Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Orientation

What is the GMAT?

Graduate Management Admission Test

Computer adaptive test

Does not measure creativity or motivation Does not require specific business knowledge

Test measures

Verbal Skills Mathematical Skills Writing Skills

Signing Up

Online: www.MBA.com Phone 1-800-GMAT-NOW Local Testing Center

Pearson Professional Centers Santa Maria Gill Office Building, 1010 South Broadway, Suite F Santa Maria, CA 93454 (805) 348-1240

Reservations required Cost is $250

Essential Item!!!

Go to www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT Go to GMAT Prep Products

Select Free GMAT PowerPrep Software Provide name/Email Download free test prep software program

Look and feel of actual test Contains full length test that is very reflective of actual test Scores generated are very accurate to actual test results

Free GMAT Software!

The Big Day

Check in at least 30 minutes before assigned time

If late, fee will be forfeited

Current Photo ID required

Examples: drivers license, passport NOT STUDENT ID!

Verification process

Sign confidentiality statement and rules agreement Thumbprint, photo and audio/video taping

Free Practice Test

Free practice test ( login): www.princetonreview.com/cracking GMAT Pre-test GMAT Warm-Up Test (page353) GMAT Practice Test (page 399) Math Workbook for the GMAT Math

Test Procedures and Regulations

No testing aids: calculators, books, notes, etc Scratch paper and pencils provided Two 5 minute breaks, cannot be exceeded No eating or drinking in testing center Cannot leave testing station without approval Personal items will be locked up Dismissed for disruptive behavior Cancellation of score if you fail to comply

Rescheduling and Canceling

Rescheduling

At least 7 days in advance - $50 rescheduling fee applies Less than 7 in advance - full fee is forfeited At least 7 days in advance $80 partial refund

Canceling

Getting Your Scores

Scores sent to up to 5 institutions/programs GMAT yields four scores: verbal, quantitative, total, analytical writing 2/3 of total scores are between 400 - 600 Out of 800 total points May view scores for multiple-choice sections upon completion Official score mailed in 2 weeks

Canceling Scores

May cancel, on computer, immediately following last section of test Scores cannot be canceled once viewed No partial cancellations Fees not refunded if you cancel Cancellations reported to score recipients

Repeating the GMAT

No more than one time in a calendar month

Even if scores are canceled

Latest scores and two most recent scores are reported to designated recipients Test scores valid for 5 years

GMAT Format
Section # Questions Tutorial N/A Analytical 2 Topics Writing Optional break N/A Verbal 41 Optional break N/A Quantitative 37 Time N/A 60 min 5 min 75 min 5 min 75 min

General Tips!

The first questions are weighted more heavily than the rest Its not the number of questions you get correct that determines your score its the level of difficulty Questions increase in difficulty as you answer questions correctly Concentrate on getting a series of questions in a row correct Answer as many questions as possible If you are not sure, guess! Pace yourself, but be aware of your time Confirm your answers only when confident Be careful about exit and quit commands

Quantitative Section: Whats Covered

37 questions in 2 formats

Problem Solving (much like the SAT): 19 questions Data Sufficiency (unique to GMAT): 18 questions

Test general knowledge of arithmetic, basic algebra, & basic geometry

No calculus, trig, or complicated geometry

General Advice

Always reread the last line of the problem to make sure youve actually answered the question Use Process of Elimination:

To eliminate obviously wrong answers quickly To avoid overworking the problem To maximize opportunity to guess correctly

Arithmetic

Topics tested

Axiom and Fundamentals (properties of integers, + & - numbers, even & odd) Arithmetic Operations ( + - x / etc.) Fractions & Decimals Ratios Percentages Averages Exponents and Radicals

Algebra

Cosmic Problems: asked to write an equation that will answer a question regardless of what a certain number x is

PLUG IN: pick numbers for the letters in the problem Plug in from the outside in (A,E,B,D,C) Avoid using 0, 1, and numbers in the problem Why not solve algebraically? Makes difficult problems easy Test designed with many ways for you to screw up using algebra

Example of a Cosmic Problem

What is two more than 3 times a certain number x?

