OrientationThe Harvard Study

©2008 The Harvard Study

Welcome

• The Harvard Study is dedicated to your success

• We specialize in GMAT preparation, so as to ensure that you are able to complete your MBA at the school of your desire

• Over the coming weeks, you will learn tricks and techniques proven to help you get the best possible score on the GMAT

©2008 The Harvard Study

What is the GMAT?• The GMAT is a standardized test administered by

Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)• Anyone wishing to attend business school to get their

MBA is required to write this test, as a part of their admission application

• The test is done on a computer and consists of the following sections:

1. 2 typed Essays called Analytical Writing Assessment or AWA (30 minutes each)

(10 Minute Break)

2. Math Section (37 Multiple Choice Questions; 75-minutes)(10 Minute Break)

3. Verbal Section (41 Multiple Choice Questions; 75-minutes)

©2008 The Harvard Study

What’s Tested on The GMAT?• Math

– The Math section on the GMAT tests:1. Arithmetic2. Algebra3. Geometry

– The Math section contains two types of questions:1. Problem Solving (Normal math problems)2. Data Sufficiency (Math questions, like you’ve never seen before

> testing how to set-up the problem, instead of how to actually solve it)

• Verbal– The Verbal Section on the GMAT tests:

1. Sentence Correction (focussing on Grammar)2. Reading Comprehension (Read a passage, and answer

questions on it)3. Critical Reasoning (Analyzing Arguments)

©2008 The Harvard Study

How is the GMAT scored?

• The GMAT has 4 separate scores:1. Analytical Writing Assessment (range from 0 – 6)2. Math Score (range from 0 – 60)3. Verbal Score (range from (0 – 60)4. Total Score (based on your Math and Verbal score,

range from 200 – 800)

• For each of your scores, you will also get your percentile ranking

• Majority of business schools focus on your Math, Verbal & Total score, and place minimal importance on the AWA mark

• Therefore, this course will focus primarily on the Math and Verbal sections

©2008 The Harvard Study

A Computer Adaptive Test

• The GMAT is a computer Adaptive Test, that is to say the computer adjusts the test based on your answers to the questions

• Therefore, if you get a question correct, the next question you get will be harder, and vice versa

• Additionally, the questions on the GMAT are weighted, with the first question being worth the most, and the last question being worth the least

• Hence, having a solid pacing strategy is extremely important, providing more attention and time to the earlier questions, and moving quicker as the test progresses

• Click to see an example of how the weighting works

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Start Q.1 Q.2 Q.3

Mary

John

• Even though both Mary and John got 2 questions right and only one question wrong, Mary is scoring better as she got the earlier questions right.

©2008 The Harvard Study

Experimental Questions

• In order to make a computer adaptive test, GMAC requires a large pool of questions, for which they can clearly identify the level of difficulty

• To determine the level of difficulty of a question GMAC has a few options, the best of which is to test ask actual GMAT students

• Hence, GMAC puts experimental questions into each GMAT test• There are 9 experimental questions in the Math section, and 11

experimental questions in the Verbal section• Experimental questions do not count towards your overall GMAT

score, in fact, they don’t impact your test at all• These questions are being tested for their level of difficulty, so

that they can be used in future GMAT tests

©2008 The Harvard Study

The Game• Scoring well on this test is dependent on your ability to play the GMAT

Game! • Let’s try to put everything together:

– The GMAT test is conducted on a computer– The GMAT is a computer adaptive test– There are Experimental Questions on this test– You can not skip any questions, or go backwards– Therefore, there is no question on the GMAT more important than the

question on the computer screen in front of you– The key to acing this exam is keeping focus– If the question you are facing is much more difficult, or much easier, or

just insanely different than anything you’ve seen so far, convince yourself that it is experimental, and go on

– The questions are written by professional test writers, their goal is to trick or confuse you; So, you need to stay ahead of the game!

• At the end of the day, there are two components to getting a good score on the GMAT, understanding the content, and being psychologically prepared.

©2008 The Harvard Study

Let’s Get Started!

• Now that we know what the GMAT is, and how it’s scored, it’s time to get started on the material!

• Are you ready to begin…

• Contact us today: bcgmat@gmail.com