GMAT Online - What We Know [Master Topic]

Hi All,

I just completed my GMAT Online test! What a stressful time. I'll take you all through it as I was super curious.

Prior to the exam date, the system test did not work for me. I was in isolation due to moving back up to Canada and only had rural LTE network wifi which isn't good enough for the OnVue. It kept saying "You have lost your internet connection. OnVue is disabled until your connection is restored" every time I tried to do the sytem check 20-30 seconds after running the program. This was due to it not liking my LTE network I believe. When I called for support, they said I could figure it out during my exam time. I said F that and rented a hotel for my testing time (I checked the system test at the hotel prior).

During the exam, you follow the instructions on the email they send you. I almost had a heart attack because the "Begin Exam" link is hidden with a ton of other script to the right hand side. So I thought I couldn't write it at first and freaked out. Then I pressed it and it went through the system check, I took photos of myself, my ID, and four photos of the area around me. It was relatively quick, and I went through the tutorial 7 pages which were NOT timed. The instruction pages are timed for about 30 seconds each I believe. The whiteboard is on the bit that has your video on it, to the right of the chat button. If you press the chat button it alarms a proctor and they get back to you when they see it.

It is very difficult to do math on a whiteboard at regular times, but I thought I had gotten pretty good at it, until I realized that my hand was uncontrollably shaking. So maybe take that into account... I went through the math portion and stretched in my seat before the verbal portion started. Again the instruction page for 30 seconds, and then it jumps right into it!

I then had a break after the verbal and before IR. I wasn't sure if I could use the washroom, so I asked in the chat, but they took a while to get back to me so I said never mind and went into my IR section. The chat is really super annoying because when they DID get back to it, it was during my timed exam portion and it just kept popping up. I accidentally closed it one time before reading what they said and I couldn't open it without then acknowledging the chat again. So if you can avoid it, don't use the chat to the proctor. Just do your exam. I also noticed that after I had gotten a response they were looking at me through my webcam because I guess I was mumbling things under my breath and they said to not do that (in a totally nice way).

I finished the exam and am still shaking even now! Hopefully this helps some of you out. All in all, it was a super stressful thing and I would NEVER do an online exam again. Too many system problems that could occur. If you have a chance, just do it in person. I will now await my score that should come hopefully before 7 days.

-Em