized the rule that the area of a rhombus is (diagonal1 × diagonal2)/2. So you might start plugging the statement information into the problem to see if you can get the length of BG and AC, CE and DF. If that’s the case, you might end up with E, which is a wrong answer. Instead, start by asking yourself “why did they give me all of this given information?” If all we care about is the area of each rhombus, why did they bother giving us an equilateral triangle?? Before you dive into the statements, make every inference you can:
Statement (2) gives us a side length of one of the triangles. As we inferred, that’s enough. Sufficient! The correct answer is D. Rephrasing in DS geometry = unpacking the diagram. Even though it’s natural to want to plug all of the given information into the problem on geometry, it’s dangerous to dive into the statements right away. There may be a great deal of information already inferable from the diagram and the given information. You may think you need information from the statements that you could already have inferred from the diagram! Always yourself – why is this piece of given information here? The GMAT will never give you anything in the question stem that’s not necessary to the problem. [*] They only draw one diagram[/list] In other DS problems (algebra, number properties, etc), you know to test cases to see if a statement is sufficient. You’d test one number, see what you get, then test another number to see if you get the same result. For some reason, people don’t apply this same strategy to geometry. They draw one figure, then just stick with it. Instead, you want to try what we’ll call the Rubber Band Geometry Technique: imagine stretching and pulling the figure in different directions, as if it were made out of a Rubber Band. Try this problem from the Manhattan Prep Advanced Quant Guide:  If you simply draw the first trapezoid that comes to mind, you might think that you have sufficient information with either of the statements alone. Instead, you have to think about all of the different ways that a circle could be tangent to 3 sides of a symmetrical trapezoid:  Statement (1): if the circle is tangent to both parallel sides (Figure A or B), then the diameter would be 10. But if the shape corresponds to figure C or D, the diameter would be less than 10. Insufficient. Statement (2): Knowing the length of the shorter side is not sufficient. In Figures A & B, the diameter of the circle is less than the length of the shortest side. In Figures C and D, it’s greater. Insufficient. Both statements: If the height is 10 but the shortest parallel side is 15, then Figures C and D are impossible. We’re left with Figures A and B, each of whose diameter is the same as the height: 10. Sufficient. This problem would likely be impossible to get right without drawing the array of all possible configurations. If they don’t give you a figure, try to draw several different ones with the given information. If they give you a figure, don’t assume it’s exactly to scale. You can still draw stretched or squished versions. Trapezoids, rectangles, isosceles triangles, and many other shapes can come in different dimensions. How to improve on DS geometry: Avoid these 3 common pitfalls by doing the following:
[*]Unpack the given information fully before diving into the statements. Ask yourself if you’ve made inferences from every single piece of given information.[/list] [*]Draw different versions of the figure, if possible. Ask: can I stretch or squish it?[/list] Want full access to Céilidh’s trove of GMAT knowledge? Try the first class of one of her upcoming GMAT courses absolutely free, no strings attached.  Céilidh Erickson is a Manhattan Prep instructor based on New York City. When she tells people that her name is pronounced “kay-lee,” she often gets puzzled looks. Céilidh is a graduate of Princeton University, where she majored in comparative literature. After graduation, tutoring was always the job that bought her the greatest joy and challenge, so she decided to make it her full-time job. Check out Céilidh’s upcoming GMAT courses (she scored a 760, so you’re in great hands). The post Here’s Why You’re Getting Geometry Problems on GMAT Data Sufficiency Wrong appeared first on GMAT. |
14 Sep 2016, 15:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: How to Market Yourself to an MBA Admissions Committee |
 MBA admissions can feel pretty daunting – especially when you consider some of the leading schools’ acceptance rates (Stanford GSB says its rate is typically 5-7%, for example). From GMAT scores to letters of recommendation and those often-imposing MBA essay questions, it’s not only important to have everything in place before the deadline, but also to differentiate yourself from other applicants in the process. To get into your dream business school, therefore, you’ll need to take the right approach. You can get some guidance on application dos and don’ts by attending an admissions fair – such as the QS World MBA Tour – but, for now, here are three pointers raised by admissions staff attached to leading schools, from an interview series on TopMBA.com: Make your MBA essay stand out When it comes to an MBA application’s essay questions, Stanford GSB’s MBA admissions director, Lisa Giannangeli, explains that, “you don’t need to have accomplishments or feats that are unusual or different from your peers…If you concentrate your efforts on telling us who you are, differentiation will occur naturally.” It seems wise, therefore, to ensure your MBA essay captures who you really are. From the values and experiences you hold, to why you believe an MBA is right for your future. Research the specific MBA program to which you are applying If you don’t research the specific MBA program to which you’re applying properly, you’re sure to be found out sooner or later, as Renice Jones, assistant director of graduate recruitment and admissions at York University’s Schulich School of Business, points out: “One mistake that applicants make is not doing enough research to ensure that the program will fit with their career goals.” Adequate research isn’t just about impressing the MBA admissions panel with knowledge of their program. It’s also very much in your interests to find out whether the school matches what you’re looking for. Don’t overlook the importance of recommendation letters The recommendation letter requirements of an MBA application are an opportunity for you to select recommenders who can speak to your accomplishments and corroborate what you are saying about yourself. With this in mind, it’s worth having an informal chat with your chosen recommenders when asking them to furnish you with a written blessing, as Duke Fuqua’s director of marketing and recruitment, Allison Jamison, says: “Share with them why you are seeking an MBA – if they understand what your goals are, they are better equipped to provide supporting anecdotes in their write up.” Looking to speak directly with admissions directors and representatives of the world’s top business schools? Attend a QS World MBA Tour event in one of 23 cities across the US and Canada. Manhattan Prep instructors will be in attendance in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Toronto, San Diego, Palo Alto, London, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, NYC, and Chicago. By attending, you can also get free advice on your MBA admissions strategy and will become eligible for QS’s exclusive MBA scholarships! To reserve your free place at the event, register online today. This article is adapted from an original published on TopMBA.com. The post How to Market Yourself to an MBA Admissions Committee appeared first on GMAT. |
14 Sep 2016, 15:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: GMATPrep Reading Comp: Tackling a Tough Passage (part 5) |
 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 final installment of our series on tackling a tough reading comp passage from the GMATPrep® free exams! If you’re just joining us now, go all the way back to the first installment and work your way through to this one. Make sure you keep part 1 of the series open; it contains the full text of the passage. Here is the final problem for the passage: “According to the passage, comparable worth principles are different in which of the following ways from other mandates intended to reduce or eliminate pay inequities? “(A) Comparable worth principles address changes in the pay schedules of male as well as female workers. “(B) Comparable worth principles can be applied to employees in both the public and the private sector. “(C) Comparable worth principles emphasize the training and skill of workers. “(D) Comparable worth principles require changes in the employer’s resource allocation. “(E) Comparable worth principles can be used to quantify the value of elements of dissimilar jobs.” Step 1: Identify the question The language according to the passage signals that this is a Specific Detail question. These questions essentially ask you to find the answer that matches a certain detail in the passage. Step 2: Find the proof. Where does the passage talk about the differences between CW and other mandates that are also intended to address pay gaps? The passage introduces other mandates in the third paragraph. Starting with the second sentence of paragraph three: “Because of the principles driving them, other mandates that can be applied to reduce or eliminate unjustified pay gaps between male and female workers have not remedied perceived pay inequities satisfactorily for the litigants in cases in which men and women hold different jobs. But whenever comparable worth principles are applied to pay schedules, perceived unjustified pay differences are eliminated. In this sense, then, comparable worth is more comprehensive than other mandates.” Step 3: Predict an answer. So, what are the differences? The other ones don’t work as well for pay gaps between male and female workers holding different jobs, whereas CW does work. Do you need to go further in the passage or is this enough? You can’t know until you check the answers for a match. If none match, then you can continue further in paragraph three to see whether there are other differences. (Why aren’t I suggesting that you find all of the differences first? Time! Once you can predict a potential answer, see whether it’s there. If not, then you can decide whether to predict another potential answer or whether you’re sick of this question and want to guess and move on.  