On July 19, 2015, the official organizer of the GMAT exam, GMAC, proposed some new changes. This is the second time since last year that GMAC optimizes the examination process, attempting to provide examinees with more comprehensive information to evaluate their performance. In these two years, GMAC has implemented six major changes to the examination:
1. Score preview: The exam preview allows the examiner to take a look at the non-official scores for deciding to keep or cancel the scores. The non-official scores consist of four items: integrated reasoning, quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and the combined score. The examinee will be given two minutes to decide whether to accept the scores. Those who do fail to make a choice within the time limit will have their scores canceled. Although the examinee can again choose to accept the scores within 60 days after the exam was taken place, $100 U.S. dollars will be charged, and the examinee cannot restore the scores after the final decision is made. We recommend you have a preliminary thought about the level of scores that you can accept so that you won’t feel appalled when asked whether to keep the scores or not.
2. Enhanced score report: The enhanced score report (ESR) is an innovative service. It requires the examinee to purchase code at a price of $24.95 U.S. dollars on the GMAT official website. Next, activate and log in your account from an email you received, and [ Enhanced Score Report ] will be shown as an option next to your test history in your GMAT account. Choose the item you would like to have an enhanced score report. Enter the code to receive a detailed analysis report. The contents are described as followed:
(1) Overall section performance ranking
(2) Sub-section ranking
(3) Time management ranking
(4) Percentage of questions answered correctly
(5) Average response time
(6) Ability to benchmark against other test takers from the past three years
(7) Customized summary report for each section that assesses strengths and weaknesses
3. The new Official Guide is available now: The 2016 Official Guide is a valuable asset to all examinees because it provides 25% of new test questions (213 questions) and the online test service. In addition, it provides 75 Quantitative Review questions and 76 Verbal Review questions. The Official Guide even adds another 45 questions to the SC, which is proved to be the most concerned part by examinees. With the new test questions, you will be familiar with the direction the GMAT is heading.
4. Score cancellation: In the past, a [C] would appear on their score reports for those who canceled their scores. This won’t happen again in the new system, and the [C] for the canceled scores in existing score reports will also be removed. This change will eliminate examinees’ concern with the possibilities of the negative influence of the record on school application. Moreover, this leaves the admissions committee no room for unnecessary explanation.
5. Score viewing code: The launch of such a code brings convenience to examinees. In the past, an authentication code is required to view your score, but now you only need to enter your birth date. This change significantly simplifies the current process.
6. Repeat exams: In the past, you can only retake the test after a 31-day time period. The new system allows the examinee to retake the test after 16 days.
These features may seem greatly beneficial to examinees, but be aware of the decision made in the last GMAT Test Prep Summit: Only five times of exams are allowed in a single year for an examinee. We suggest you improve yourself before taking another exam.
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by Ms. Xin