A. 3x-2 B. 3x C. 2x-3 D. 2x+3 E. 3x+2

Solving Non-Cosmic Problems

Non-cosmic problems have specific answers

WORKING BACKWARDS

Start with choice C, plug number into problem to see if it works If choice C is too small, choose the next larger number If choice C is too big, choose the next smaller number

Geometry

YOU MUST MEMORIZE ALL FORMULAS Study problems that are drawn to scale to eliminate crazy answers

Not all diagrams are drawn to scale

Geometry problems always involve more than 1 step Topics Tested

Degrees and angles, triangles, circles, four-sided objects, solids and volume

Data Sufficiency

Consists of a question followed by 2 statements You dont decide what the answer is You decide WHETHER the question can be answered based on the info in the 2 statements

Data Sufficiency Answers (40%)

The first statement ALONE answers the question The second statement ALONE answers the question You need both statements TOGETHER to answer the question Both statements SEPARATELY answer the question Neither statement together or separately answers the question

How to Crack Data Sufficiency

Look at one statement at a time Memorize AD or BCE

If statement (1) answers the question, write down AD

If statement (2) also answers the question, the final answer is D

If statement (1) DOES NOT answer the question, write down BCE

Evaluate statement (2) to narrow down the remaining choices

Data sufficiency
In these questions you have to determine if the statements contain the necessary information to answer the questions. Is x > 4? 1) x < 9 2) x is an integer Answer choices: (A) Statement (1) is, by itself, enough to enable you to answer the question, but statement (2) is not enough. (B) Statement (1) is not enough, by itself, to answer the question, but statement (2) is enough. (C) Combining statements (1) and (2) provides enough information to answer the question. (D) Either statement, by itself, provides enough information to answer the question. (E) Neither statement contains sufficient data to answer the question.

You will have 75 minutes to answer 37 Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency Problems. You have roughly 2 minutes to solve every math problem. Questions are worth less and less as the test proceeds Slow down focus on questions at the beginning Finish all sections

Some Math Strategies

If n is an even integer, which of the following must be an odd integer? a) 3n 2 b) 3(n + 1) c) n2 d) n/3 e) n/2 Hint: Use substitution!

Plug-in the answers!

The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is 12, and the ten's digit is one-third the unit's digit. What is the number? 93 (D) 39 (B) 54 (E) 31 (C) 48

(A)

Ballpark Strategy
If 0.303z = 2,727, then z = a)9,000 b)900 c)90 e)0.9

d)9

what could reasonably be in the range of the answer?

Answer the question that is asked.

Read the question carefully. If your answer matches one of the choices given, your answer is not necessarily correct. Some of the choices given correspond to answers you would obtain by making simple errors, such as adding instead of subtracting or confusing area and perimeter.

Verbal Skills: Whats Covered

Sentence Correction Reading Comprehension

Critical Reasoning

Verbal Skills

You will have 75 minutes to answer 41 questions, or about 1 minute and 48 seconds per question Sentence Correction: 15 questions Reading Comprehension: 15 questions Critical Reasoning: 11 questions

Verbal Section Tips: Sentence Correction

Remember that only the underlined passage contains errors Remember that the error may not be grammar Dont judge correctness by your ear alone: GMAT English is different from language used in daily life and conversation. Make a checklist of things to look for, such as pronouns, misplaced modifiers, parallel construction and verb tensereview this frequently as you prepare for the GMAT

Verbal Section: More Tips on Sentence Correction

Use a process of elimination (logic) to find the correct answer rather than trying each possible answer in the sentence to hear how it sounds The first answer (A) will always indicate that the original sentence is correct, so if you are certain the original in incorrect, skip it to examine the remaining options; approximately 20% of GMAT answers are no error on the verbal section Identify the variableswhat changesin the remaining options and focus on how the differences affect the meaning of, or clarity of, the sentence

Verbal Skills: Sentence Correction

May I venture to say that I think this is performance is the most superior I have ever heard? a. May I venture to say that I think this performance is the most superior b. May I venture to say this performance is the most superior c. May I say this performance is the most superior d. I think this performance is superior to any e. This performance is the most superior of any Hint: eliminate redundancies!

Verbal Question: Sentence Correction

Using it wisely, leisure promotes health, efficiency, and happiness. a. Using it wisely, b. If used wisely, c. Having used it wisely, d. Because it is used wisely, e. Because of usefulness, Hint: who or what is using?