Step 4: Find a match in the answers. Dive in! “(A) Comparable worth principles address changes in the pay schedules of male as well as female workers.” This choice does mention male and female workers…but “changes” in the pay schedules aren’t the issue. Gaps are the issue. This one isn’t a match. “(B) Comparable worth principles can be applied to employees in both the public and the private sector.” This part of the passage didn’t mention public vs. private. I do remember reading about public and private in the first paragraph…but for now, this one isn’t a match. If I don’t find a better answer, I might come back to this one and look at paragraph one. “(C) Comparable worth principles emphasize the training and skill of workers.” Hmm. This isn’t a match to what I just read, but I do remember reading that skills are what you actually measure when the jobs are dissimilar. So this at least seems to go along with the general way that CW works. I’ll leave it in for now. “(D) Comparable worth principles require changes in the employer’s resource allocation.” This is not a match for the part I just re-read. And I don’t remember reading about this in general. The previous answer was more promising. “(E) Comparable worth principles can be used to quantify the value of elements of dissimilar jobs.” This one reminds me of (C). Both seem to be about how comparable worth is able to fix pay gaps even for people in different kinds of jobs. So I do need to read a little bit later in this paragraph to see how this part is described. “Neither compares tasks in dissimilar jobs (that is, jobs across occupational categories) in an effort to determine whether or not what is necessary to perform these tasks—know-how, problem-solving, and accountability—can be quantified in terms of its dollar value to the employer. Comparable worth, on the other hand, takes as its premise that certain tasks in dissimilar jobs may require a certain amount of training, effort, and skill; may carry similar responsibility; may be carried on in an environment having a similar impact upon the worker; and may have a similar dollar value to the employer.” CW does examine training and skill levels. It uses that examination to try to quantify the value of different jobs to the employer. That matches answer choice (E). Answer choice (C) is very tempting, but it says that CW emphasizes training and skill levels. CW is not trying to say that people should be better trained to have higher skills. It just examines these things in an effort to try to figure out how much the job is worth to the employer. The correct answer is (E). That was a tough one. We had to review a good portion of the third paragraph, and even then, at least one wrong answer was still pretty tempting. You made it! Congratulations. Now, glance back through these five installments and write down your two or three major takeaways for tackling challenge RC. What do you want to make sure you do (or don’t do) in future? Key Takeaways for Challenging RC (1) You don’t need to understand every last detail of this passage. RC is an “open book” test: the passage is always sitting right there. Figure out the big picture, and worry about the details later, once you actually get a question about something specific. (By the way: how often did knowing the main idea help you on all of the specific questions for this passage? Go take a look.) (2) Follow the process. Don’t skip steps! If a particular question is just too hard, that’s okay; guess and move on. But if you are going to answer a question, follow the process. (3) Think about where you are in the verbal section and how your time and mental energy are doing. On a long and challenging passage, you might decide to bail on one question so that you can spread that time over other questions. (Remember that roman numeral question—the first one we did? Ugh.) (4) An answer to my question in the first takeaway: the main idea alone could help you to eliminate wrong answers on every single one of these questions. See how useful that is?  * GMATPrep® questions courtesy of the Graduate Management Admissions Council. Usage of this question does not imply endorsement by GMAC. Can’t get enough of Stacey’s GMAT mastery? Attend the first session of one of her upcoming GMAT courses absolutely free, no strings attached. Seriously.  Stacey Koprince is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Montreal, Canada and Los Angeles, California. Stacey has been teaching the GMAT, GRE, and LSAT for more than 15 years and is one of the most well-known instructors in the industry. Stacey loves to teach and is absolutely fascinated by standardized tests. Check out Stacey’s upcoming GMAT courses here. The post GMATPrep Reading Comp: Tackling a Tough Passage (part 5) appeared first on GMAT. |
22 Sep 2016, 09:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Here’s How to Study with the Manhattan Prep GMAT App |
 Download now free! Are you wondering where the Manhattan Prep GMAT App fits into your study routine? You shouldn’t just use it to work through lengthy sets of questions. There are better resources for that, such as the Manhattan Prep Strategy Guides and the Official Guide to the GMAT. Instead, think of the app as a way to turn down time into study time: every time you’d otherwise be idly surfing the Internet or playing mobile games, load up the app and do a few minutes of review. Or, add a quick 10 or 15 minutes of problems to your daily routine — think of it as the GMAT equivalent of flossing your teeth. With a little preparation and creativity, you can use the app to efficiently target critical GMAT skills. Don’t go straight to the questions. Once you download the app, start by reading the articles in the ‘How to Study’ tab under ‘The GMAT’. Also, read the articles listed under ‘Strategies: Optimize your Performance’ from the Home screen. Chances are, one or more of the issues described there will apply to you. If you read about how to study effectively right now, you’ll learn much more from the problems you do next.  iOS – ‘How to Study’ Screen  Android – ‘How to Study’ Screen  iOS – ‘Optimize your Performance’ Screen  Android – ‘Optimize Your Performance’ Screen Now, check out some Quant problems. On the Quant section of the GMAT, it’s much easier to memorize the content than to figure out how to use that content to solve a problem. That’s why so many students tell me that they know the math and can solve single problems easily while studying, but that they seem to fall apart on test day or when doing longer problem sets. The GMAT App can help you practice approaching problems, though. Wait until you’re somewhere that you can’t take notes while working, like on the bus or waiting in line. Open a set of Quantitative Reasoning questions — the ‘Foundations of Math Skills’ drill is great — and just think through how you’d solve each question. Don’t worry about actually doing the math in your head, since calculating in your head on the GMAT is rarely a good idea! And don’t worry about getting the right answer. Just read the question carefully, check out the answer choices, and think through the logic involved in solving it. Then, use the explanation to confirm or change your reasoning. This will force you to slow down and think carefully about problems before you start doing math, which is a huge advantage on the GMAT.  iOS – ‘Questions Categories’ Screen  Android – ‘Questions Categories’ Screen Try using random sets of Quant questions from the app to identify math concepts, too. Flip through a set of questions, and just categorize them, rather than solving: is this a rates & work question? Is it a weighted averages question? Is it testing inequalities, or positives and negatives? For a more advanced challenge, identify all of the problems that let you use Choosing Smart Numbers or Backsolving. To really hone your critical thinking skills, open up the ‘Basic Math Quiz’ under ‘Quiz Me’ on the Home screen and see how many problems you can solve with no scratch paper at all. This will force you to look for the simpler solution, which the GMAT really rewards! Every single problem in the Basic Math Quiz can be answered without scratch paper, and without doing an unreasonable amount of math in your head.  iOS – ‘Basic Math Quiz #1’ Screen  Android – ‘Basic Math Quiz #1’ Screen The app is built to help you retain information. Spaced Repetition helps you form longer-lasting memories in less overall study time. It works like this: if you’ve just learned something new, revisit it frequently and test your knowledge. Once you know it well, revisit it less often. If you test yourself on topics you’ve studied after longer and longer periods of ‘forgetting’, you’ll get better and better at recalling that information when you need to. Here’s how you use the app to practice this approach. As you do a question set for the first time, mark each question as ‘Know’, ‘Somewhat Know’, or ‘Don’t Know’. Every other day or so, review your ‘Don’t Know’ questions. Once you remember the information, upgrade that question to Somewhat Know. Review your Somewhat know questions about once a week, and if you still understand the question after a week, upgrade it to ‘know’ and study it once a month or so. Mark these sessions on your calendar ahead of time so you won’t forget to revisit old questions! You can also use the ‘Bookmark this Question’ feature to mark particularly interesting questions, and revisit them regardless of whether you know them well.  iOS – ‘Bookmark this Question’ Screen  Android – ‘Bookmark this Question’ Screen It’s not all about Quant. The GMAT App is a great excuse to spend a little time on Verbal every day. That’s true even if you’re already great at Verbal! Challenge yourself to really understand Reading Comprehension problems by reading the entire passage without taking notes, then answering the Main Idea question without looking back at the passage. Or do a couple of quick Sentence Correction problems while you’re waiting in line. Many of my students choose to prioritize Quant over Verbal, because they start out with a much lower Quant score. However, because fewer GMAT test-takers have excellent Verbal scores, a very high Verbal score really sets you apart from the crowd. The GMAT App can be a laid-back way to get a few minutes of Verbal practice on a regular basis, and move your Verbal score from ‘good enough’ to ‘awesome’.  iOS – Verbal Question Screen  Android – Verbal Question Screen In conclusion, here’s a quick list of our best GMAT App study recommendations. If you have ideas of your own, share them in the comments!
