GMAT ONLINE - EVERYTHING WE KNOW!
(this post is stickied at the top to provide a quick reference about GMAT Online and GMAT Online ENHANCED version)

• GMAT Online Enhanced launched on May 20, 2021
• Join GMAT Ninja and 3 GMAT Online (Enhanced) test-takers in YouTube panel discussion on Thursday, June 03.
• ENHANCED ONLINE GMAT Debriefs:
  
  • See the Full List in Share GMAT Experience Forum
  • 5/23 - 730 (Q49, V40) - by vijaykhot
  • 5/21 - 710 (Q49, V40) - same split as above but 710 by rudywip
  • 5/20 - reports of several initial tests automatically canceled and rescheduled
• Major change after May 20th is addition of AWA, 2 breaks, and your GMAT score now presented at the end of your test (takes 24-48 hrs for the score to show up in your profile; score is reportable to schools in about a week but sometimes may take up to 20 days to grade the AWA)
• You can take the test twice - this remains the main issue with the virtual GMAT testing
• Physical dry-erase white-board is allowed - more is here
• Pre-Exam Checklist
• Disconnected in the middle of the test? Try this if nothing else works!
• POLL: How long did it take you to get your GMAT Online score?
• Are you Chinese, Iranian, or from any other location restricted for GMAT Online Exam? Read here!
• What to do if your test gets canceled in the middle and How to reschedule it! (advice by sebo08 )

Whiteboard Questions

• Everything about Physical Dry-Erase whiteboards for the GMAT?
• Practice with a Virtual Whiteboard

GMAT Online Debriefs
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How strange! I will clarify that I had the capability to do so as well - the whiteboard was up with all the functionality to be able to write onscreen before the start of the test. However, in clarifying with the proctor I was told that this was not allowed. (I personally didn't have any reason to want to, but I know many are concerned with being able to jot down formulas/pacing benchmarks/etc.)

There certainly seems to be a bit of inconsistency on whether or not this is allowed though. Hopefully GMAC will more formally clarify!
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I updated my debriefing in the Share Your Experience sub-forum, but since people seem to be asking questions in this thread, I thought I'd chime in with some observations.

So I took the test on Wednesday the 22nd but got my scores today - so less than 7 days total!

I got a 790 50Q 51V....I don't think my score is very relevant since I am a full-time tutor and know the exam inside and out, but hopefully some of my observations can be helpful to others.

Some have commented that the Verbal section felt very hard and that many questions didn't seem to have a clear right answer, but I really did not find that to be the case. It felt very straightforward and not that hard. And I don't just mean subjectively, I mean objectively speaking (or as objectively as I can be). I am constantly reviewing people's practice tests (official ones on mba.com) and seeing Verbal sections in their entirety and the Verbal section of the online test felt very, very manageable by comparison. I guess I hesitate to say easier, but it did feel easier to me. And not having a physical whiteboard seemed to be a non-factor for me.

For Quant, I obviously still did very well, but I certainly felt pretty handicapped on some questions on the Quant section. As VeritasPrepHailey indicated, there were definitely Quant questions that necessitated writing things down, sometimes a lot, so I struggled on those and guessed completely on one that I judged too difficult to do without a physical whiteboard. But as I wrote previously, the section felt balanced with some very hard questions and some not that hard at all.

Personally, I was just totally unprepared for how I would use the whiteboard. I didn't even realize that it could be resized and literally had to move it out of the way on every question as I tried to click next and then confirm the answer. And although I spent about 5 minutes playing with MPrep's sample whiteboard to see which tools I would use, I just didn't do any practice questions with the whiteboard to even see how or when it could be used most effectively.

I am also not someone who would be comfortable typing anything Math related, so I was trying to use my finger and track pad, but I think for people who are more comfortable typing (and typing Math in particular), there probably would be a way to be more effective with the online whiteboard. There is just no getting around the fact that you are still at a disadvantage without a physical whiteboard, but I think if you were to practice a lot with it and have a good understanding of when and how to use it, you could minimize the disadvantage.

I haven't 100% confirmed the following, but if my understanding is correct that the score essentially lives on a separate score report and can essentially be buried, and if it's also true that you don't even need to wait 16 days to be able to take the in-person GMAT and that the online GMAT doesn't count towards your 5 times per year limit, I don't think there is much downside in doing it - it's almost like you get a free shot at the GMAT (free minus $200, lol). It's like taking a pretty expensive, albeit pretty realistic practice test (realistic in the sense of the anxiety and fatigue and other intangibles that are in play when taking the actual GMAT).

Hope some of this helps you intrepid, would-be Online GMAT test takers out there!
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I somewhat did a breakdown of my GMAT Online experience HERE - you might find it useful and happy to answer questions too!
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Promising that scores seem to arrive in less than 7 days! When people who did the test on thursday receive their scores let us know - I did mine on Friday and hoping to also get my results this week!

Does anyone have any tips on how to handle work/rate problems and overlapping sets-related problems with the online whiteboard? I have been experimenting with those today, and they have been really hard to perform on, given I was so used to drawing out tables... the overlapping sets in particular is a bit annoying, because I used to use a table to build out matrices for certain probability type situations as well.

