Tips For The Online GMAT

In July, the Graduate Management Admission Council announced that it would make the at-home online GMAT available through the end of 2020.

Business Insider recently spoke to testing experts and instructors to see how applicants can best prepare for the online GMAT in order to excel.

AVOID TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

The online GMAT exam can only be taken once, with no retakes being permitted.

Thus, experts recommend that test-takers ensure their technology is set up properly to avoid any issues when it comes to testing day.

For one, it’s important to take the exam on a computer using an ethernet connection rather than WiFi.

“This will assure the candidate of the best connection and relieve the stress of worrying about an interruption in service,” David Schein, director of graduate programs at the Cameron School of Business at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, tells Business Insider. “The computer will need to have current browsers and operating systems.”

Additionally, the online GMAT requires test takers to use an online whiteboard feature instead of physical notes in order to allow proctors to see student notes to avoid cheating. The GMAC allows a physical whiteboard as well.

Experts recommend that test takers practice taking the test on Microsoft Word or Text Editor.

“My best guess is that, on average, test-takers will need a couple of weeks to get to the point where they can do everything they need to do using the online whiteboard,” Stacey Koprince, content and curriculum lead at Manhattan Prep, tells Business Insider. “It’s true that I only had about 72 hours to get used to the online whiteboard before I took the official GMAT, but I’ve been working with this exam for two decades. It’s likely that students will need longer than I took. And, frankly, I could have made good use of another couple of days.”

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Experts recommend that test takers start GMAT preparation with a baseline practice test.

“This will replicate the test setting at home and give you a good idea about what adjustments you need to make at home prior to taking the official test,” Ibrahim Firat, the founder of Firat Education, a test preparation service, tells Business Insider.

Another important thing to note – not all practice tests are created equal. Practice tests created by companies other than GMAC may not be predictive of your real score on the GMAT.

“The reason is that the test-prep companies generally make their test harder than the actual test in order to better prepare their clients,” Joseph Ingram, the head admissions consultant for graduate schools at SOS Admissions and a former GRE and GMAT instructor at Stanley Kaplan, tells Business Insider.

Sources: Business Insider, P&Q, mba.com, mba.com