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22 Sep 2016, 09:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Everything You Need to Know About Time Management – Part 2 of 3 |
 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 back! In the first part of this series, we established some overall principles for time management on the GMAT:
4. First, train per question: Develop your “1 minute time sense” In order to maximize your score on the GMAT, you have to make good decisions about when to keep going on a particular question and when to stop. In order to do that, you need to have a very rough sense of how long you are spending. Here’s the basic idea: on the GMAT, one minute is enough time to get oriented on a question and make a good decision as to whether things are going well enough to warrant investing more time. It’s also enough time to realize that things are not coming together and this time would be better spent on some other question. But you’re not going to want to check the clock every minute during the test. You’ll drive yourself crazy before the test is over! So how do you know that it’s been roughly a minute since you started working on this question? You’re going to develop something we call the one-minute time sense. [Note: you do not need to time yourself when you are just reading / studying or doing non-GMAT-format practice. Just learn at a pace that’s appropriate for you. Only use this 1-minute time sense when you are doing Official Guide or other GMAT-format questions.) Why are we focused on one minute? The 1-minute mark is the half-way point for Quant, CR, and some RC questions. If you’re actually going to finish this question around 2 minutes, then by the 1-minute mark, you’ve got to understand the question and have a plan for how to move forward. If so, then it’s smart to invest another minute or so on this problem. If you don’t understand it, or if you don’t have a good plan for solving the problem, then move to educated guessing (if you see a good path for that) or just guess outright and move on. On SC and some RC questions, the 1-minute mark is approximately the three-quarter point. If you’re on track on these, you should have eliminated at least some answer choices by 1 minute. Further, you should know that you’re close to done. If not, guess randomly from among the remaining choices and move on. In all of those scenarios, you’re making the best decision based on the current circumstances. In other words, you’re maximizing your ROI (return on investment). When it’s worth it to invest more time, you do so. But when it’s not, you actually have the presence of mind (and the discipline!) to pull back and allocate that time elsewhere. You’re exhibiting strong executive reasoning skills—and that’s really what the GMAT is testing, at heart. Okay, so how do we develop this one-minute sense? Grab your phone and pull up whatever stopwatch / timer function you have. Play around with it. Does it have “lap” timing? (Note: on some phones, you may not see the “lap” button until you start the timer. Then, the start button turns into a lap button.) If your phone doesn’t have a lap button, then search for a stopwatch app that does allow lap timing. When you push the lap button, the timer will mark the time at which you pushed the button but the timer will keep running. You can do this multiple times to get a bunch of time intervals. Find something non-GMAT-related that engages your brain fully: write up a memo for work, do some research, read something in The Economist, and so on. Set up your stopwatch but cover the timer itself so that you can’t see what it says. Start working, but push the button every time you think one minute has passed. After some number of times (5, 8, 11? whatever!), stop and check your data. If you’re within 20 seconds on either side (40 seconds to 1 minute 20 seconds), you’re fine. If you’re consistently too fast, then try the exercise again, this time telling yourself to push the button at what feels like 1 minute 15 seconds. If you’re consistently too slow, push the button when you feel like it’s been only 45 seconds. Do this a few times a day for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, and after a week or two, you’ll get yourself pretty consistently into a “good enough” time range. How do I practice this on GMAT questions? Glad you asked. Set yourself up with a set of 4 quant or CR questions (it’s best to start with 2-minute-average questions when you’re still getting used to this). Start your timer (remember to cover up the actual time) and dive into the first problem. When you think it’s been about a minute since you started, push that lap button. When you’re done with the problem, push the lap button again (pretend it’s the real test: when you’re done, you have to click next and confirm to move on to the next question, so pretend that’s what you’re doing here). Repeat until you’re done with the problem set, then analyze. Looking back over the whole set, did you make good decisions about when to keep going and when to let go? Wherever you think you didn’t, figure out what decision you should have made instead and what, specifically, should have prompted that decision. Next time you face a similar scenario, you’ll be able to make a better decision. We call this maximizing your ROI on the test; read more about how to do this here. Sometimes, you’ll decide that you don’t know how to really do a problem, but you do think there’s a way to narrow down the answer choices before you guess. Educated guessing can be a great way to improve the odds that your guess ends up being correct (as long as you don’t spend too much time making this guess). Check out these two articles for more: Educated Guessing on Quant and Educated Guessing on Verbal. Spend 2 to 3 weeks internalizing and practicing these time management concepts. If you’re in one of our classes, come back to the third part of this series about a week before your second practice CAT. In part 3, we’ll discuss how to manage your time across an entire section of the GMAT. Can’t get enough of Stacey’s GMAT mastery? Attend the first session of one of her upcoming GMAT courses absolutely free, no strings attached. Seriously. Stacey Koprince is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Montreal, Canada and Los Angeles, California. Stacey has been teaching the GMAT, GRE, and LSAT for more than 15 years and is one of the most well-known instructors in the industry. Stacey loves to teach and is absolutely fascinated by standardized tests. Check out Stacey’s upcoming GMAT courses here. The post Everything You Need to Know About Time Management – Part 2 of 3 appeared first on GMAT. |
03 Oct 2016, 10:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: We’re Teaching a GMAT Class at Google Atlanta |
 We’re hosting a GMAT Class at Google’s corporate offices in the heart of Atlanta’s vibrant midtown district. At Google Atlanta, southern charm and hospitality meet a cutting-edge space. What better environment in which to master the GMAT? You’ll learn with Googlers from Chris Gentry, a standardized testing whiz and proud native Atlantan with a 99th-percentile 770 on the test. He has a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Clemson and a JD from Emory Law, but he uses neither because he loves teaching. The class will run on Thursdays from October 6 to December 8 from 6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. If you want to try it out with zero obligation, you can swing by the first class session for free. Want a sneak peak of the space? Check out the video tour below. We hope to see you there, Atlanta! Register here. The post We’re Teaching a GMAT Class at Google Atlanta appeared first on GMAT. |
17 Oct 2016, 15:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Manhattan Prep and mbaMission: Better Together |
 Don’t have GMAT tunnel vision. You want to go to business school, and not just any business school, but a top program. You’ve done your homework, and you know that you need a top-flight score to get there. You also know that Manhattan Prep is the best way to go if you’re serious about your GMAT prep. You take our course, crush the test, and move on to next steps…but then you realize that the next steps aren’t simple and they each beg their own questions. Now you’re overwhelmed with the rest of your applications and searching frantically for answers. Getting into a top business school requires more than just an excellent GMAT score; it requires an excellent application as a whole. Selecting the right schools, strategically crafting your essays, perfecting your resume, securing the best possible recommendations, handling interviews, and every other piece of your MBA applications demand the same amount of care and preparation as your GMAT prep. So go all in. Here at Manhattan Prep, we’re proud to offer bundled service packages with our exclusively recommended partner: leading MBA admissions consulting firm mbaMission. Now, you can bundle and save up to $450 on your MBA application journey. Why mbaMission? In 2008, Based on Manhattan Prep client feedback, we chose to exclusively recommend mbaMission to students seeking to hire an MBA admissions consultant. We initially recommended ten firms, then short-listed four. Ultimately, the name that kept coming up over and over again as the best experience for our students was mbaMission. Since 2008, our firms have worked side-by-side and share values and a commitment to excellence. Add Pre-Application, 1-School, or 3-School admissions consulting services to your GMAT Course and leave nothing to chance on your quest to attend a top business school. Manhattan Prep and mbaMission: Better together.  For package options, what’s included, FAQs, and pricing, go here. mbaMission is the leader in MBA admissions consulting with a full-time and comprehensively trained staff of consultants, all with profound communications and MBA experience. mbaMission has helped thousands of candidates fulfill their dream of attending prominent MBA programs around the world. The post Manhattan Prep and mbaMission: Better Together appeared first on GMAT. |
