I have worked with hundreds of prospective business school applicants during their preparation for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Recently, I used my extensive experience in this arena to help design the GMAT Exam Simulator software distributed by Upstart Raising to GMAT Preparation providers and tutors worldwide.

Since we began offering this educators’ software direct to students, I have received many inquiries from MBA candidates interested in the finer points of how we successfully emulate GMAT scoring within our software. In the next few paragraphs, I will attempt to shed some light on this subject.

The actual calculations for raw, scaled sectional, and cumulative scores are not published by Educational Testing Service (ETS), the current publisher of the actual GMAT exam, and the goal of the GMAT is to produce scores that are consistent year to year. In other words, a 650 from several years ago is supposed to be equivalent to a 650 today. To meet that goal, the scaled sectional scores continually fluctuate with regard to the associated percentile.

For example, average quantitative scores have been rising for several years and it now takes a scaled score of 51 to reach the 99th percentile while a 48 now represents only the 87th percentile. By comparison, in the verbal section, there is a 7 point difference between the 99th (a score of around 45) and the 87th percentile (around 38).

Since these types of scoring adjustments are not announced publicly, the only reliable way to monitor these scoring fluctuations is to use observations of actual test scores. So clearly software algorithms must be continually monitored and adjusted to provide accurate scoring assessment.

At Upstart Raising we devote the large majority of our effort towards the reliable reproduction of the total cumulative score with regard to test taker performance. We continually adjust our formula for cumulative score generation along with question pool content to reflect the observations and feedback of actual test takers. In stark contrast, many inferior GMAT preparation software products use static formulas and question pools that bear no resemblance to the current exam.

It is important to note that there is no simple relationship between the number of questions answered correctly during a single GMAT session and the associated cumulative score. Each question in each section of the GMAT is assigned a unique weight and earlier questions in the section are worth more than later questions while quantitative questions are generally worth more than verbal ones. Students should be aware that the cumulative score on the GMAT is calculated in increments of 10 points.

So, the difference between a 690 and a 700 is only one “tick”. This difference could be attributable to a difference in the number of correct responses, but that is not necessarily the case. 10 points is so narrow a margin in the cumulative GMAT score that the order of your incorrect responses could be the determining factor in whether you receive a 690 or 700.

For example, if you miss 3 verbal questions towards the end of the section during one GMAT session, but miss the same 3 questions in the middle during another session, your second session could easily be scored 10 points lower. This is one reason why we coach students to give more attention to the earlier questions on each section. Quite simply, the earlier questions are worth more.



Thanks to Martin Chandra for contributing this article to our MBA blog:

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GMAT or Graduate Management Admission Test is a prerequisite for admission to any prestigious business school. With increasing number of applications received by top business schools, the only way to ensure admission is to secure a high GMAT score. Therefore, whether you are taking the GMAT test for the first time or trying to raise your previous score, it is recommended that you join a GMAT Prep course.

 

Before you join a course, it is important to find a course that meets your needs. You have to keep in mind both your learning style and your time schedule before you choose a course. Many companies offer traditional school style classroom instructions. However, this may not be a practical choice if you are a working person or if the centre is too far away from where you stay. One of the best ways to take a GMAT course is to identify a good online GMAT Prep course.

 

The GMAT exam requires strong language skills along with good mathematical expertise. Many students who take the test are bogged down by the syllabi and the complex level of conceptual ability that is required for a good GMAT score. Thus they become stressed out and are unable to perform well during their exams. Keeping this in view, it is important to select a GMAT Prep course online that has an easy course structure and materials. The course itself should be designed to accommodate the needs of working individuals, so that you can access your online GMAT Prep course any time you wish. Many online companies offer easy to learn audio and video clips that make it easy and interesting to learn for GMAT. You should always choose a course that allows you to repeat the course content as many times as you want. Exposure to a number of practice tests before the real test will equip you with important exam management and answering skills.

 

Some of the best online GMAT Prep courses offer you CDs that allow you to enjoy a private tutoring environment right from the comfort of your home. A good company will also provide 24/7 offline and online support so that you can get your queries resolved without delay. Some companies also provide one-to-one sessions with experienced tutors who will work with you on areas that are difficult. Excellent service and total personal support from the provider are important for good GMAT scores.

 

Most candidates who appear for the GMAT exams are working on a very tight budget. Therefore, affordability plays an important role in choosing the right online GMAT Prep course. Many online companies offer you multiple plans that you can choose from. This makes it easy for you to choose a plan that suits your budget, test date and availability.

 

Finally, with thousands of candidates appearing for the GMAT exams, it is important that the online GMAT Prep course you choose provides you with important tips and tricks that will help you perform well in the exam. These strategies may seem irrelevant on the face of it. But, come exam time, and these tips may very well give you a much-needed edge over your competitors.



Thanks to Kathleen Chester for contributing this article to our MBA blog:

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