I am taking GMAT Online next week

Question

Okay so I got super excited and giddy so posting this in a rush. I have decided to retake the GMAT using the GMAT Online format. I have scored a 760 (with prep) and a 750 (with no prep) in the last two years but well, I had a scratchpad that I could use. So this time it will be different!

Here are some questions for you guys before I go ahead and book my appointment.

1. Which date should I take it on? Earliest I can do is April 21!

2. I am horrified by the whiteboard arrangement. What do you guys want me to look out for particularly?

3. Do you guys want me to analyze difficulty levels of some questions or aim at the highest score possible?

4. Any other questions?

Looking forward to hearing from everyone else who might be taking it and hope to share a few nuggets from my soon-to-be surreal experience.

Join Me for YouTube LIVE on April 22  
  11 AM Pacific | 2 PM Eastern | 6 PM GMT | 11:30 PM IST

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gow0v4MZx9w

bb · Answer

Wow. What time you thinking? It seems you can take it at 3 AM. (I don’t recommend it but sounds very flexible)

I am curious about the proctor and how it will go between Q and V sections.

Also, wondering what happens if you are interrupted. Not sure if a good idea to self sabotage the IR section and have the WIFI go out

- just put the router on a timer but I don’t know if that’s advisable.

Posted from my mobile device

- just put the router on a timer but I don’t know if that’s advisable.

Posted from my mobile device

carouselambra · Answer

I have already changed my GMAT dates thrice, thanks to COVID. Have further pushed it because there's NO way I can manage without a scratch pad. Please analyse the difficulty level along with the ease of using the white board and let us know if it's worth. I am only a beginner, but had no idea things would turn out this way.

Shivam1809 · Answer

Hi, 
* Not all heros wear cape *

1. Since it's everyones major concern, It would be great if you can keenly observe how much lack of physical notepad is a factor in quant.

2. How different is it to give GMAT online vs original GMAT. As in how much proctor, tech. Snags play a role.

My suggestion to you is the earlier you can give the test and share the feedback the better it would be for all of us !

Thanks in advance

souvik101990 · Answer

Most likely I’ll take it at 10p EST. That way everything will be quiet in my house and I can take the exam in peace. LOL on the WiFi disconnect on IR. I hope that doesn’t happen but the internet is spotty where I am so might just happen regardless

I am not sure about the proctor either but i’m not very happy to not be able to take a break between Q and V. Interestingly enough, I always feel like I have to go to the bathroom after each section. Every time for all the 4 times I have taken the GMAT. I guess my body will just have to adapt!

pabpinor · Answer

I know it will be quite hard to measure anything, but I believe that some of the interesting points to know would be:

-Are the questions similar in terms of being necessary (or highly dependent) on having scratch paper or they seem do be less dependent on it? (regarding difficulty probably till you get your grade you won't have a full picture).

-How well the digital whiteboard works?

-Which setup are you using? Feels the right one after taking the exam?

Thanks!
Pablo

souvik101990 · Answer

I am sorry for the hassle you’re going through

I will report on the difficulty but from what I understand it will be fairly similar to what we have seen in the other tests. I don’t know how I can solve an inequality or a geometry question without a scratchpad so i’m pretty nervous about that too. Posted from my mobile device

GMATCoachBen · Answer

Thanks very much  souvik101990 , we look forward to your insights!

I'm wondering how long the transition time will be between quant and verbal, for a moment of mental rejuvenation. Will the instructions screen only be 30 seconds, as usual, or longer? (I often encourage a few breath meditation / deep breathing exercises to relax and recenter during the instructions screens)

Of course, then there's all the questions on how exactly the whiteboard will work.

Best wishes on your exam!

pabpinor · Answer

I would recommend you to check the video to prepare your test room (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI9XxzY7ePk), and to do the system checkup in advance(https://home.pearsonvue.com/Clients/Mic ... tored.aspx).

Maybe trying it with and without cable, I believe that with the same lag you sometimes get at the videos you may get a frozen screen, I was not able to proceed with the system check once because of a low speed, would be interesting to know how it affects (maybe in IR), but have an ethernet cable plugged for quant & verbal or the freezing may steal you some precious time.

souvik101990 · Answer

Booked my GMAT test appointment on April 21st - 10:45 PM EST! Nervous and excited

shameekv1989 · Answer

You are doing a great deed for us. Thank you  souvik101990

Kindly perform your best so that we have a benchmark on what one can achieve with online GMAT with the changes as compared to the standard one

lcueto · Answer

Taking mine on  April 24th . 700 hundred in my last attempt, a couple of months ago.

Nevertheless, I've been practicing using a whiteboard for the quant part and the main problem I see is that I try not to write as much and to mentally solve the problems in my head, specially in DS. And to be honest, this strategy is not working very well.

I think I'm going to focus on the first 15 questions and then I'll improvise.

I'll let you know how it goes.

ari.banerjee · Answer

hey Souvik, Congrats and good luck! You are a brave man my friend.

However, I hope that you are a nightowl

My GRE start time was 3:50 pm and the test started at 5:15 pm, after extensive screening, software requirements and several reboots lol I anticipate PearsonVue to be worse than ProctorU so make sure you consume copious amounts of coffee. Pro tip: I felt the same way about the breaks going from GMAT to GRE and 2 hrs was way too long. but when you factor in the logging in and screening this can be 3+ hours. But here's the good news, just before you start the exam and everything is ready, request the proctor if you can use the washroom one last time. Th Proctor U guys allowed me coz they were very nice. I recommend you do the same. It will at least take the fear of the bladder malfunction mid test away from you haha

aashigarg · Answer

Hey,

It will be great if you could let us know if the identification document will be verified live or we have to upload photos for the same. The reason it is a concern because I am planning to GMAT Online & Due to COVID - 19 my documents are in a different city.

TIA

Bhavz10 · Answer

WOW! That is some level of bravery! Please let us know details of what can go wrong and what will surely go wrong! I am expecting that level of quants questions should go down as it is not possible to solve them on the computer with the same time limit. But who knows what they had in mind when they came up with this insane idea. Looking forward to your review. I also have to delay my GMAT plans now that lockdown in India has been extended to 3 May minimum

I cannot IMAGINE doing quants without a scratchpad so wishing you all the luck!

bb · Answer

Per GMAC, Document verification standards will be the same.

From me, potentially even stricter for this online version of the test due to concerns about cheating. There will be no chance you can use expired documents or unofficial documents to verify your identity.

If you don’t have your identification, have somebody mail it to you.

Posted from my mobile device

QuabityAssurance · Answer

Guys, sorry I am not able to follow all the comments just wanted to understand any update on scratchpad thing from GMAC yet.

souvik101990 · Answer

So far, no update except that there won't be any scratchpad

Virtual board will give you the option to write notes and draw lines I guess!

QuabityAssurance · Answer

Many thanks for replying Souvik.
Thank you for talking the test next week for all of us.

I also wantwd to request if you could help us understand post your test if it's worth going or shall we just switch to GRE so as to best utilize this time and tey to schedule test ASAP

Posted from my mobile device

TheNightKing · Answer

souvik101990

Thanks for doing this. I would assume you will follow up with a detailed post or a video, whatever suits you best.

I just want you to evaluate if you can solve quite a few questions without putting pen to paper. Don't start solving just when you see the question. Think. and then decide if you could at least eliminate three or may be two options.

Thanks!

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