26 Oct 2016, 11:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Everything You Need to Know About GMAT Time Management – Part 3 of 3 |
 Are you ready for the third and final installment of our Time Management series? In the first part of this series, we established some overall principles for time management on the GMAT: (1) Why is time management so important on the GMAT? (2) Know (generally) how the scoring works. (3) When solving problems, follow two principles. In the second part, we talked about per-question timing: (4) First, train per question: Develop your “One-minute time sense” Today, we’re going to graduate to per-section timing. Let’s do this!(5) Second, manage an entire section using benchmarks The GMAT doesn’t time you per question, of course. You’ll need to manage your 75 minutes (each) across 37 Quant questions and 41 Verbal questions. On most questions, you’re going to spend somewhere between one minute and three minutes. You’ll also likely have a few on which you guess immediately (because the question is a big weakness for you or looks horrible for some other reason). And you’ll hopefully prevent yourself from spending much longer than three minutes on any one question, since that’s usually a big waste of time. (Think about it: there is a faster solution but you aren’t finding it. Better to let that one go!) So how do you balance all of that to come out to two minutes on average? We’re going to use our scratch paper to help us keep track. GMAT scratch paper is a bound booklet of five sheets of legal-sized paper (that’s the overly long paper often used for legal documents). This yellow graph paper will be laminated, so you’ll use a special marker to write on it. (If you’re in one of our classes, then you received your very Test Simulation Booklet as part of your books and other materials. You can also purchase a Test Simulation Booklet right on our website!) While the booklet technically has 10 faces (front and back of five pages), the first page has a bunch of writing and instructions on it, so in practice you’ll have nine faces on which to write. You can have only one booklet at a time, but you are allowed to exchange the booklet for a new one during the test. Ask for a new booklet during each break so that you start Quant and Verbal with a clean slate. Quant Section Timing When each new section of the test begins, you will have a 1-minute “section” that provides instructions for how to take the test (how to select answers and so on). You, of course, won’t actually need to read these instructions; you’ll already be prepared. Instead, you’re going to use that 1 minute to set up your scratch paper. (Note: you cannot set up your scratch paper during the break; you are not allowed to write anything or even sit in the testing room during your break.) Here’s what to do:  Flip the booklet over (so that you’re on the very last page), and write “0” or draw a smiley face or whatever message you like in the lower-right corner. This is where you’ll be done with the Quant section! Draw two lines to split the page into quadrants. Then move to the second-to-last page and write “8” in the lower-right corner. Again, split the page into quadrants. Keep doing this, counting up by multiples of 8 and working from the back of the booklet to the front. On the very first page (the one on which you write 64), split the page into five boxes, not four. As you take the test, the number in the corner of each page tells you approximately what the clock should read when you’re done with that page. If you’re within three minutes in either direction, you’re fine. If you are more than three minutes behind (e.g., you get to the number 40 but you only have 36 minutes left on the clock), then somewhere in the next set of four, choose a hard question on which to bail immediately. As soon as you see that it’s testing a topic you don’t like, or the wording is confusing, or whatever, guess your favorite letter and move on. Boom! Now you’re within three minutes again and can continue normally. (By the way, what is your favorite letter, A, B, C, D, or E? If you don’t have an immediate answer, pick one anyway. Congratulations, you now have a favorite letter! Whenever you need to guess randomly, always pick that same one. If you have eliminated that letter via educated guessing, then pick from among the remaining answers.) If you discover that you are more than three minutes ahead (e.g., you get to the number 40 but you still have 45 minutes left on the clock), then work more methodically. Make sure that you are actually writing all of your work down. Don’t rush so much that you start making a bunch of careless mistakes! Practice setting up your scratch paper this way during your practice tests. You’ll need to be able to set it all up in one minute (it’s harder than it sounds!) and you’ll need to practice how to react appropriately if you discover that you’re too far ahead or behind. Verbal Section Timing The different Verbal question types have different average time lengths, so tracking your timing is not going to be as clean as it is on Quant. Here’s how to set up the scratch paper for Verbal:  Since the Verbal questions have different averages, you’re going to do more problems before you check the time. This allows you to better balance across the different kinds of questions you’ll see on the test. This time, you’re going to use only the last five pages of your booklet. You’ll count up by multiples of 15, and you’ll do eight questions on each page (nine on the first page). We have to account for one more thing: the time it takes to read passages for Reading Comprehension problems. We typically see four passages on the test. The timing shown here assumes that you will start one new passage on each of the first four pages. In other words, you will start one passage somewhere in the first nine questions. You’ll start the second passage somewhere in the next eight questions. And so on. The test could, though, space out the passages differently. So here’s what you’re going to do. Every time you start a new passage, draw a dot on your hand with your pen. (Yes, your hand, not your scratch paper. As you turn the pages, you lose the ability to see at a glance how many passages you’ve done so far.) At the end of the first page, you should have 1 dot and be pretty close to 60 minutes left. At the end of the second page, you should have two dots and be pretty close to 45 minutes left. And so on. If your dots are on track and you find yourself more than three minutes ahead or behind, take the same kind of action that you would take for Quant in that circumstance. But if the dots are not on track, adjust your expectations accordingly. Let’s say that you get to the end of the second page, where you’re supposed to have two dots and 45 minutes left…but you have three dots already on your hand. You might only have 41 minutes left, but that’s okay because you started an extra passage. You don’t need to guess immediately on one of the questions in the next set. If, on the other hand, you have only one dot on your hand at the supposed-to-have-45-minutes-and-two-dots mark, then you would want to have more than 45 minutes left—closer to 48 or so. You’ll need more time later on because you still have three passages to come. If you actually have only 44 minutes left at that point, time to guess randomly on an upcoming hard question. One last note for Verbal: on the graphic above, we show the ABCDE written out for each question. If you prefer, you can write out the letters just once vertically and then continue tracking your work on subsequent problems to the right (without repeatedly writing the letters). Just continue to use your symbols to eliminate or circle the empty spaces that represent A, B, C, D, and E. You will definitely need to practice this setup multiple times before you get into the real test. Use this procedure on all of your practice CATs from now on. You can also use this whenever you do problem sets. Make Quant problem sets in multiples of four from now on and Verbal problem sets in multiples of eight. Then, analyze your timing both globally and per-question. Where did you make good decisions? Where should you have made different decisions? Figure out exactly how you should have known to make that different decision so that you can re-train yourself for next time and master time management on the GMAT. Good luck and happy studying! Can’t get enough of Stacey’s GMAT mastery? Attend the first session of one of her upcoming GMAT courses absolutely free, no strings attached. Seriously. Stacey Koprince is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Montreal, Canada and Los Angeles, California. Stacey has been teaching the GMAT, GRE, and LSAT for more than 15 years and is one of the most well-known instructors in the industry. Stacey loves to teach and is absolutely fascinated by standardized tests. Check out Stacey’s upcoming GMAT courses here. The post Everything You Need to Know About GMAT Time Management – Part 3 of 3 appeared first on GMAT. |
