GMATClub to attend GMAC Test Prep Summit (2016)

Question

Edit: Updating the original post with the attachments.

Lots of attachments. I'll attach verbiage about each one:

2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Insights and Trends.PDF:
This has a lot of insight into the info on the demographics and info on candidates trends, test, prep, etc.Some insights:

Females are moving to become a much more significant proportion of test takers, especially in emerging geographies. Developed are trending that way. Also, test takers are trending as younger (this also reflects ability to do well, still in a classroom mindset).
There is a "sweet spot" in prep, don't under do it, but also don't over do it.
Increasing proportion of specialized masters vs MBA for GMAT test takers
Timing: DON'T DELAY THE TEST. This data clearly shows people delaying the test until the last second, and then not giving the test its due time

2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Psychometrics.pdf:
This is very similar to the previous psychometric analysis. The only new thing here is IR has very strong validity that's been found. The GMAC is figuring out how to move forward on using the IR more (since the data agrees with the GMAT scores)

2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Applicant Survey.pdf:
This was a presentation by a 3rd party firm (Enrollment Strategies) and covered a lot of info on applicant survey. The presenter, Barbara, has been working with a lot of adcomms to provide a feedback loop for applicants, GMAC and the schools. Lots of insight on pre and post MBA data (why or why not attend, where people went for career, influencing you go for MBA, etc.)

2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Enhanced Score Report.pdf:
Overview about this product. If you're struggling on the test, this is a VERY valuable tool to buy which will help you hone and pinpoint your weaknesses on the actual test to prep and re-take. This is not a new product (available since 2013)

2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit America Region Update.pdf:
Small tidbit on how the GMAC is working on new products and marketing to get more info out and increase awareness about the GMAC products and services.

2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit EA.pdf:
The Executive Assessment is NOT a Mini-GMAT. This is only for the Executive MBAs and assess readiness for applicants to be ready for two things: classroom setting and tools needed for success in the classroom.

2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Test Prep Overview.pdf:
Overview of the products available from GMAC. Note: There is a large rebranding going on at the GMAC as they feel the products are very fragmented and people don't always have good awareness about the tools available. There is likely a move to online only content.

2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Product Update.pdft:
Update to the products for the prep companies and others. Mainly a GMAC to them conversation, but some interesting trends on test takers for said firms to consider.

Hi Folks,

GMATClub has been invited to the test prep summit again and I'll be attending on behalf of the team. This will be the third time I attend the summit on behalf of GMATClub.

As with previous years, if anyone has any specific questions they'd like addressed to the organization, you can post them here. Below you can find links for the prior summits (the write ups). I'll post a separate thread and attach all the hand outs after I attend the summit.

2009 Summit:
gmatclub-attends-gmac-test-prep-summit-85573.html

2011 Summit:
gmatclub-attends-2011-gmac-test-prep-summit-nyc-120877.html

2014 Summit (by souvik101990)
gmac-annual-summit-188582.html

Thanks,

mohater

Attachments

File comment: 2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Product Update.pdf
2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Product Update.pdf [252.78 KiB]
Downloaded 81 times

File comment: 2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Test Prep Overview.pdf
2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Test Prep Overview.pdf [371.46 KiB]
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File comment: 2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit EA.pdf
2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit EA.pdf [279.55 KiB]
Downloaded 88 times

File comment: 2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit America Region Update.pdf
2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit America Region Update.pdf [323.28 KiB]
Downloaded 80 times

File comment: 2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Enhanced Score Report.pdf
2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Enhanced Score Report.pdf [747.69 KiB]
Downloaded 74 times

File comment: 2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Applicant Survey.pdf
2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Applicant Survey.pdf [1.07 MiB]
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File comment: 2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Psychometrics.pdf
2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Psychometrics.pdf [1.14 MiB]
Downloaded 88 times

File comment: 2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Insights and Trends.pdf
2016 GMAT Test Prep Summit Insights and Trends.pdf [1.64 MiB]
Downloaded 85 times

mvictor · Answer

only 1 question at the moment:
will the pilot program, from feb-march, be implemented? I mean, will the test takers be allowed to select the order of the sections?

bb · Answer

Also have 1 - What about Question Pack 2 - when is it expected to come out?

mohater · Answer

Just bumping this to the top: no additional questions?

mohater · Answer

This pilot was earlier in 2016. Please indicate where you saw this would be done in 2017 as well.

Or are you asking if the pilot will be an new feature for test takers?

Thanks,

dabral · Answer

I am no longer active on this forum.

mohater · Answer

so to summarize, below is the current list of questions:

- Will the pilot of choosing the order be rolled out
- When will the Question Pack 2 be release by the GMAC
- If a test is taken in a prior academic year, does it need to be re-submitted to the school or will the school still have the score report
- Why the limit on 8 tests

Thanks,

mohater

mcelroytutoring · Answer

Here is the full thread on the 8-exam "lifetime limit"...as you can see there are several questions surrounding this new policy: not just  why  it is being implemented, but precisely  how  it is being implemented.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmac-announces-a-lifetime-limit-of-8-gmat-exams-230213.html

1) Does the official number of attempts include cancelled scores, cancelled test dates, and/or postponed tests?
2) Why is it now "effective on December 17th, 2016" and what does that mean precisely? Does the clock start on that date, or is there simply a small window of time left to take more than 8 GMATs total? 
3) How far back in time do the test-taking records go, and how can we determine our total number of official attempts?

Thanks  mohater  !

