Talk:Graduate Management Admission Test

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GMAT is a standardised test for getting into most of the business schools across the world. It is one of the qualifier to get into the schools however not the only parameter.

Please do not use the discussion area to advertise your products!

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[edit] Statement of fact lacks a reference and seems to be incorrect at that

"...many people believe that the GMAT score is less important than the applicant's work experience and GPA."

Unless someone provides a source to back this up ("many people"), I'm rather inclined to slightly modify this sentence to accord with the conventional wisdom as demonstrated by both the views of B-school candidates and students, as well as that of B-school prep. services and webpages, as can be seen by a quick trawl through Google. Namely, while an applicant's work experience is of great import, their undergraduate GPA is, while definitely a determining factor, one of the least important criteria utilized in the admissions process. For one thing, most B-school candidates have been out of school for several years, so things like work experience, the GMAT, and the interview are seen as better factors in determining the candidate's viability for both the B-school regime and professional achievement after graduation. I'll wait for a week or so to see if anyone disagrees or posts a source. If not, then I'm going to make the change.


[edit] Comment doesn't make much sense and needs a reference

"while most schools require scores superior to 550-600."

To suggest that "most schools" (which needs to be defined) need a score over 600 is to suggest that the 84%(600 being one standard deviation greater than average) of the test takers could not get into "most schools". This seems to be false, although I have no statistics to back up my point, although even if I did they would be meaningless as "most schools" is a poor term. Since 250,000 people take the test a year, it is hard to believe that 210,000 would pay $250 and then not attend business school.

[edit] Need history of the GMAT

There is a rich history of discontent with the GMAT from business schools. I believe Harvard may have eliminated the use of the GMAT for a period of time in the 1980s. Such a historical discussion would be helpful for people researching standardized tests in general. Admittedly, probably 99% of the people reading this page are looking for help with test preparation and business school applications.


[edit] Advertisement Sites

Why GMAT advertisement sites are listed on this page. In my opinion only official site should be under External Link or any other site which describes GMAT - not the prep course sites.

I've removed anything but the official site. I included a link to a wikipedia category. --GunnarRene 21:18, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

I agree, with above (no sites that force sales of prep course and want you to buy stuff) I think it would be beneficial if anyone knows of sites that don't force products or services but offer indepth information about the GMAT, many people coming here are looking for just that and if it is not displayed anywhere for them, they leave. Just my thoughts, what do you guys think?

The only official source is the Graduate Management Admission Council, and there's already a link to it at the end of the article. Their site in turn links to mba.com which has a lot of information that anyone would need. =Axlq 03:52, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

I hope it is ok, I just added a link to mba.com as that is where people are more likely to want to go instead of gmac.com since that is for b-school administrators.

[edit] I made a few quick changes

I corrected a little bit of the test format section, mainly to fix the misconception that earlier questions count more than later ones. EVERYONE thinks that but they're wrong, and I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt because of bad advice. I also added in updated information on the current median score. I don't have attribution for it, sadly, but I'm correct.

[edit] ®

Why is the ® symbol everywhere? I don't think it's proper style to include that on Wikipedia. CoolGuy 04:14, 6 August 2006 (UTC)


I think someone just wanted to make a change and/or thought it was better to have it in there. Unless someone objects in the next couple of days, it should probably be removed. If nothing else, the pages on the sister tests (GRE, LSAT, etc.) don't include this symbol. - 7 August 2006 ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

[edit] Incorrect Fact: Essay Scoring Technology Noted is not Correct

This sentence is not correct. [Intellimetric] is used as of 2006.

The first reader is a proprietary computer program called E-rater, which analyses creative writing and syntax. The second and third readers are humans, who generally look at the overall impact rather than spelling and grammar.

Source link An Evaluation of Intellimetric™ Essay Scoring System Using Responses to GMAT® AWA Prompts

Intellimetric Vantage Learning's technology is used for scoring the GMAT exam as of January 2006.

maguireb 10:24, 14 August 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Changes

I added back in a website that I found helpful when I was here, it shows a breakdown of gmat scores and scores for some b-schools. 71.107.251.124 03:37, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

I just reverted it. External links don't belong in the middle of articles, and a page showing percentile relationships to GMAT scores isn't really relevant to entrance requirements. =Axlq 04:17, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Oh... alright, could I add the main page (http://www.gettingtogradschool.com/MBA-Business_School/index.htm) to the External Links? I have found it to be a great source for me while taking the GMAT! I will wait to see what you say before adding it... thanks