11 Nov 2016, 15:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Take 50% off our GMAT® App before Halloween ends! |
 There are two things more horrifying than the living dead:
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Redeem now! 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. The post Take 50% off our GMAT® App before Halloween ends! appeared first on GMAT. |
11 Nov 2016, 15:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Breaking the 700 Barrier – Part 1: The GMAT Mindset |
 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. The top 10 US b-schools now have average GMAT scores in the 700 to 730 range. That’s 90th percentile or higher—in other words, really high scores! So, if you want a 700-level score, what does it take to get yourself into that range? We’ll talk about what you need to do, but we’re also going to talk about what you need to NOT do. A lot of people harm their own chances (unknowingly!) by following paths that have very little chance of raising them to the 700 level. And one caveat: I can’t guarantee that, if you follow what I say, you’ll get yourself into the 700+ range. By definition, only 10% of all GMAT test takers score in that range. What I can guarantee is that you’ll maximize your chances. What is the GMAT really about? The GMAT is ultimately a test of your business mindset. Yes, you have to know math formulas and grammar rules and other things—but these are just the surface level of the test. The makers of the GMAT (aka GMAC) are most interested in how you think. What does that mean? Read this. Seriously, go read it right now, then come back here. I’ll wait. What did you learn? How does that change your understanding of what you need to do in order to do well on this test? In short, the GMAT is a test of how flexibly you think and how well you make various decisions—including the decision not to work on a particular problem at all. If you’re going to hit a 700+ level on this test, you’ll need to employ a business mindset, both while you’re taking the test and while you’re studying. Myths of the GMAT & The GMAT Mindset Myth #1: I need to get a high percentage of the questions on the test correct in order to get a high score. Let’s talk a little about what you’re not trying to do. First, it is not the case that your goal is to get all or most of the questions right. You’re going to answer approximately 60% of the questions correctly—whether you end up at a 500 or 600 or 700 level. Think about how weird that is: the test is not scored based on percentage or number correct! It is not the case that a higher score means you got more right than the person sitting next to you. That’s just bizarre! How can you get a better score if you got about the same number right? In school, everyone took the same test, so the only way to differentiate was by the number each person answered correctly. But on the GMAT, everyone takes a different test. The GMAT is a computer adaptive test: it actually changes based on how you’re doing. It adapts to you while you’re taking it! Think of it this way: if I’m trying to figure out at what level you’re capable of scoring, and I have a bunch of questions at different difficulty levels, one way to accomplish my goal is the following:
Myth #2: The earlier questions on the test are particularly important. When someone grasps how the test really does work, the next question I hear is, “Oh, so the earlier questions are super important! They ‘set’ your level or your trajectory, right?” Actually, that’s another myth. I understand why it arose; I thought the exact same thing when I first started learning about adaptive tests. As I dug more into the complex theory that governs adaptive tests, though, I realized both why people intuitively think that and why it’s not correct. Still, I run into this myth all the time, so I’m here to tell you: There’s something else going on. The GMAT is what’s called a “Where you end is what you get” test. You could lift your score up to a 51 (the very top score for quant or verbal) by the middle of the section, but if your performance has dropped to the 40-level by the time that section ends, then your score is going to be 40. It’s not going to be an average of 40 and 51. It’s just a straight-up 40. Here’s what happens to someone who believes “the earlier questions are more important” myth:
**Think about what it would take to answer the first 5 or 7 or 10 questions in a row correctly. The first question is going to start out somewhere in the mid-range (around 50th percentile). You get that right, and you’re going to get a harder one. And then you keep doing that, problem after problem. Before too long, the questions you’re getting are up in the stratosphere! So, myth #2 busted. Now, if you know how to answer stratosphere-type questions correctly and in normal time, then you’re going to get a great score on the GMAT…in which case, “make sure to get the early questions right” isn’t even a strategy you need. You just already know how to do these questions, even the super hard ones. That’s maybe 0.5% of the population. For the rest of us, this just isn’t going to happen. The test writers are actively going to give you things that are too hard or will take too long to do. They want to see whether you have the presence of mind to recognize that this question is a bad question for you—your ROI (return on investment) potential is too low. And they want to know whether you have the discipline to walk away from a low-opportunity question. In other words, they want to know how good of a business person you are! Your ultimate goal is not to get everything right. Your ultimate goal is to demonstrate your “business mindset.” Make your own choices as you take the exam, deciding as you go what is and is not promising enough to warrant your precious time and mental energy. Do not become a victim of the “first 5/7/10 questions” myth! Remember WYEIWYG. In other words, use your business mindset to help you maximize your ROI on this test. Join us next time, when we’ll talk about what it really takes to get a 700 score. Can’t get enough of Stacey’s GMAT mastery? Attend the first session of one of her upcoming GMAT courses absolutely free, no strings attached. Seriously. Stacey Koprince is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Montreal, Canada and Los Angeles, California. Stacey has been teaching the GMAT, GRE, and LSAT for more than 15 years and is one of the most well-known instructors in the industry. Stacey loves to teach and is absolutely fascinated by standardized tests. Check out Stacey’s upcoming GMAT courses here. The post Breaking the 700 Barrier – Part 1: The GMAT Mindset appeared first on GMAT. |
18 Nov 2016, 07:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Last Minute Tips for Getting Accepted to B-School in Round 2: Facebook Live |
 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 want to enroll in business school next year, but your applications and GMAT score are far from complete—maybe you haven’t even started. Round 2 MBA deadlines are fast-approaching, and now is the time to make the mad dash to meet them. If you miss Round 2, then Round 3 deadlines are still an option as well, but are they advisable? Where do you even begin to start tackling applications and GMAT scores when you realize late in the game that next year must be your year to earn your MBA? We’ve got some thoughts on that. Join us live on the Manhattan Prep GMAT Facebook page next Wednesday, November 16 at 1:00 PM Eastern for a special presentation on last-minute tips for getting accepted to business school. The presentation will be given by two experts on MBA admissions and the GMAT, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask them any questions you have. Meet the experts: Liza Weale  is a Senior Consultant with mbaMission. Liza attended MIT Sloan for her MBA and joined Bain & Company after graduation, where she worked with clients across industries, while also guiding her associate consultants through the MBA admissions process. Liza later served as executive director of Kaplan Test Prep’s GMAT and GRE business lines, where she led all strategic, marketing, and curriculum development efforts. Her true passion lies in helping people market themselves in their MBA applications. Joe Martin  not only has a 99th percentile GMAT score (an eye-popping 790), but also 99th percentile scores on the LSAT and GRE as well. He’s what we call a “triple threat” in test prep. Joe majored in astrophysics at Colgate University, where he lead tutoring sessions for his peers. Now, Joe has found his dream job teaching full-time, serving as an Instructor Manager, and helping to develop Manhattan Prep’s interactive video lessons, or “Interact.” So, join us on Wednesday, November 16 live on the Manhattan Prep GMAT Facebook page for a special opportunity to harness the wisdom of Liza and Joe. Even if you’re not in a rush to apply this year, feel free to tune in for future reference. We hope to see you there! TL;DR: What: Last Minute Tips for Getting Accepted to B-School in Round 2 or 3: Facebook Live Where: Manhattan Prep GMAT Facebook page When: Wednesday, November 16 at 1:00 PM Eastern mbaMission is the leader in MBA admissions consulting with a full-time and comprehensively trained staff of consultants, all with profound communications and MBA experience. mbaMission has helped thousands of candidates fulfill their dream of attending prominent MBA programs around the world. Take your first step toward a more successful MBA application experience with a free 30-minute consultation with one of mbaMission’s senior consultants. Sign up today at www.mbamission.com/manhattangmat. The post Last Minute Tips for Getting Accepted to B-School in Round 2: Facebook Live appeared first on GMAT. |
