sachinomania wrote:
I plan to take the gmat in april. Some of my friends told me to rethink because the format may change.
1) Is this true? When is the format changing?
2) Is it a disadvantage to take the exam in the old format , in case the new format is in practice during my applications?
Per the GMAC official press release: "The GMAT exam’s verbal and quantitative sections will not change. As a result, when the new section is introduced in June 2012, tests will be scored on the same 200–800 scale used today. Test takers will receive a separate score for the essay—as they do now—and another distinct score on the new integrated reasoning section."
https://gmac.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=112In other words, the actual GMAT score will not change at all. You will get a composite score, an AWA score, and an integrated reasoning score. The format change isn't going to go into effect until June 2012. This is really close to the fall admissions season, and there is no way that schools will expect candidates to have completed the new version prior to applying. Even then, we don't know how the numbers will be used or how to best prepare for the section yet. The AWA is rumored to be largely ignored unless your English skills are called into question, so who knows what this new section will be used for.
I think a prudent course of action would be to go ahead with your plan to take the exam in April. If you are applying in 2011-12, everyone will have taken the old test and if you are applying in 2012-13, then the vast majority of applicants will have taken the old test. You may want to consider re-taking or postponing the GMAT if you aren't able to successfully apply before 2013-14.