GMAT Whiteboard All Info

Question

GMAT Whiteboard - Everything We Know in One Place

The moderator team and I will maintain this topic to reflect the latest developments related to the GMAT ONLINE.

April 22, 2020

The whiteboard is the new replacement for the scratch paper on the Online GMAT (you cannot write or use regular erasable pads or paper)
Here is the official description of the Whiteboard from mba.com
If you want to try the whiteboard, please see links below to very similar whiteboards (differences are explained below)
Originally Touchscreens were not allowed but GMAC since has allowed the use of Touchscreens but not for Whiteboard use
The whiteboard is available even before your test starts, but you are not supposed to use it before by the rules
The official touchscreen seems to have a strange feature/bug that splits the screen in half with one half being gray and the other white. None of the practice whiteboards have this but it does not really change anything.
You cannot use a stylus or a writing instrument with the whiteboard
You can use a touchpad or a mouse. So far GMAC says mouse has to be wired (which is odd but that's the official word)

Note: The official whiteboard window always stays on top. If you would like to make GMAT Club's whiteboard MORE LIKE the official experience, you can install a Chrome Add-On called Flobro (thanks for the idea @valedipalo!) It works very close to the official whiteboard. (to use it, you have to launch this app/add-on and type in https://gmatclub.com/whiteboard into the URL parameter) - it will open up a whiteboard in a floating window that you can move around and resize (just don't X it; instead, minimize it)

Practice Whiteboards:

Tool Literally Canvas - Original Open Source tool used by Pearson Vue
mba.com launched a whiteboard on 4/23 but it is not accurate/exactly like the one you see on the GMAT (background color should be white, not gray)
GMAT Club Whiteboard and also in GMAT Club Tests
GMAT Whiz Whiteboard (free and open)
eGMAT Whiteboard
Experts' Global Whiteboard
Manhattan GMAT CAT's with Whiteboard (1 test is free; requires login)
Also, MGMAT has a nice blog post about how to use the official whiteboard
Note the following difference vs. Official Whiteboard:
- The official whiteboard stays on top of all other windows
- The official whiteboard does not support shortcuts
- The official whiteboard saves your results if you close it (but sometimes it glitches and resets in between questions)
- The background is White
- The official whiteboard is not maximized to the entire screen vertically but has a portion of the bottom that's grayed out like GMAT Club's Whiteboard

Kimchili72 · Answer

Thanks. When we say that it does not support shortcuts, does it not support Copy and Paste? I've been practicing with it and found the copy/paste function useful (the only saving grace of the whiteboard really).

If not, would it support right click, copy, right click paste?

If not, would it support right click, copy, right click paste?

ananyu · Answer

Hi, thanks for sharing. I have been using the whiteboard but it's so inconvenient that I did miserably. How do you guys do multiplication/division like 3487*255 on whiteboard? is there a relative easy way to do it?

egmat · Answer

bb – thank you for sharing this. These updates are very helpful and will help test takers prepare for the Online GMAT. We have integrated the whiteboard with our platform so that you and utilize the functionality as you solve questions. You can now use the Whiteboardwith our learning platform, Scholaranium platform, as well as SIGma-x mocks - overall on 2400+ questions. GMAT Club members can

1. Read the details here: https://e-gmat.com/blogs/gmat-online-whiteboard/
2. Start practicing Quant here: https://bit.ly/3cG7zWj
3. Start practicing Verbal here: https://bit.ly/2Y18D3c

It would be great if you can add these links to your list of references.

Cheers!!

Rajat Sadana

bb · Answer

Thanks! I have added links to the practice whiteboards.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Thanks  bb !

JackieO · Answer

Hello Everyone,
I just connected to the Youtube live "effective test-taking strategies" and it was advised to use a mouse-pen, that is, a pen you can use to write directly on your trackpad if you have a laptop (no external devices are connected). The pen is wireless. Do you know whether we can use it? It would help solve many of the problems...

souravmaity · Answer

Dear All
Is there any alternative coming for the whiteboard after so many raised concerns?
Is everyone accepting this tool?
Very difficult to do quant actually.

Posted from my mobile device

bb · Answer

I am afraid that was some misguided advice and unfortunate recommendation. GMAC has been pretty clear about not using any kind of a stylus and prohibiting the use of touchscreens with whiteboards.

bb · Answer

Thank you everyone. Updated the topic and added a great add on suggestion by  valedipalo

Posted from my mobile device

anbknaga · Answer

I think one reason they are not allowing stylus or touch screen to be used for white board is to keep it as a fair system for the one’s who don’t have access (or afford) touch screen or a stylus

Posted from my mobile device

bb · Answer

I tend to agree. That plus probably to reduce cheating and writing where the camera may not see.

axfectcircle · Answer

I am going to launch a petition for this.

Please tell me honestly what you think about it - any advice is welcome.

patto · Answer

Hello guys!! One tip to get better at using the whiteboard is to slow down the tracking speed of the mouse... You will have a good experience after doing so!

Try it and then just comment!

axfectcircle · Answer

This morning I have launched the petition https://www.change.org/GMAT_Interim_online

robinhood123 · Answer

This whiteboard is seriously horrid, how are people solving equations on this board? This is not conducive to receiving the scores we are all aiming for.

How is there not larger uproar about this? Are people going to wait until in-person returns or still going to have a go?

For me this does not work; all the effort to transition this exam online. If there is a live webcam why can we not write on paper like human beings?

patto · Answer

You have to slow down the speed of your mouse. That's how you are going to be able to solve equations. I hope it's helpful

srtothewild · Answer

Hi, Thanks for the info. Quick question though: The post says that the whiteboard saves the work even after closing, but does the whiteboard reopen at the same place where it was closed or does it open to a fixed default location each time it is reopened ?(In which case one would have to move the whiteboard around to its prior location each time manually). Thanks

mcelroytutoring · Answer

I would just like to add that all the reports I've heard so far are that a wireless mouse is fine (but I suppose I'll have a wired mouse ready just in case).

ankita2604 · Answer

Hi
Since now GMAC has allowed use of a physical whiteboard with some specifications. Can you please provide links where one can purchase the same.

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