06 Dec 2016, 09:01
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: New Location: New Jersey! Be a part of our inaugural Jersey GMAT class. |
 Just call us New Jersey Prep! Okay, maybe don’t do that. Actually, please don’t do that; it will cause all sorts of branding confusion. What you can do is tell all of your friends that we’re now offering classes at Rutgers Business School in Newark, New Jersey. It might not be a total re-brand, but it should be a welcome development for Northern Jersey residents who are looking to ace the GMAT. We’re proud to present our very first New Jersey GMAT course. It’s being taught by 99th percentile GMAT scorer and MIT Sloan MBA alumnus Eric Caballero. Students credit his high-energy teaching style with making class time fly, and his intelligence and effectiveness with helping them reach their target scores. When: Mondays from Nov. 28, 2016 to Feb. 13, 2017 from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM EST Where: Rutgers Business School: 1 Washington Park, Newark, NJ 07102 Interested? You can attend the first session for free, so you’ve got nothing to lose. Try it for Free. Don’t live in Jersey? Frankly, it’s amazing that you’ve read this far. But more importantly, we’ve got classes all over. Find a course near you here. The post New Location: New Jersey! Be a part of our inaugural Jersey GMAT class. appeared first on GMAT. |
15 Dec 2016, 08:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Great News! Interact Honored by Wharton, QS as Top Innovative E-Learning Platform |
 Check out our free Interact™ demo here. We started our week in Philadelphia. No, we weren’t eating cheesesteaks or trying to steal the Declaration of Independence—we were at the Reimagine Education Conference & Awards 2016! Our on-demand, innovative e-learning platform for the GMAT and LSAT, Interact™, was shortlisted for the Digital Content Award, which recognizes innovative digital learning solutions. We put a lot of thought and hard work into figuring out what students needed in a self-study platform, and we’re thrilled that our efforts were recognized. The Reimagine Education Conference & Awards are organized by career and education network QS in collaboration with the esteemed Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management. Created to reimagine traditional, expensive, sometimes inaccessible education, the Awards honor “innovative education pedagogies enhancing learning and employability.” Their panel of 40 elite judges and group of distinguished speakers include innovators from organizations such as Google, Microsoft, and Harvard. Out of 527 submissions, Interact was one of 120 shortlisted projects. Noah Teitelbaum, our VP of Instruction & Customer Experience, traveled to Philadelphia to give a talk on Interact to the Awards judges and global audience. He certainly impressed them with his passion for great teaching.  Interact from Manhattan Prep is quite exciting! @ReimagineHEdu #ReimagineEdu @manhattanprep pic.twitter.com/UqGLhsNFFh — Arditodesio Company (@jetproptheatre) December 5, 2016 Ingredients of #great teachers: 1. Connection 2. Enthusiasm 3. Challenge Great teachers matter a lot @ManhattanPrep#ReimagineEdu #EdTech — Theo Lynn (@theolynn) December 5, 2016 Interact was created to immerse students in an engaging, self-paced learning experience. We eschew the stale, linear model of traditional video lessons; instead, we sought to create an intuitive platform that would allow students to authentically connect with teachers during entertaining lessons (there are even a couple of sock puppets involved). How? Well, we used real teachers behind and in front of the camera—our awesome instructors, in fact, who have all gotten 99th percentile scores on the tests they teach. They guide you through multifaceted lessons that engage your whole brain, giving you the skills you’ll need before, during, and after the test. Interact tailors itself to you, making it truly interactive. If you get something right, you may be led to a tougher problem. If you get something wrong, we might guide you through a detailed lesson. This allows you to experience the expertise, empathy, and guidance you’d receive from a seasoned teacher during an in-person class. It’s kinda like the choose-your-own-adventure of test prep. Interact covers every topic on the exam. For the GMAT, you can purchase Verbal Only or Quant Only if you need help only on a particular section. For the LSAT, you can purchase Logic Games Only, Logical Reasoning Only, or Reading Comprehension Only. We’re proud of Interact—it’s come a long way, just like us. We’re grateful that Reimagine Education sees potential in the platform, and we look forward to stretching the boundaries of edtech for years to come. Get free trials of Interact here: The post Great News! Interact Honored by Wharton, QS as Top Innovative E-Learning Platform appeared first on GMAT. |
15 Dec 2016, 08:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: GMAC News: New “Lifetime Limit” on GMAT Attempts |
 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. This past Friday, GMAC hosted its biannual Test Prep Summit at its headquarters in Reston, VA. (Really: it’s annual, but they skipped a year last year.) I was there and have various tidbits and scoops to share with you. Integrated Reasoning We spent a lot of time talking about the Integrated Reasoning (IR) section of the test. The section has been out long enough now (June 2012) for the early test-takers to have completed graduate school. GMAC conducts extensive validity studies on all parts of its tests and IR is scoring well. In other words, performance on IR does actually correlate to performance in b-school, so IR is a valid test to help schools evaluate candidates. Schools have slowly started to use IR more (the first year, I think everybody ignored it, schools and students alike!). We’ve heard that the most common usage is as an extra data point: a plus in your column if you have a high score and a minus if you have a low score. (As a reminder: this section is scored from a low of 1 to a high of 8. The median score is between 4 and 5, so a 6 is a good score and a 7 or 8 is a very good score.) My guess is that the validity data will encourage schools to continue the current trajectory, paying more and more attention to IR. The bad news: yes, this means you should be taking IR more seriously than you might have thought you needed to. The good news: the IR section tests the same underlying material (quant, CR-type reasoning, executive decision-making) as the rest of the test. The only true “extra” is how to handle the four question types that are specific to the IR section. Also: I know many people don’t like or are intimidated by the IR section, but a lot of that is simply that you haven’t really seen this kind of thing before. You just need to study it enough that it feels normal. Imagine what the Quant and Verbal sections of the test would be like if you’d never seen any kind of multiple-choice math question or any Reading Comp passage, ever. It would feel very weird and annoying. (Even more so than it already is. ) Note for anyone who wants to go into management consulting or investment banking: these industries tend to ask for GMAT scores* when recruiting on b-school campuses—and some of the big-name firms have reported that they are also paying attention to the IR scores. This makes sense, since the IR section is testing exactly the kind of analytical skills that an analyst or consultant needs to use all day long. So if you aspire to work in these fields, make sure you set aside enough time during your studies to perform well on the IR section, too. [*p.s. Just a note: I haven’t heard these types of firms ask for your “GMAT or GRE” scores. To date, my students tell me that they’re asked specifically for their GMAT scores, period. Just something to think about if you want to go into one of these fields.] 