I would also like to hear more about the mini-GMAT:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmac-announces-mini-gmat-for-emba-applicants-65-less-questions-216347.html#p1670158

mohater · Answer

Hi Folks,

Back from the summit. As usual, great trip. Very informative and great seeing familiar and new faces in GMAC and the prep organizations.

The organizers will send the handouts later. For now, I'll post the answers to the questions I posed to the GMAC staff:

Q: Will the pilot for choosing sections be rolled out?
A: There is no plan at this time to roll this out. If and when this will be changed, there will be advanced notice to the test prep community as well as the test candidates.

Q: If a test is taken in a prior academic year but a candidate will apply in the subsequent year, will the previous submission be sufficient?
A: Yes, the feeds will contain prior data. Different schools receive results in different ways (some still receive paper copies of scores). If you put in the wrong code (PT vs FT vs EMBA vs PhD), these depts don't always share info directly. You should be able to reach out to the adcom to confirm it's there. You don't need to re-submit to the school if you've already submitted and the score is still within the validity window.

Q: 8 test limit, do canceled scores count, do canceled test dates count, effectivity date, when do records begin, etc
A: This was instituted due to clear bad players (people taking the test 8+ times and never submitting scores to schools). In all the years of data analyzed, there are clearly people trying to circumvent controls by taking the test repeatedly. To answer the above points: Canceled scores do count, canceled dates do not, effectivity date is communicated and the limit is retroactive on prior tests. There is an exception process to this. If you take the tests 8 times and want to take it a 9th, you can visit the "contact us" page and submit your request to be able to take it again. People who don't appear to be trying to circumvent security measures should not have any issue getting an exception to a 9th test sitting. That being said, the data shows there aren't really any people who get to 8 sittings and are willing to go for a 9th.

Q: When will question pack 2 (QP2) be released?
A: The GMAC is working on revamping how it brands and releases its prep material (there is some confusion about what products are available, what purpose they serve, etc). There is also a movement to centralized online access to content (question banks, practice tests, prep material, etc), as opposed to this fragmented format (some print, some online, some download, etc.). There will be another question pack release, but it probably won't be called QP2 and will probably follow with some of these infrastructural changes on how the GMAC release and promotes its developed material and content.

Q: "Mini GMAT", what is it? Data on it, etc?
A: This is not a mini GMAT. It's an executive assessment ("EA") (link: https://www.gmac.com/executive-assessment). This is not supposed to be the GMAT. Its goal is to assess the readiness for EMBA to get back into a classroom setting (assess a baseline for key items needed for EMBA education). As for data on the EA, it will be published by the GMAC once they have collected, analyzed and validated it.

If anyone else has specific questions, I am happy to answer them. Again: I will post the slides and share some observations and relevant insight once I have them.

Thanks,

mohater

HanoiGMATtutor · Answer

Super helpful information,  mohater ! Thank you for sharing!

todd2381 · Answer

Hello,

I have tried to request an exception to sit for a 9th test via the inquiry box under "Contact Us," but received the following response:

"Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding the GMAT lifetime retake policy. We do understand that some candidates will need to take the GMAT more than 8 times. Therefore, we are allowing you to request an exception to this policy. A request for an exception can be raised with the supporting documents if a requirement has been made by the school you intend to join."

I am not clear on what kinds of supporting documents are required to request an exception. I called their customer service but she was not familiar with the matter. Has anyone already requested the exception successfully? If so, please share your experience, such as what document is required and where to send a request email.

Thanks in advance.

mohater · Answer

I'll reach out to the GMAC and find out. If the email did not provide you an outlet to submit your response, try submitting a contact us again and indicating you need to know how/where to submit your documents.

Documents could include: practice tests (show higher potential), submissions to schools (showing the programs you're applying to and the avg scores of that school, etc) among other things.

Thanks,

mohater

windofchange · Answer

Hi,

I think if someone crosses the 8 test limit, they won't be able to register for the test. The website mba.com may prevent them from registration. In my case, I still could register for the test but I stopped at the payment step. I'm not sure if I could register for the test successfully, would they let me sit for the exam?

mohater · Answer

You'd be doing so at your own risk. I wouldn't do that without reaching out to the GMAC.

windofchange · Answer

Thanks.

I intuitively feel it's not good to go register for the exam... that's why I stopped at the payment step. I also submitted a request for exception and I'm waiting for their response.

windofchange · Answer

Hi - this is the response I got from Pearson VUE:

"We would like to inform you that you need to follow a appeal process. However, you need to submit the letter of appeal and should also attach any documentation you have from your school as well. For example, if you are able to obtain a letter from your school indicating that you need to test should submit that as well."

They want some kind of proof from schools indicating that I need to retake the test. In my case, however, I haven't applied to any schools yet. Actually I got admitted to a school last year but I want to retake is to improve the score for higher chance of admission and scholarship.

I am thinking to email them an official request for exception together with the letter of admission that I got from last year application.

After all, what they want is to verify whether I'm a genuine test taker or not.

Could you please share your thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

mohater · Answer

Submit a form on the contact us section of GMAC.com to field a response from the GMAC. I *think* wanting to get more money would be significant as cost of the program was a top concern among all test takers in the applicant survey that was reported at the TPO.

mohater · Answer

Original post has been updated with attachments.

bb · Answer

Interesting table/chart - I have seen a version of it a few times but never this pronounced

mvictor · Answer

so basically...it says that the more you put in your preparations, the better you are going to score...though it's not going to happen all the times...I clearly put way more than 75 hours in my preparations, and got 650

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GMATClub to attend GMAC Test Prep Summit (2016)

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