I'm supposed to take the GMAT this weekend. I've only been studying for a few days. What's the probability I'll get at least a score of 500? I am an accounting major, so I feel pretty comfortable with the math section, but not so much with the verbal. Does anyone have any tips for me? Thanks, Tina
Have you tried any of the practice exams? How do you do any other standard tests (SAT, ACT, etc.)? How is your health, your rest, your emotionally state? If you have done well on all the above, a good nights sleep and being relaxed will halp a lot. Good luck!
Being able to compute that probability will help pass the test. (Standardized tests like this are normed around 500. That is, 500 is the median score. So I'd put your probability for getting a score equal to or greater than 500 at .5, or 50/50. ) If you're taking the test this weekend, I'd suggest enjoying the week and going in refreshed. While such tests are very susceptible to coaching and preparation, there isn't much you can do in a few days. As Mike said, you might try taking a couple of practice tests, but don't let your performance on them get you jacked up. They're usually harder than the test itself. Or you could take a principled stand and refuse to attend any school that requires the GMAT.
Nice .... Rich... I did refuse to take the GMAT at Lehigh. I actually got away with it and I did not have to take it. They even let me in with out provisional status. So a refusal to take the test may be worth a try instead of avoiding any school requiring the GMAT. Regards, Dick
Why refuse to take GMAT? Why not take it? Most (almost all) schools don't require a very high score, and if you don't have the schedule or money or inclination to go to an elite school, why not just take it and be done with it. Getting to the 50th percentile isn't that tough. A good many schools don't even require that amount of success. Also Tina, just review the simple math/stats formulas, if you can generate other ways to apply them a little knowledge goes a long way. Tony
Yeah. I figure I'd at least take it. Refusing sounds nice though. I did buy a study guide and I have the CD that the GMAC sent me. Wish me a lot of luck! Thanks, Tina
My encounter with the GMAT (which was quite awhile ago actually) was that it focused on abilities such as analytic skills, interpretation of data, verbal skills (particularly comprehension) and the like--not things that you can actually study for. Yes, there are the ARCO and Barron's GMAT prep books at your local bookstore, which, I believe, you will find to be of very limited value except, perhaps, for the sample tests in the back. I think you would be better served by going about your regular routine and getting a good night's rest before the exam. Graduate business schools seem to be increasingly dubious about the value of standarized tests like the GMAT. They do not predict ability to do research, love of learning, creativity, or anything else of real import. For that reason, my sense is that in the selection process, much more emphasis is placed on the application, undergrad transcript, employment history, letters of reference, and professional aspirations expressed in the essay--not a GMAT score. Good luck!