8-Test Lifetime Limit GMAC has announced that it will shortly impose an 8-test lifetime limit on the GMAT. This will help them to curb abuses by people who are taking the test 5 times a year, every year, for some nefarious purpose (very, very few of these people send even a single score report to a school). In the past, people have been caught taking the test repeatedly in an attempt to memorize questions and then sell them to aspiring test takers. I’m assuming this is the kind of security issue that the new policy is meant to combat. GMAC has crunched the numbers and determined that 8 tests is the right threshold to minimize the impact on legitimate students—most people over that threshold in the past five years are people they suspect of taking the test for not-the-right-reasons. If you are worried about this, take heart: there will be an appeals process, in case a legitimate student really does get caught up in the new limit. I imagine that some people are already in the 5 to 7 test range and will now be really worried; if you are a legitimate student, it’s okay! You will have to jump through some hoops to show them that you are a legitimate student, but assuming you are, you will be able to take the test again. For others who aren’t that far down the path yet, I will say: it’s still totally okay to take the GMAT multiple times, but it’s also wise to make sure that you’re prepared as best you can be. I’ve talked to a lot of students who take an official test after having studied only a week or two—because they just wanted to see what the experience was like. Use GMATPrep for that (GMAC’s official free practice test) and save the real test for a legitimate attempt. It’s fine to have a “dry run” attempt after you’ve been studying for a while but before you feel you’re totally ready to hit your goal—that’s still only one test. Executive Assessment The Executive Assessment (EA) is GMAC’s new test (launched March 2016) for Executive MBA (EMBA) programs. A seventh school, University of Virginia Darden has started using the EA, joining the six founding members: CEIBS (China European International Business School), Chicago Booth, Columbia, University of Hong Kong Business School, INSEAD, and London Business School. At the summit, GMAC confirmed that geometry will not show up on the EA. Yay! There are also plans to release practice questions and practice tests early in 2017, hopefully in the first quarter. If you are planning to take the EA before then, take a look at our article summarizing our best guesses regarding what the EA does and does not test (and, therefore, how to prep for it). GMAC also provided more in-depth details as to how the EA works as an adaptive test. It’s not question-adaptive, the way that the GMAT is. The Integrated Reasoning section is given first because it combines both math and verbal skills. After that, you’ll do the Verbal section in two groups of 7 questions each. The difficulty level of the first batch of 7 questions will be chosen based on how you did on verbal-based IR questions. Then, you’ll receive another set of 7 questions chosen based on how you did in the first batch of Verbal questions. The same thing will happen with the Quant section (the final section on the EA). GMAC also emphasized that, though the EA looks and feels a lot like a shorter version of the GMAT, it’s not just a “mini-GMAT.” The GMAT is a much longer and a much more precise test—it’s designed to help schools evaluate you against other applicants as well as predict your chances of success in b-school. The EA, on the other hand, is what’s called a “readiness” test: it’s designed to assess whether your fundamental Q and V skills are good enough for you to start your EMBA program. Presumably, the schools will use it at two levels: they’ll want to see a “good enough” score to know that you won’t crash and burn as soon as school starts, and they might use the results to recommend certain pre-term courses that will get you ready to start—maybe you need a math refresher course or a tutorial on data and graph interpretation, for example. Anything Else? Just one: I’ve asked them (again ) to please release a Focus product for Verbal. GMAC currently has a GMAT Focus product for the Quant section and it’s one of the best study tools available: it’s a 24-question adaptive quant section. It’s literally the only adaptive study tool that’s not a full-length practice test. I keep emphasizing that word adaptive because that’s the key feature. The best practice is practice that mimics the format of the real test, but it takes 3.5 hours to take a practice test and sometimes…I’m just not ready for that. But I still do want to get very GMAT-like practice. GMAT Focus is made for just this situation. It allows you to get additional, CAT-like practice in shorter bursts, so you can iterate more (take a Focus, analyze it, then set study priorities for the next week before you do it all over again—and take a full CAT 2 or 3 weeks from now). On a per-question basis, Focus is more expensive than other official products, and there’s only a max of 4 before you see repeated questions, so I would save it for later in your studies—when you know all the math you want / need to know and are really looking to put your skills together in timed, adaptive conditions. Bookmark the store link I gave above and keep this in your back pocket—you’ll want to use it when the time is right. That’s all I’ve got for you today. Questions? Comments? Let us know below or contact our Student Services team (gmat@manhattanprep.com) for additional help. Can’t get enough of Stacey’s GMAT mastery? Attend the first session of one of her upcoming GMAT courses absolutely free, no strings attached. Seriously. Stacey Koprince is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Montreal, Canada and Los Angeles, California. Stacey has been teaching the GMAT, GRE, and LSAT for more than 15 years and is one of the most well-known instructors in the industry. Stacey loves to teach and is absolutely fascinated by standardized tests. Check out Stacey’s upcoming GMAT courses here. The post GMAC News: New “Lifetime Limit” on GMAT Attempts appeared first on GMAT. |
20 Dec 2016, 23:00
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Mind the Gap: How the Skills Gap Is Affecting Employment and Education |
 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. If you’ve spent any time poring over job listings recently, you may have noticed a trend: despite the fact that there are a ton of openings, it can seem impossible to secure an interview or even a response from most companies. The jobs are there, but somehow you’re still looking for one; so, what’s the missing link? Businesses really are looking to hire new employees, but it’s been proving difficult to find people who have what it takes to do those increasingly high-skill jobs. Employees can’t keep up with the skills they’re expected to possess, which are always changing, and in turn, companies have to halt growth while they search for potential hires who they feel can get the job done. This phenomenon is referred to as a “skills gap,” and it’s been widening for years alongside the advance of technology and its ties to the ever-evolving workforce. This past July boasted the most job openings ever recorded in a month in the U.S. since the year 2000; there were 5,788,000 openings and 5,084,000 people hired. That seems like good news at face value, but it’s actually a result of the skills gap’s habit of ruining employment opportunities. Less people were hired because companies have been lengthening the hiring process rather than providing promising employees with the training they need to acquire new skills. Obviously, this hurts the economy, but it’s particularly frustrating for people who find that their breadth of knowledge is insufficient, forcing them to catch up or face a long job search. The Skills Gap Misery Index uses data to tangibly measure the effect that the skills gap has on the U.S. workforce by proving the amount of “misery” it’s caused over the years with both employers and employees. The current SGMI is 138.2, which means that the gap is 38.2% wider than it was in 2001, when the data was first measured. Clearly, we’re pretty miserable at the moment.  According to the Wall Street Journal, 73% of CEOs claim the skills gap is a “key concern” that undoubtedly affects the future growth of their business. The gap is especially prevalent in the tech world, where advances are constantly being made to render formerly-impressive skills obsolete, like a new iPhone after six months. Since the existing amount of digital data is doubling every two years, there’s been a huge increase in demand for skilled employees in fields like data science and analytics, which were once niche areas but are quickly becoming integral to all industries. This bubble chart by UpScored shows the top 30 skill gaps in technical roles:  To help bridge the gap, companies like Microsoft have been investing in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education, confirming its crucial role in the development of the skills necessary to succeed in today’s workforce. Learning skills through higher education like the ones illustrated in the bubble chart can greatly increase your worth in the job market. After all, employers are consistently looking for highly-educated employees. According to Fortune, there is a “vast pay gap between those with advanced degrees and those without, as well as [a] growing emphasis employers place on higher education for hiring and promotion.” Their study determining the best graduate degrees for jobs was based on a combination of outlook for job growth, median pay, and job satisfaction/stress. The result? Graduate degrees in STEM fields dominated the rankings, with starting salaries ranging from $68k to $117k. With 27% of employers now hiring employees with master’s degrees for positions that used to require only a 4-year degree, higher education has become increasingly important in the workforce. It’s not just mid-level positions that are at stake—46% of employers are looking to hire better educated candidates for entry-level jobs.  