And so it begins...

Question

I start preparing for the GMAT today! I'm not planning on applying for ~2 years after I graduate and I start my senior year next month so I have plenty of time but I'm thinking I'll take the test in early 2008 while I'm still in that "school mindset" instead of waiting until closer to application time. I've always done well on standardized test without any sort of effort but after reviewing some GMAT questions this appears to be an entirely different kind of beast. I wouldn't feel comfortable sitting down and taking it today, but I'm hoping after 6 months of study/review it'll feel like a walk in the park (or maybe a slightly more taxing jog haha).

I guess there's no real point to this post other than to introduce myself (I'm Eric) and wish everyone the best of luck with their preparations. I think I can learn a lot from everyone here 8-)

ashkrs · Answer

Welcome aboard bro!
I am just a month old here . Trust me you will have nice time.

eschn3am · Answer

Thanks! I hope so. I'm rather humbled by my first run through some of the problems in GMAC review book...I hope this is normal and just a passing phase

snow wolf · Answer

Well,now you know the GMAT is not exactly a walk in the park.But if you work hard you would get first place in the sprint.

CrazyHorse · Answer

Welcome!

If you're generally good at standardized tests, and you're still in school and recently exposed to math classes, the GMAT shouldn't require 6 months of prep. Do some practice questions and take a practice test and see how you do, but I kind of doubt you'll need more than 3 months' prep.

riverripper · Answer

Focusing on extra curriculars and volunteering will do a lot more for you at this point than the GMAT. Some schools prefer to have a GMAT from close to when you apply than from right out of school. It seems to be an indicator of where you stand when you apply than what you were 4 years ago.

Keep your GPA as high as you can and get involved as much as possible with as much leadership as you can. Thats really what you should focus on at this point in the game since you should have 2-4 years experience post grad before applying. You have plenty of time to take the GMAT.

eschn3am · Answer

Thanks for the advice guys. The six months is just kind how long I'm thinking it will take, but if I feel confident after 3 and have been doing well on my practice tests then I can certainly take it earlier. I'd really rather take the GMAT while I'm still in school and in "test mode" so hopefully that won't look too bad when I apply 2 years down the road.

I do have a couple quick questions that have come up.

1. How does scoring work exactly? It seems like each section is worth 60 points but a 48 on each (80%) is more than adequate for a good final grade.

2. What are you allowed to use while taking the new computerized GMAT? I see that they provide some sort of wet erase board, so no pen and paper. What about calculators?

I'm sorry if there is a thread with all this information that I'm just not seeing!

nervousgmat · Answer

1. How does scoring work exactly? It seems like each section is worth 60 points but a 48 on each (80%) is more than adequate for a good final grade.  60 is a hypothetical scale. I haven't seen a score with more than 51Q/51(2)?V breakdown.  
2. What are you allowed to use while taking the new computerized GMAT? I see that they provide some sort of wet erase board, so no pen and paper. What about calculators?  No calculators or anything else that you could physically bring in the testing room. You will be given an "erasable" plastic notebook and 1 or 2 pens. I put erasable in quotation marks because you can't actually erase anything that you wrote in the notebook. Only administraters of the test have the means to do it. 
I'm sorry if there is a thread with all this information that I'm just not seeing!

kryzak · Answer

Welcome! I'm only a month old myself. Nearing the end of my GMAT studies (hopefully). 

but I would take a GMATPrep test first just to see how much studying you need. If you get over 700 on your first try, you should be able to get away with studying for only a month or less.

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