Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Orientation

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Graduate Management Admission Test(GMAT)Orientat
ion
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What is the GMAT?

• Graduate Management Admission Test
• Computer adaptive test
• Does not measure creativity or motivation
• Does not require specific business knowledge
• Test measures
• Verbal Skills
• Mathematical Skills
• Writing Skills

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Signing Up

• Online www.MBA.com
• Phone 1-800-GMAT-NOW
• Local Testing Center
• Pearson Professional Centers Santa Maria
• Gill Office Building, 1010 South Broadway, Suite
  F
• Santa Maria, CA 93454
• [phone]
• Reservations required
• Cost is 250

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Essential Item!!!

• Go to www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT
• Go to GMAT Prep Products
• Select Free GMAT PowerPrep Software
• Provide name/Email
• Download free test prep software program
• Look and feel of actual test
• Contains full length test that is very reflective
  of actual test
• Scores generated are very accurate to actual test
  results

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Free GMAT Software!
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The Big Day

• Check in at least 30 minutes before assigned time
• If late, fee will be forfeited
• Current Photo ID required
• Examples drivers license, passport
• NOT STUDENT ID!
• Verification process
• Sign confidentiality statement and rules
  agreement
• Thumbprint, photo and audio/video taping

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Free Practice Test

• Free practice test ( login)
• www.princetonreview.com/cracking
• GMAT Pre-test
• GMAT Warm-Up Test (page353)
• GMAT Practice Test (page 399)
• Math Workbook for the GMAT Math

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Test Procedures and Regulations

• No testing aids calculators, books, notes, etc
• Scratch paper and pencils provided
• Two 5 minute breaks, cannot be exceeded
• No eating or drinking in testing center
• Cannot leave testing station without approval
• Personal items will be locked up
• Dismissed for disruptive behavior
• Cancellation of score if you fail to comply

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Rescheduling and Canceling

• Rescheduling
• At least 7 days in advance - 50 rescheduling
  fee applies
• Less than 7 in advance - full fee is forfeited
• Canceling
• At least 7 days in advance 80 partial refund

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Getting Your Scores

• Scores sent to up to 5 institutions/programs
• GMAT yields four scores verbal, quantitative,
  total, analytical writing
• 2/3 of total scores are between 400 - 600
• Out of 800 total points
• May view scores for multiple-choice sections upon
  completion
• Official score mailed in 2 weeks

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Canceling Scores

• May cancel, on computer, immediately following
  last section of test
• Scores cannot be canceled once viewed
• No partial cancellations
• Fees not refunded if you cancel
• Cancellations reported to score recipients

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Repeating the GMAT

• No more than one time in a calendar month
• Even if scores are canceled
• Latest scores and two most recent scores are
  reported to designated recipients
• Test scores valid for 5 years

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GMAT Format
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General Tips!

• The first questions are weighted more heavily
  than the rest
• Its not the number of questions you get correct
  that determines your score its the level of
  difficulty
• Questions increase in difficulty as you answer
  questions correctly
• Concentrate on getting a series of questions in a
  row correct
• Answer as many questions as possible
• If you are not sure, guess!
• Pace yourself, but be aware of your time
• Confirm your answers only when confident
• Be careful about exit and quit commands

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Quantitative Section Whats Covered

• 37 questions in 2 formats
• Problem Solving (much like the SAT) 19 questions
• Data Sufficiency (unique to GMAT) 18 questions
• Test general knowledge of arithmetic, basic
  algebra, basic geometry
• No calculus, trig, or complicated geometry

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General Advice

• Always reread the last line of the problem to
  make sure youve actually answered the question
• Use Process of Elimination
• To eliminate obviously wrong answers quickly
• To avoid overworking the problem
• To maximize opportunity to guess correctly

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Arithmetic

• Topics tested
• Axiom and Fundamentals (properties of integers,
  - numbers, even odd)
• Arithmetic Operations ( - x / etc.)
• Fractions Decimals
• Ratios
• Percentages
• Averages
• Exponents and Radicals

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Algebra

• Cosmic Problems asked to write an equation that
  will answer a question regardless of what a
  certain number x is
• PLUG IN pick numbers for the letters in the
  problem
• Plug in from the outside in (A,E,B,D,C)
• Avoid using 0, 1, and numbers in the problem
• Why not solve algebraically?
• Makes difficult problems easy
• Test designed with many ways for you to screw up
  using algebra

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Example of a Cosmic Problem

• What is two more than 3 times a certain number x?
• A. 3x-2
• B. 3x
• C. 2x-3
• D. 2x3
• E. 3x2

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Solving Non-Cosmic Problems

• Non-cosmic problems have specific answers
• WORKING BACKWARDS
• Start with choice C, plug number into problem to
  see if it works
• If choice C is too small, choose the next larger
  number
• If choice C is too big, choose the next smaller
  number