MBAs in High Demand Investing in a master’s in a STEM field isn’t the only way to go when considering your future employment opportunities. There’s also the MBA, whose graduates earn an average of 75% more than non-MBAs—and that’s just in general. MBAs from the top schools can augment their earnings to 138% more than their pre-MBA salary levels. This is a process that plays out over the entirety of your career; 20 years after completing their program, MBA grads can expect to be around $2.57 million better off than non-MBAs in terms of salaries, bonuses, etc. Beyond the financial gains, an MBA helps you develop business skills and connections that can make it easier to find an amazing job after graduation. According to this graduate of both Harvard and Stanford, a top MBA can provide you with “the habit of thinking strategically…the desire to think big, the ambition to do something that matters, and the self-confidence to launch yourself into achieving it,” as well as “deep friendships with so many bright, driven, ambitious people.” The possession of those skills and resources is invaluable in a job candidate—simply having that network of trusted b-school associates can open up job opportunities and collaborations that would never be possible otherwise, making you see your MBA’s return on investment for your whole career. Yes, a master’s in something like Computer Science and an MBA from a great school are pretty big investments in and of themselves. But as employers continue to hold out for highly-skilled candidates, the skills gap will widen and employees will be expected to learn more than they already know. Pursuing higher education is a way to secure your future in an uncertain workforce. Hiring practices may be changing, but the value of a graduate degree has only been increasing. Choosing to go after a master’s degree or MBA definitely takes a lot of hard work and preparation. We know that you may not have time to attend an in-person class, might prefer learning in an interactive way, or maybe you work best in a 1-on-1 setting—that’s why we offer test prep options for all kinds of people looking to invest in their future. As the skills gap widens, we’re choosing to think big and plan ahead for the many students who will seek out higher education. We hope to see you in class soon! Show the skills gap who’s boss by taking the first steps toward higher education. We offer: The post Mind the Gap: How the Skills Gap Is Affecting Employment and Education appeared first on GMAT. |
17 Jan 2017, 11:01
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Announcing Our Very First Miami GMAT Course! |
 We’re taking our talents to South Beach. Don’t be fooled by our name. We may have started in Manhattan, but now we offer classes pretty much everywhere! Instructor Daniel Fogel has been teaching courses in Boston, but lately he had been considering a winter retreat. So, we sent him to Miami! He’ll be teaching our very first Miami GMAT course there starting on January 23. It might be a bit harder to focus on your GMAT studies amid the white sand, art deco, and world-class nightclubs, but don’t worry. Daniel is a master at guiding students through the process. Here’s what you need to know: When Mondays, Jan. 23 – March 20, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Where The Mutiny Hotel on the Bay, 2951 Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL 33133 Join us for our very first GMAT Course in Miami!  The difference is Manhattan Prep, Lebron. Don’t live in Miami and feeling left out? Don’t worry. We have GMAT Complete Courses all over. The post Announcing Our Very First Miami GMAT Course! appeared first on GMAT. |
19 Jan 2017, 11:01
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Beginning Your B-School Application Year: Facebook Live |
 Your New Year’s resolution was to get into business school. January will be over before you know it, though. Have you assessed your MBA profile yet? Scheduled your GMAT test date? Don’t worry; you haven’t fallen too far behind schedule, but if you want to stay ahead of the curve, it is time to start thinking seriously about beginning your b-school application year. We’ve teamed up with our exclusive MBA admissions partner, mbaMission, to bring you a one-of-a-kind presentation that answers all of your application questions—and introduce our new and exciting offering, exclusively for Manhattan Prep students! Join us live on the Manhattan Prep GMAT Facebook page next Tuesday, January 24 at 6 p.m. EST for a special presentation on assessing your MBA profile and conquering the GMAT in 2017. The presentation will be delivered by an MBA admissions expert and a GMAT pro, and you will have the opportunity to ask them any questions you have. Meet the experts mbaMission Senior Consultant Liza Weale attended MIT Sloan for her MBA and joined Bain & Company after graduation, where she worked with clients across industries, while also guiding her associate consultants through the MBA admissions process. Liza later served as executive director of Kaplan Test Prep’s GMAT and GRE business lines, where she led all strategic, marketing, and curriculum development efforts. Her true passion lies in helping people “market” themselves in their MBA applications. Joe Martin is a GMAT instructor at Manhattan Prep. He has earned not only a 99th percentile GMAT score (an eye-popping 790), but also 99th percentile scores on the LSAT and GRE. He is what we call a “triple threat” in test prep. Joe majored in astrophysics at Colgate University, where he led tutoring sessions for his peers. Now, Joe has found his dream job teaching full time, serving as an instructor manager, and helping to develop Manhattan Prep’s interactive video lessons, Interact™.So, join us live on the Manhattan Prep GMAT Facebook page on Tuesday, January 24 for a special opportunity to harness the wisdom of Liza and Joe. Even if you’re not in a rush to apply this year, feel free to tune in for future reference. We hope to see you there! The post Beginning Your B-School Application Year: Facebook Live appeared first on GMAT. |
19 Jan 2017, 11:01
| FROM Manhattan GMAT Blog: Update: Best News! Wharton, QS Honor Interact™ with Digital Content Award |
 Check out our free Interact™ demo here. We have some exciting news to share with you from the Reimagine Education Conference & Awards 2016: Our e-learning platform, Interact™, won the Digital Content Silver Award, which recognizes it as one of the most innovative e-learning platforms of 2016! We put a lot of thought and hard work into figuring out what students needed in a self-study platform, and we’re thrilled and humbled that our efforts were honored so highly.  The 2016 Digital Content Silver Award, Wharton-approved. Reimagine Education is organized by career and education network QS in collaboration with the esteemed Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management. Created to rethink the traditional education model, the Awards honor “innovative education pedagogies enhancing learning and employability.” Their panel of 40 elite judges and group of distinguished speakers include innovators from Google, Microsoft, Harvard, and more. Out of 527 submissions, Interact was named among the top 3 Digital Content projects. By granting Interact the Digital Content Silver Award, the panel singled out the platform as one of the top three most innovative e-learning projects of 2016 among 527 total submissions. The Digital Content Award is granted to “the project that…creates the most compelling, detailed, informative digital content, with an interface and medium designed to support learners everywhere.” Winning projects are those that have demonstrated a “clear causal link” between their content and improved learning outcomes. Interact™ 101 Interact was created to immerse students in an engaging, self-paced learning experience. We reject the stale, linear model of traditional video lessons; instead, we’ve created an intuitive self-study experience that allows students to authentically connect with teachers through entertaining lessons (there are even a couple of sock puppets involved). How? Well, we used real teachers behind and in front of the camera—our awesome instructors, in fact, who have all gotten 99th percentile scores on the tests they teach. They guide you through multifaceted lessons that engage your whole brain, giving you the skills you’ll need before, during, and after the test. Interact tailors itself to you, making it truly interactive. If you get something right, you may be led to a tougher problem. If you get something wrong, we might guide you through a detailed lesson. This allows you to experience the expertise, empathy, and guidance you’d receive from a seasoned teacher during an in-person class. It’s kinda like the choose-your-own-adventure of test prep. Interact covers every topic on the exam. For the GMAT, you can purchase Verbal Only or Quant Only if you need help only on a particular section. For the LSAT, you can purchase Logic Games Only, Logical Reasoning Only, or Reading Comprehension Only. We’re ecstatic that Wharton and QS have named Interact as one of the most innovative e-learning platforms of 2016. What’s next for Interact? We’ll continue to make it even better.  Try Interact for free! The post Update: Best News! Wharton, QS Honor Interact™ with Digital Content Award appeared first on GMAT. |
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Hi Generic [Bot],
Here are updates for you:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 Wednesday, Apr 24, 2024 11:30am NY / 3:30pm London / 9pm Mumbai Watch earlier episodes of DI series below EP1: 6 Hardest Two-Part Analysis Questions EP2: 5 Hardest Graphical Interpretation Questions
Tuck at Dartmouth
AGSM at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
 Free Resources
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