You didn't wait, you just added it. I can't help but observe that the only contributions you and a similar IP address have made to Wikipedia concern this link, implying that you're trying to use Wikipedia to drive traffic to your own web site.
I've just looked the site over. It's not bad, mostly helpful, but clearly set up to sell test preparation material. Why should it be singled out in this or any other article, versus a number of other GMAT or LSAT help sites? For Wikipedia to retain a neutral point of view, it would have to link to all other sites to be fair, but the purpose of Wikipedia is not to provide a space for links.
Oh, a word of advice: not requiring registration on a discussion forum will eventually result in messages full of linkspam for porn sites. It's just a matter of time.... =Axlq 15:51, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Sorry...I was going to wait but was not sure if you would check this page without a change to the main page. Can the link stay? The test prep sale items on the main page (right margin) will be removed, not forcing any sales while allowing maximum information. The site is worked on 10 hours a week, continuously improving. The page can be altered based on your suggestions required to be a link. 71.107.251.124 17:57, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Link removal

I have removed that link again. While the site can be informative, there is no special reason for which we should link to it instead of other websites covering the same subject. The fact that the owner has been kind and asked for permission doesn't change the external link guidelines, which say (links to normally be avoided, number 2):

  • Any site that contains factually inaccurate material or unverified original research, as detailed in Wikipedia:Reliable sources.

The site is self-published, so it can't be considered accurate or reliable. And it contains ads. And it provides the email addresses of tutors (who probably pay to have their names included). And it sells products. And more products. And so on. That link has no place in Wikipedia. Mushroom (Talk) 21:00, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I am glad an administrator finally noticed the issue and made a decision. Thanks. Although I was leaning toward keeping it (after having removed it several times myself), I'll leave it removed. =Axlq 03:47, 20 October 2006 (UTC)
This is GettingToGradSchool, I stay updated on all this link submitting and removal and keep noticing the link removed and added... Just wanted to make it clear I am not adding it. I respect the decision you make and do NOT add it back. I think I have aquired a fan club who is trying to keep the link, pretty funny! Just wanted to clear that up, I hope the link can stay...but like I said, will respect the system and will not add it back! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.35.22.244 (talk • contribs) 16:17, 20 October 2006
Well, somebody just added it back, and I reverted it. Oh, and sign your talk page edits with four tildes ~~~~ =Axlq 05:25, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dry/Wet Erase

One part of the article says that the test taker is given a dry erase pen and board, while at the bottom it says wet erase. Does anyonw know which it is? --Wikidan81 20:04, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

All I can find are unofficial sites that indicate wet erase. The official site says nothing. I would say, these unsourced statements should be removed. Either way, the factoid doesn't appear add anything of real value to the article. =Axlq 06:25, 11 December 2006 (UTC)
In Nov. 2006, at one facility a dry erase "board" was used. Rather it was a board containing 8-10 sheets of flimsy dry erase film. The student was not provided with anything to erase the sheets with, but they only used a couple of the sheets. They were able to erase the marker with a sleeve from a shirt. For people that may feel the need to use all the sheets, I'm sure they'd provide you with tissues or something to clean the dry erase sheets. Vivaldi (talk) 05:45, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] answers to some FAQs .. How is this to be incorporated into the article ?

Q- Do I need to give GMAT in the first place in order to get in Harward Business school ? A-Yes

[edit] Overall length of the test

In the overview, this information should be included. Something like: "This test usually takes around __ hours to complete."

70.185.117.10 (talk) 09:24, 20 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Length of the GMAT being valid

Articles states this:

"Scores are valid for five years (at most institutions) from the date the test taker sits for the exam until the date of matriculation (not until the date of application). The Stanford University Graduate School of Business website offers a "test results calculator" [1] useful for determining the expiration date of test scores."

Well, at all schools that I've visited, the scores must be valid on the day of application or something similar, and never on the day of matriculation, including at Stanford GSB, where the calculator points to the deadline for each round.

This should be changed —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.244.223.186 (talk) 20:46, 25 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Getting up early

When I did the test in the UK, more years ago than I care to say, a noteable thing about it was that you had to get up really early to start it. In Britain an exam would start at say 10am, or at least no earlier than 9am. Yet I recall have to turn up at 7.30am (or maybe earlier - cannot remember)! If this is still true, it would be worth mentioning. 80.0.108.213 (talk) 09:49, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Added Link

I added a link to Beat the GMAT Forum because it was a really helpful site for me when I was preparing for the GMAT. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.235.32.252 (talk • contribs) 2008-05-02

I have deleted your link. Community/forum sites aren't allowed as external links per Wikipedia's external linking guidelines. =Axlq 17:05, 4 May 2008 (UTC)
Thanks for letting me know the reason for removing the link. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.80.70.124 (talk) 05:50, 6 May 2008 (UTC)