Strategy for new exam format

Hi Hatakekakashi,

According to information just released by GMAC:

Beginning July 11, test takers worldwide will be able to choose the order in which they complete the four sections of the GMAT exam. Three options will be available at the test center:

Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal (original order)
Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

Among these 3 options, I imagine that most Test Takers would benefit somewhat from choosing to face to the Quant and Verbal sections earlier on (when Test Takers are more awake and alert).

Assuming that this new option is going to be a permanent option, then it stands to reason that any Company that produces practice CATs would want to provide similar options for users to take those practice CATs. There's no way to know how long it would take to adapt the respective software packages/programs to account for this change though.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

The question is- would the new pattern affect the difficulty level of questions?

I had given gmat a few weeks back (got 700) and was planning to retake it on July 9th. Now with the new Rule, I am very conflicted about taking it post July 11th as any further delay would affect my timeline for writing essays. And then again, taking the exam before July 11th will imply missing the advantage of new exam pattern.

Hi GmatBawse,

There is no information suggesting that the content that is tested on the GMAT will change nor is there any suggestion that the Scoring Algorithm has changed. As such, the inherent 'difficulty' of each section should not be impacted at all. What WILL be impacted is the Test Taker's general focus, state of mind, energy levels, etc. on each individual section. Many GMATers currently face fatigue 'issues' in the Verbal section - since that section is the final 75 minutes of a 4-hour Exam. Now though, you can choose to face that section earlier, so you almost certainly will NOT have the same fatigue when working through all of those SC, RC and CR prompts.

From your post, it sounds like you think that you can't possibly start writing your application essays before you're "done" with the Official GMAT. It's not clear why you think that, but I assure you that you can work on more than one aspect of your applications at a time if you try.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Thanks Rich, appreciate your perspective.

I planned on taking the application process one step at a time as there are also job demands to be balanced and I tend to get overwhelmed with doing many things at a time and end up with a poorer performance. Hence, was looking to finish gmat, while working on the job and post gmat start essay writing for 3 months time while parellely working on full time job.

Also I was concerned that I might lose gmat momentum and not attain my peak if I start with essay now and delay gmat further, since I have just given my gmat 2 weeks back and might have to start all over, if I forget stuff I have learned.
(Sorry for the long sentence)

But thankyou for your advice, ill try to strategise my approach as conditions can never be ideal in real world.



Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

Dear Hatakekakashi,

I'm happy to respond.

My friend, it definitely varies from person to person---if it didn't, why would GMAC offer this choice?

For example, I probably would do V and IR first, when I am sharper. I would probably save Q for last, because I usually can do a lot of math even when I am relatively tired and tapped out. That's me, but everyone's different.

I would say you have to get to know your own skills--for which sections do you need to be on top of your game? on which sections could you still perform credibly even when you are tired and spent? Experiment with yourself in practice.

Does this all make sense?
Mike [/quote]

Thank you for your response Mike.
Don't you think to experiment the best strategy , Mock CATs should be designed that way and when could we expect a change in the Mock CATs that would be in the best interest of students taking the gmat post July 11th

Regards,
HK