Posted from my mobile device

Just received my results. Quant on par with all my practise exams (Q48) but quite a drop in verbal (V38 compared to most mocks being around 44-46). Overall score 700 which was below my target so will try to retake in person once the test centers opens up

Interesting - so quant can be somewhat salvaged by whiteboard practice, but no break in between and straight through using the old curve = brain running out of concentration by end of 2 hour marathon when your score is determined, so that's likely the most penalizing part about this new format.

This is probably what most of us normal people will experience if we take the Online vs In Person: a huge drop on Verbal resulting in a 30 to 50 point drop in score.

So far, more than half of people reporting are getting a worse score than before by a statistically significant margin.

I get all the cheerleading here for "business school industrial complex" and encourage people to apply, but it's disingenuous to tell potential candidates that "Online GMAT is no big deal" when you know schools are fighting for that 3 point move in GMAT average score, because it's the second highest weighting by US News rankings.

Seems like the most logical solution would be for GMAC give an 8 minute break in between.

got it thanks.

from your previous responses regarding the whiteboard, it does not seem like we will be able to split the screen so half shows the exam and the other half shows the whiteboard. Given that the whiteboard is on top of the full-screen test page, did the whiteboard disappear every time you submitted an answer and advanced to the next question? Asking because for normal computer usage, if a smaller window is on top of a full-screen window, clicking anything on the smaller window effectively sends the smaller window "to the back." thanks!

Sorry about the verbal score tanking. I can see missing a break impacting some of that but I don’t think you can fully attribute the difference to the break based on other peoples experience. It does not mean that it is you but the differences in questions and different topics are tested so I will definitely look into any area you know was weak or timing in case you ran out of time.

PS. 700 is still a formidable score!




Posted from my mobile device
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I did my Gmat Online for the first time last Saturday and recieved the scores today,
690 Q49 V35 IR7
I expected to be in the 690-720 range as my last test scores so I am not surprised,
I dont think that the online whiteboard really did affect my performance on Quant as I usually score Q49-Q50 and managed to finish the Quant 10 min before.

Don't feel discourgaed by the Whiteboard and give it a try!

Nope, the whiteboard remains overlaid on top of the screen to whatever size and position you've selected unless you specifically select the button on the upper bar to minimize it. So, you can resize it to cover whatever portion of the test screen you'd like, and it will remain on top with the same settings, even if you make selections to the answer or select "next" on the test page.
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Hello! I was just wondering if the official guide online question bank does have an online whiteboard to practice the questions... Does anyone know?
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I did mine on Friday and I haven't received any email...

Does anyone know why this could be?

To those that have already taken the online exam,

Right now, I'm trying to combat the no-rest transition from Quant to Verbal, and realizing I benefited from that typical break. I was wondering if I could do the following to 'act' as that break:

1. Suppose I finish quant with time to spare; could I sit there with my eyes closed and hit submission at the last moment, or better yet could I get up and walk around. I'll even take the computer with me so they see where I'm walking and what I'm doing. Any of this possible?

2. Again, trying to rest before Verbal, I know they present that Verbal Instructions page before I truly begin the Verbal side. Could I sit there in autopilot and tell the proctor I'm "reading" the instructions, stalling for some time.

I would appreciate it, and chime in if you have any other ways to give me some rest before Verbal begins.

Hi vreddy1,

This is just my opinion, but I don't think they'd appreciate seeing you walking around, even if you carry your computer.

1. Sitting there with your eyes closed should not be a problem. Just try not to look away from your screen, and remember to confirm your answer before time runs out!

2. That screen is most likely timed. I would not get into any unnecessary discussion with the proctor if I were you.
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AjiteshArun

thanks. ok maybe not walk around, but what about just standing up. Just anything to get out of that stationary position and signal that I change is about to occur.

So If memory is correct, there was no timer on the instructions page on the official exam at the testing center. Regardless, I plan to buy time here, and I'll try not to communicate with the proctor

vreddy1: Just to be clear, I agree with you.

1. I'm not too sure about how good Pearson's execution is, so I wouldn't take any unnecessary risks. But that's just me. Let's see what others have to say.
2. The actual GMAT does in fact have timed instruction screens.
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Lol Engineer?

Posted from my mobile device
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Poets and Quants Article Just Out:

Pro Test-Taker Scored 30 Points Lower On The At-Home GMAT

Even after practicing for up to seven hours with a controversial online whiteboard tool for the new at-home GMAT, professional test-taker Stacey Koprince scored 30 points below her last GMAT exam in a testing center.

“I scored a 740,” she reports. “I normally score 760 to 780. My most recent exam in a testing center was 770."

She has been teaching the GMAT, GRE, and LSAT exams for more than 15 years, having already taken the GMAT five different times, always scoring in the 99th percentile, since 2012 when the last major test change occurred. Koprince achieved a top score of 780 on the GMAT, a perfect score of 800Q and 800V on the GRE, and a 172 on the LSAT that comfortably put her in the top 1% of all test-takers in the world.

WooHoo Souvik!!! Your 740 looks very expressive for “enthusiast”

Andrea - huge props on your 750!!!

Please use this link for the latest list of all GMAT ONLINE Debriefs




Posted from my mobile device
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