Wow … You even found an image for it for the post
….
I don't think anything is going away.
While neither you or I have a crystal ball or access to the non-public information, I can see a number of reasons why it is unlikely that GMAC is moving to online only tests. It would be very shortsighted And GMAC committing a suicide by doing something like that, at this point in time.
1. As you pointed out, GMAT online can only be taken two times. And if someone can only take two tests at least at this time, versus five in 12 months or 8 in a lifetime. How does that make it more profitable? They would have to wait at least until one can take GMAT online multiple times. Otherwise they will be eliminating a lot of opportunities for people to take tests and for them to make money. As you pointed out, this would be a requirement for doing online-only testing.
2. Online tests are not loved by anyone and I mean everyone doesn’t think they’re great. This would be another nail on the coffin of GMAT and the wind for the GRE if this happens. GMAT cannot afford that and this would be a certain death.
3. They just renewed the contract with Pearson:
https://thepienews.com/news/pearson-vue ... aboration/ seems like it would be an odd timing for that though I can see how they may have modified the agreement but this appears to be a bit premature to pencil a new agreement. At the same time, I wonder if one the provisions of the agreement guaranteed GMAC a certain number of spots/seats per month/year at the test centers and now that is going away (like a commitment) - this could be an interesting development....
4. GMAC just had an annual Summit last week where they did not share any details or actually anything if I understand that correctly
https://gmatclub.com/forum/anything-you ... 60644.html5. There is a possibility GMAT may one day move to online-only testing but I think it will be a while until that happens.
Most likely this is a combination of pent up demand of test-takers across the board since Pearson does testing for NUMEROUS tests and I suspect a number of them have been locked out during the pandemic and did not have an online alternative. While it is not likely that the in-person tests are going away, I think it would be smart to monitor your test center availability just in case things fill up....
Posted from my mobile devicemcelroytutoring wrote:
To all the GMAT conspiracy theorists: is it possible that GMAC is slowly phasing out the in-person GMAT, but not telling us yet? I'm nearly positive that the GMAT online is far more profitable for GMAC than is the test-center GMAT, due to drastically lowered costs.
Also, my private students have begun reporting that very few in-person test times are available in their areas, and I can confirm the same. Has the in-person GMAT really become that popular (perhaps due to the rumors about the GMAT online Quant section), is it COVID related, or is there something else going on here?
If GMAC does drop the in-person GMAT, then I'm highly confident it will also remove the 2-test lifetime limit for the online exam.
One thing is for sure: this summer, test-center GMAT appointments are few and far between. The question is, why?
Fair warning: book your appointment(s) for the test-center GMAT now, while you still can.
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