ANSWERS FROM GMACI have posted this earlier on the forum and sent this in to the GMAC in advance of a webinar they were running to test prep companies and kindly invited me to. So here we go:
Q: Whiteboards are seen as a significant hurdle esp. while GRE allows use of make shift whiteboards. Does GMAC have any plans for addressing this issue? GMAC is definitely aware of the issues and potentially challenges without using scratch paper. They appreciate the feedback BUT.... there are no plans to change the online whiteboard; this is the best solution at the moment and no indication of others even being considered. It sounded pretty final on the virtual whiteboard situation.
Q: ID requirements (what if one has no access to passport while they are sheltering in place or expired passport). What are the ID requirements for the new test?ID requirements are unchanged. The ID will be checked and verified BEFORE the test and it must be current and approved form of ID. You cannot use expired or unapproved forms of ID
Q: What if Power Goes out? What happens if it is for several hours? It appears GMAC is well prepared to this type of a situation and if power or connection go out, they have contingency plans to restart the test or to reschedule it. You will be able to learn more in tomorrow's GMAC webinar more details
Q: Online whiteboards is a really hard sell to test-takers. Are you expecting that test takers can effectively do their work on a virtual whiteboard? Are you modifying the test in any way? No plans to modify or make any kind of adjustment to the test. The test will be the same questions, same material, same everything except of course no AWA but there are no changes being made (well... other than the crazy whiteboard addition) to make the test in any way easier/different/more palatable. Do not expect questions to be any easier or scores to be any higher or any kind of a curve. There will not be adjustments. The test will be consistently scored.
Q: Can one practice with a sample virtual whiteboard somewhere?A: No but GMAC is working on providing more information about the online whiteboard. (not sure what this means but they did not commit to having a practice one). At the same time, GMAT Club will be coming out with our own version of the Virtual whiteboard that will be matched to the official one as closely as possible. It should be available on Sat April 25th. Stay tuned for details.
Q: Will gmat prep tests be modified to allow the white boards?A: Does not seem so but they did not answer this question directly.
Why can’t one cancel the score? Seems strange along with a 7-day waiting period. A: It is not clear why there is no way to cancel the score. They took and answered the question but it was vague. It seems they had to build a whole different system for the GMAT Online and canceling scores was not an option. About the 7-day waiting period, scores will be available at the LATEST 7 days later, but most likely they will be available a lot sooner.
Q: What happens if one has a touchscreen laptop? Are they disqualified or they have to avoid touching the screen? A: No answer was given but they did confirm that one can use a mouse. They also confirmed that stylus and drawing pads are not allowed
Q: Do you have to wait 16 days between online and regular GMAT tests?A: GMAC did not take/answer this question but my understanding is that there is no waiting period.
Other Interesting Information: The score reporting systems are not integrated at this time so if you order an old score report for a school, it may not include the new score for a while or the new score may not include your old scores (it was not super clear and I will clarify when I listen to the recording).
That's it folks.
Please join us for the GMAT Club YouTube Live at 11 AM Pacific / 2 PM EasternWe will be covering the details of the new GMAT Online and how to best handle it and also options such as switching to the GRE at Home (you can take GRE multiple times by the way and use a real whiteboard/dry erase pad)
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