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Geometry

• YOU MUST MEMORIZE ALL FORMULAS
• Study problems that are drawn to scale to
  eliminate crazy answers
• Not all diagrams are drawn to scale
• Geometry problems always involve more than 1 step
• Topics Tested
• Degrees and angles, triangles, circles,
  four-sided objects, solids and volume

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Data Sufficiency

• Consists of a question followed by 2 statements
• You dont decide what the answer is
• You decide WHETHER the question can be answered
  based on the info in the 2 statements

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Data Sufficiency Answers (40)

• The first statement ALONE answers the question
• The second statement ALONE answers the question
• You need both statements TOGETHER to answer the
  question
• Both statements SEPARATELY answer the question
• Neither statement together or separately answers
  the question

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How to Crack Data Sufficiency

• Look at one statement at a time
• Memorize AD or BCE
• If statement (1) answers the question, write down
  AD
• If statement (2) also answers the question, the
  final answer is D
• If statement (1) DOES NOT answer the question,
  write down BCE
• Evaluate statement (2) to narrow down the
  remaining choices

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Data sufficiency

• In these questions you have to determine if the
  statements contain the necessary information to
  answer the questions. Is x gt 4?
• 1) x lt 92) x is an integer
• Answer choices(A) Statement (1) is, by itself,
  enough to enable you to answer the question, but
  statement (2) is not enough.(B) Statement (1) is
  not enough, by itself, to answer the question,
  but statement (2) is enough. (C) Combining
  statements (1) and (2) provides enough
  information to answer the question.(D) Either
  statement, by itself, provides enough information
  to answer the question.(E) Neither statement
  contains sufficient data to answer the question.

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• You will have 75 minutes to answer 37 Problem
  Solving and Data Sufficiency Problems.
• You have roughly 2 minutes to solve every math
  problem.
• Questions are worth less and less as the test
  proceeds
• Slow down focus on questions at the beginning
• Finish all sections

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Some Math Strategies

• If n is an even integer, which of the following
  must be an odd integer?
• 3n 2
• 3(n 1)
• n 2
• n/3
• n/2
• Hint Use substitution!

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Plug-in the answers!

• The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is
  12, and the ten's digit is one-third the unit's
  digit. What is the number?
• 93 (B) 54 (C) 48 (D) 39 (E) 31

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Ballpark Strategy

• If 0.303z 2,727, then z
• a)9,000 b)900 c)90 d)9 e)0.9

what could reasonably be in the range of the
answer?
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Answer the question that is asked.

• Read the question carefully.
• If your answer matches one of the choices given,
  your answer is not necessarily correct.
• Some of the choices given correspond to answers
  you would obtain by making simple errors, such as
  adding instead of subtracting or confusing area
  and perimeter.

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Verbal Skills Whats Covered

• Sentence Correction
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Reasoning

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Verbal Skills

• You will have 75 minutes to answer 41 questions,
  or about 1 minute and 48 seconds per question
• Sentence Correction 15 questions
• Reading Comprehension 15 questions
• Critical Reasoning 11 questions

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Verbal Section Tips Sentence Correction

• Remember that only the underlined passage
  contains errors
• Remember that the error may not be grammar
• Dont judge correctness by your ear alone GMAT
  English is different from language used in daily
  life and conversation.
• Make a checklist of things to look for, such as
  pronouns, misplaced modifiers, parallel
  construction and verb tensereview this
  frequently as you prepare for the GMAT

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Verbal Section More Tips on Sentence Correction

• Use a process of elimination (logic) to find the
  correct answer rather than trying each possible
  answer in the sentence to hear how it sounds
• The first answer (A) will always indicate that
  the original sentence is correct, so if you are
  certain the original in incorrect, skip it to
  examine the remaining options approximately 20
  of GMAT answers are no error on the verbal
  section
• Identify the variableswhat changesin the
  remaining options and focus on how the
  differences affect the meaning of, or clarity of,
  the sentence

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Verbal Skills Sentence Correction

• May I venture to say that I think this is
  performance is the most superior I have ever
  heard?
• May I venture to say that I think this
  performance is the most superior
• May I venture to say this performance is the most
  superior
• May I say this performance is the most superior
• I think this performance is superior to any
• This performance is the most superior of any
• Hint eliminate redundancies!

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Verbal Question Sentence Correction

• Using it wisely, leisure promotes health,
  efficiency, and happiness.
• Using it wisely,
• If used wisely,
• Having used it wisely,
• Because it is used wisely,
• Because of usefulness,
• Hint who or what is using?

