Starting in June, MBA hopefuls can expect a more difficult version of the GMAT as a stepping stone on their path to graduate school admission.
The new GMAT will feature an integrated reasoning section comprised of four question types, each challenging the test taker’s ability to understand different types of graphs, spreadsheets, text, charts and tables, according to Andrew Mitchell, Kaplan Test Prep director of pre-business programs.
The questions found in the integrated reasoning section will be similar to the data interpretation questions on the GRE, Mitchell said.
“The GRE is something of a sibling test,” Mitchell said. “Many business schools accept the GRE as a substitute to the GMAT. Nevertheless, the questions in this section are relatively new.”
Among the unique additions to the exam is the table analysis question type, in which test takers will be required to sort information into appropriate columns, Mitchell said.
Scores from the current version of the test will be valid for five years, but Mitchell said students hoping to take the test in June should begin studying now.
He said 100 hours is the recommended amount of preparation time for the GMAT, and that the integrated reasoning section would require students to prepare on a computer-based program to familiarize themselves with the new question types.
“Taking it in June allows you to avoid spending time studying for the integrative reasoning test,” Mitchell said. “It allows students to focus solely on the quantitative and analytical writing sections to boost their scores.”
Because the integrated reasoning section will have its own sub score within the GMAT results, students will be unable to mask a poor showing in that section with better results from the rest of the test, according to a Kaplan news release.
The time required to take the test – approximately four hours – will remain unchanged as the inductive reasoning section will replace one of the writing assessments, the release said.
The University has not administered the GMAT in five years, according to Harley Anton, assistant director of lab operations for the Office of Assessment and Evaluation. The company affiliated with the GMAT has not had a contract with the University in that time, he said.
The test is administrated year-round on demand at testing centers around the world, according to the official GMAT website. Students can go to mba.com to schedule an appointment at a local test center.
 
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Contact Paul Braun at [email protected]