GMAT Online - What We Know [Master Topic]

Hi bb,

It is indeed a big shift but the reason is that the past (several) weeks I have been focused on verbal which was my biggest weakness and I haven't done much for quant. I noticed as soon as I started doing the first problems that I was mentally slow and not as agile as usual, that's why I know it is not representative of my regular quant level.

I do not think the difference between online and 'physical' verbal lies in the format, but to be honest I really can't tell what it was...only that I do think that there is something different.

I also know what you mean about judging the difficulty. For me a feeling of increasing difficulty while doing Quant typically leads to a higher score (it makes sense), whereas for Verbal I can tell when I am doing well and normally matches the score.

Hey JL2020 ,

Your test center appointment and the online GMAT are not related to each other and it doesn't matter even if you have both the tests on the same day.

Today I survived the GMAT Online!

Before anyone asks, this is my best guess at my score

Quant: 49-50 (had to guess on a few, the online whiteboard was not so bad, though the hard ones would have been easier to "churn" on with an actual physical note-taking component)

Verbal: 40-51 (Verbal is always the wild card, imo). I will admit that I took the test late at night and went really quickly on Verbal--I finished with 25 minutes to spare, but I didn't feel rushed and I read every RC passage all the way through, for meaning.

Composite: 730-770

IR: I tanked the IR section because the test failed on me right at the beginning of the section, and I totally lost my flow. I was able to get back into the exam just fine (thank you to my proctors!!) but I got a very ominous "test failure" type message that terrified me and made me fear for the worst. Ultimately, it spooked me and I was afraid that--like others whose stories I had read here on GMAT Club--if it happened again, then I would not be able to restart and I would be forced to retake the entire test, so instead I guessed my way quickly through the rest of the IR section.

Probably a 2 or 3, 4 if I'm lucky.

WHAT THE HELL. I scored 1.5 points lower than my average due to the whiteboard alone. They must offer retakes, this is insane!!

I see retaking as an option only if does not cost me more $$$.

I believe they should not proceed with this change now without giving us a chance to retake with the new conditions (and without cost) or somehow adjusting our grades gauss bell. It is really unfair.

I will be taking it at the Test Center anyway

Regards,
Pablo

Seems to be the right stuff. You can only have 1 marker, however (but likely can't buy them individually anyway).
Make sure you board is about the right size (they won't measure it but they may give you a hard time if it is huge)

it will definitely cost more to retake... it would be a paid option for sure!

Here is a random question for you, how much would you be willing to pay if you could take the same set of questions twice?
There is a loophole that allows you to tap the same question pool of questions (if you take the EA and GMAT in the same 15 day period, you get the same question database. Souvik was somewhat surprised when he got the RC's and same Quant questions) but EA costs $350. At the same time, you can take EA, then prep for the type of questions you will encounter and then sit for the GMAT. Oddly enough in Souvik's case, his score was only a smidge higher on the EA than on the GMAT. So in his case retaking the same exact questions twice was of little consequence.

They are offering a retake to those who have already given the Online GMAT but the full fees applies.

Hi, I think it has something to do with them reviewing whether you take the test faithfully. Not sure though, but some of the test takers who took the longest to get their scores are the one who at least got some issue on their tests. This is my own analysis and I might be wrong.

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Good question. During the interview and different webinars, GMAT indicated that they have no plans to integrate the two score reports for the two versions of the test. However it is possible at a later date and I’m guessing much later date, the two test would be both reportable but I really see no reason why they would do it. It doesn’t seem they would get any brownie points from anyone. Well there is no guarantee, I doubt the two test score reports will ever be combined.

Another data point, people who have taken GMAT online before June 11, are allowed to retake it with a physical whiteboard. If they receive a higher score, their lower score will be overwritten and if they receive a lower score, then the score will remain unchanged. It seems the system supports only one score somehow and is somewhat limited.




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Technically, over the next week, you can take GMAT 3 times (if pain and torture are your type of thing ?)

You can take an online test today and then another online test in a week and if the test centers are open, you can also take a physical test in between ?

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LOL. That is funny. They totally tricked us ?

I wonder if the test taker volumes have really gone down or the business schools have put enough pressure. My guess is a combination of both.

I think there is a mistake. 20 in = 50.8 cm not 43 cm.

I actually didn’t understand one thing. What’s about shipping? At first glance it looks like they are going to provide us with these whiteboards, so we have to order SPECIAL tools.
But on the other hand, maybe the phrase about shipping is said because of the quarantine regime. So now the main question for me is: Can we buy these whiteboards and markers by ourselves in our cities?

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Please read carefully and note that the test retake option has nothing to do with the announcement of the physical whiteboard option starting on 6/11, which happened yesterday 6/4/20, and everything to do with the introduction of that option, which is already referred to in the past tense on the GMAC website, but is of course still 6 days in the future (6/11/20).

In conclusion and in support of bb, yes, you should still be able to register for the pre 6/11/20 GMAT, and then later take advantage of the test retake option with the physical whiteboard for an additional $200, unless GMAC tells us otherwise. I mean, how would this be fair to someone who happened to take the GMAT Online yesterday or today, or is registered to take it tomorrow--to not allow them a retake with a physical whiteboard like everyone else? Are we to expect everyone to always stay abreast of GMAC announcements, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Yes, it would be nice if GMAC were to answer this question explicitly, but if we wait for a more specific answer on the official website, then we might find that the window of opportunity has already closed.

Now, a slightly different issue that has been raised here: are you gaming the system by registering now for a pre-6/11 test, after the news has already been announced? Sure, but if GMAC will let you, then why not? Everyone else who has taken the GMAT Online has been given the same "2 for 1" opportunity, so why not you as well?

It's risk-free other than the cost ($400) and the time––and the fact that you won't have a physical whiteboard on the first try, of course. : )

arora1 My suggestion would be to concentrate on the exam and try to score best according to your ability in a single try. Thinking about the retest even before you try would have a negative effect on your preparation.
If you are not comfortable with online whiteboard then give the test with physical whiteboard. I hope that helps.

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Congrats!!!! Fingers crossed for a great score! You did not want to wait for the physical whiteboard?

What did you think about the virtual whiteboard?


(I have spent some time asking Souvik about this when he took the test in April and just verified again). There is actually no options to cancel the test. Very early on, before anyone has taken the test, there was information that you could cancel the score before seeing it. However, that was not true after people started taking GMAT online. It is basically not possible to cancel the test or the score.

PS. Of course you can just walk out of the room during the test and violate the policy and they will cancel the test for you but that’s a different story

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