GMAC is trying to turn GMAT into GRE?

Is GMAC is trying to turn GMAT into GRE?

One of the GMAT Club members has shared with me some of the research that GMAC is conducting and I have to say that it was really surprising. Of all the things GMAC could be doing (improving test reliability, reducing crazy reviews, publishing a new Official Guide, adding ESR to the online test, or expanding the number of times a person can take the test), instead they are trying cardinal changes, most of which seem an attempt at copying the format of the GRE test. Here is what is being considered - change of the format:

Options Considered:

1. Add Ability to review and change answers in up to 4 previously answered questions.
   This means if you are on question 10 right now, and you realize you made a mistake on question 6, you can go back and change it. Same for questions 7, 8, and 9 but not 5.. I can kind of see why it may be useful. I have in the past tests realized that I have or may have made a mistake in one of the questions I answered but there was no way to go back, but these times were rare and I feel going back will not make me suddenly fall in love with GMAT (don't take me wrong - I like GMAT but I don't feel that this is the ingredient it was missing, you know what I mean?) The main issues people face are absent proctors and technical issues such as lag with their tests, not desire to mess with previous answers.
   
   
2. Same as the first one but you can review and change answers to any 4 questions at the end of the test.
   This seems a bit more useful as it seems you can go back and review questions later. I feel this could be a nice way to hack RC and basically skip a whole passage potentially by randomly choosing the answers and then coming back if you have time. Again, it seems we are just introducing more variables rather than actually making meaningful changes that would somehow make GMAT stand a head above other tests. I mean 4 questions are not going to save anyone. If they were destined for 450, they will get the 450, review or no review.
   
   
3. The Magical Question Pocket!
   Yes! Thank you - we are all saved. Forget about studying and throw away your books because now we will have a question pocket. (this was factiousness so please go pick those books up and fish them out of the dumpster). This option would allow a student to place 4 questions into a pocket and then the test taker can come back to this "Pocket" to attempt this question later. And since you can only place one question into a pocket, you have to first deal with any existing 4 questions in that pocket before you can put another one in
   
   
4. Copy/Paste of the GRE format
   Splitting the test into multiple stages in which students can move around and skip questions within each stage/section but not after they finish/submit the stage/section. This is exactly like the GRE works. I am not sure if this is the key option considered but it seems the most reasonable and likely to be understood/making a difference. I mean there is no pocket craziness or some kind of a 4-question rule. This is actually something people can understand and basically should have said - since the GRE is eating our lunch, what do you think about turning GMAT into the GRE?

My Take: I admit I have had a bit too much fun with these options. I feel they are pretty raw and silly (most of them) and so I am not sure they deserve a much more serious response. Maybe and I apologize if this is serous research - I clearly did not follow it. To me, any of the first 3 options seem unnecessary and adding complexity and extra steps to everyone's test strategies, requiring to modify how they approach questions, etc, etc. I don't see really any value that skipping, pocketing, or reviewing 4 questions later are going to make into anyone's test scores. It will definitely not be the reason people will choose to take the GMAT. The puzzling part is that the only realistic option being evaluated here is the GRE transformation and I feel that if people were already leaning towards the GRE, this will only accelerate that transition. How would they market this? We are just like the GRE, except our test costs $100 more and we will send you mean emails about canceling your score because you went to the bathroom? I think the challenges that people are experiencing are not with the format. I don't think anyone cares about the format frankly - I think it is the customer support which points fingers to examity which points fingers back to the support. I have to say that I have seen support improve and I have seen fewer complaints and delays with the retake vouchers (I am going to compliment the GMAC and say that they have fixed that issue with the tests canceled due to technical issues but there are still lots of tests that go terribly wrong without being canceled, and other issues).


What do you think about this research?


And if you think I made these up - no. It is not even funny. Here are the official screnshots from the research study: