I'm doing my MBA right now at Emory - took GMAT 2 years ago. In taking GMAT, a good part of your success depends on knowing the strategy, apart from knowing the material. The tests are now CATs (Computer Aided/Assisted Testing), that works differently from the paper version: answering the first question right and answering the second question wrong is not equivalent to answering the first question wrong and the second question right. The reason being is that CAT algorithm is written to hone in on your score rather than derive it from fixed data. That is, it uses answer from the previous question to select current question. If you answer incorrectly, your score is dropped, and an easier question is given. Likewise, if you answer correctly, your score is raised, and harder question is selected. Hence, first questions make big influence on your score while later ones are simply fine-tuning it. Therefore, your time management shouldn't be linear, with more time spent on earlier questions to make sure you get those right, and less time spent on last questions since those have less and not as profound effect on your score as the earlier ones. Etc., etc., etc., so be sure to use training material that addresses CAT strategy and not the classic GMAT - this is the most influential preparation part that you can do to better your scores.
As far as math, <opinion>as sad as it is</opinion> you're not really tested on being able to infer or apply logic to a given problem, but rather knowing the shortcuts. AFAIR, only couple of questions were truly creative that required application of your logic skills. Most were about knowing shortcuts, remembering certain properties (like lengths of sides of a triangle based on angles), and the likes. So be sure to get that toolbox before going in for the real test. And be sure to practice the exam on the computer with available simulation software (I've had access to couple of packages - scores were pretty close to what I eventually got on my GMAT, but each package had a systematic bias in their scoring: one was consistently higher than the other) so that you're familiar with it when taking the exam. Lenny On 3/5/08, John Hornbuckle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > A while back, we had a discussion here about certification vs. degrees. > I opined that it was best to get degrees--which are good forever and not > tied solely to the tech field--first, then go for certs after that. > > Well, I'm taking my own advice and going back to school for a Master's > in Management Information Systems. On May 3rd I take the GMAT, for which > I'm spending a couple of hours studying every day (longer on weekends). > > If any of you have taken it, I'd be glad to receive any advice/wisdom > you could offer... > > > > > John Hornbuckle > MIS Department > Taylor County School District > 318 North Clark Street > Perry, FL 32347 > > www.taylor.k12.fl.us > > > > ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~ > ~ Upgrade to Next Generation Antispam/Antivirus with Ninja! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/SunbeltMessagingNinja.cfm> ~