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Verbal Question Sentence Correction

• With the exception of Frank and I, everyone in
  the class finished the assignment before the bell
  rang.
• Frank and I, everyone in the class finished
• Frank and me, everyone in the class finished
• Frank and me, everyone in the class had finished
• Frank and I, everyone in the class had finished
• Frank and me everyone in the class finished
• Hint pronoun error or problem with verb?

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Reading Comprehension

• Read a passage on a social science, business or
  science issue
• Answer questions about the passages main and
  supporting points, and implications
• You will be able to refer to the passage when
  answering the questions, but you will only be
  able to answer one question at a time
• Questions are NOT arranged in order of difficulty
  in this section

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Tips for Reading Comprehension Questions

• To save time, read the first question to find out
  what you should look for before you read the
  passage itself
• Identify the main point in a passage or paragraph
• Topic sentences are usually but not always
  first once you find it, skim the remaining
  paragraph
• Locate transitions and connecting words to help
  you see the relationship between ideas (however
  v. in addition)
• Look carefully at the questions and answers to
  find important qualifying words, like
  approximately or usuallyas on the math
  section, make sure you are answering the question

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Critical Reasoning

• Read a short passage (shorter than reading
  comprehension passages)
• Answer questions about logic related to the
  passage
• Consider every word carefullydont skim!
• Look to the question for clues about answers and
  pay careful attention to strongly worded
  statements (must, always, never v. can, usually,
  sometimes)

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Sample Critical Reasoning Question

• Department stores range from two to eight floors
  in height. If a store has more than three floors,
  it has an elevator.
• If the statements above are true, which of the
  following must also be true?
• Second floors do not have elevators
• Seventh floors have elevators
• Only floors above the third floor have elevators
• All floors may be reached by elevators
• Some two-floor department stores do not have
  elevators
• Hint focus on what MUST be true as the question
  prompts, not on what MIGHT be true

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Sample Critical Reasoning Question

• Farmers in the North have observed that heavy
  frost is usually preceded by a full moon. They
  are convinced that the moon somehow generates the
  frost.
• Which of the following, if true, would weaken the
  farmers conviction?
• The temperature must fall below 50 degrees
  Fahrenheit for frost to occur
• Absence of a cloud cover cools the ground which
  causes frost
• Farmers are superstitious
• No one has proven that the moon causes frost
• Farmers are not experts in meteorology
• Hint Look for the answer that would weaken their
  belief the most powerfully!

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Analytical Writing

• Two essays in 60 minutes
• Two essay types Analyze an issue and Analyze an
  Argument
• Typed on a computer screen using word processor
• Normal word-processing functions like copy and
  paste will be available

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Analytical Writing Assessment

• Each essay is read by two readers and given a
  score from 0-6 in half-point increments
• First readers are business professionals,
  business school professors, and college teaching
  assistants
• Computer software called E-rater grades the
  paper, tooits the second reader
• If there is serious difference in score between
  the first reader and the computer software, a
  third human reader makes a final decision
• Human graders have about 2 minutes to grade each
  essay

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Analytical Writing Assessment

• Write as much as you canlonger essays usually
  score the highest!
• Aim for four or more indented paragraphs rather
  than one long stream of textindenting suggests
  organization
• Practice for the exam by typingdont write by
  handto improve your accuracy and speed

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Analysis of Issue Tips

• You will need to choose a side on the issue
• You must provide reasons why you chose your side
• Think X is correct/good or incorrect/bad
  BECAUSE
• Try to brainstorm several because clauses to
  turn into body paragraphs in your essay
• Provide transitions at the beginning of body
  paragraphs (Ex. also, additionally, in contrast,
  etc) to show the relationships between your ideas

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What Graders Look For

• Understanding of issue
• Developed ideas, good organization, logical
  connections/transitions
• Effective support of main point(s)
• Good use of languagevariety of sentence lengths
  and styles

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Analysis of Argument Tips

• You are asked to critique (find the weaknesses
  of) an argument
• Find the assumptions that underlie an argument
  and challenge them OR show how they could be
  strengthened
• Use knowledge of logical fallacies to comprehend
  questions AND to analyze the argument

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Analysis of Argument Assessment

• Same as for Analysis of Issue, except that they
  also look for good use of LOGIC
• TIP You must memorize the types of logical
  fallacies frequently used on GMAT, such as post
  hoc fallacy and faulty analogy! If you dont
  understand the logic vocabulary and concepts, the
  questions may be confusing!

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Study Strategies

• Buy the book!
• Treat it like a class
• Commit to specified study time(s)
• Test yourself realistically
• Do use downloadable GMAT software
• Do take full length test to identify weak areas
  and get rough estimate of score
• DO NOT allow yourself to exceed time limits
• DO NOT use calculators

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