Verbal Question: Sentence Correction

With the exception of Frank and I, everyone in the class finished the assignment before the bell rang. a. Frank and I, everyone in the class finished b. Frank and me, everyone in the class finished c. Frank and me, everyone in the class had finished d. Frank and I, everyone in the class had finished e. Frank and me everyone in the class finished Hint: pronoun error or problem with verb?

Reading Comprehension

Read a passage on a social science, business or science issue Answer questions about the passages main and supporting points, and implications You will be able to refer to the passage when answering the questions, but you will only be able to answer one question at a time Questions are NOT arranged in order of difficulty in this section

Tips for Reading Comprehension Questions

To save time, read the first question to find out what you should look for before you read the passage itself Identify the main point in a passage or paragraph Topic sentences are usually but not always first; once you find it, skim the remaining paragraph Locate transitions and connecting words to help you see the relationship between ideas (however v. in addition) Look carefully at the questions and answers to find important qualifying words, like approximately or usuallyas on the math section, make sure you are answering the question

Critical Reasoning

Read a short passage (shorter than reading comprehension passages) Answer questions about logic related to the passage Consider every word carefullydont skim! Look to the question for clues about answers and pay careful attention to strongly worded statements (must, always, never v. can, usually, sometimes)

Sample Critical Reasoning Question

Department stores range from two to eight floors in height. If a store has more than three floors, it has an elevator. If the statements above are true, which of the following must also be true? a. Second floors do not have elevators b. Seventh floors have elevators c. Only floors above the third floor have elevators d. All floors may be reached by elevators e. Some two-floor department stores do not have elevators Hint: focus on what MUST be true as the question prompts, not on what MIGHT be true

Sample Critical Reasoning Question

Farmers in the North have observed that heavy frost is usually preceded by a full moon. They are convinced that the moon somehow generates the frost. Which of the following, if true, would weaken the farmers conviction? a. The temperature must fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for frost to occur b. Absence of a cloud cover cools the ground which causes frost c. Farmers are superstitious d. No one has proven that the moon causes frost e. Farmers are not experts in meteorology Hint: Look for the answer that would weaken their belief the most powerfully!

Analytical Writing

Two essays in 60 minutes Two essay types: Analyze an issue and Analyze an Argument Typed on a computer screen using word processor Normal word-processing functions like copy and paste will be available

Analytical Writing Assessment

Each essay is read by two readers and given a score from 0-6 in half-point increments First readers are business professionals, business school professors, and college teaching assistants Computer software called E-rater grades the paper, tooits the second reader If there is serious difference in score between the first reader and the computer software, a third human reader makes a final decision Human graders have about 2 minutes to grade each essay

Analytical Writing Assessment

Write as much as you canlonger essays usually score the highest! Aim for four or more indented paragraphs rather than one long stream of text indenting suggests organization Practice for the exam by typingdont write by handto improve your accuracy and speed

Analysis of Issue Tips

You will need to choose a side on the issue You must provide reasons why you chose your side Think: X is correct/good or incorrect/bad BECAUSE Try to brainstorm several because clauses to turn into body paragraphs in your essay Provide transitions at the beginning of body paragraphs (Ex. also, additionally, in contrast, etc) to show the relationships between your ideas

What Graders Look For

Understanding of issue Developed ideas, good organization, logical connections/transitions Effective support of main point(s) Good use of languagevariety of sentence lengths and styles

Analysis of Argument Tips

You are asked to critique (find the weaknesses of) an argument Find the assumptions that underlie an argument and challenge them OR show how they could be strengthened Use knowledge of logical fallacies to comprehend questions AND to analyze the argument

Analysis of Argument: Assessment

Same as for Analysis of Issue, except that they also look for good use of LOGIC

TIP: You must memorize the types of logical fallacies frequently used on GMAT, such as post hoc fallacy and faulty analogy! If you dont understand the logic vocabulary and concepts, the questions may be confusing!

Study Strategies

Buy the book! Treat it like a class

Commit to specified study time(s) Do use downloadable GMAT software Do take full length test to identify weak areas and get rough estimate of score DO NOT allow yourself to exceed time limits DO NOT use calculators

Test yourself realistically