Applying to business school entails several steps, of which the most is taking the GMAT exam. Almost all business schools accept the GMAT for the purpose of admission, though some will also accept the GRE. If an MBA is in your future, you will want to focus on GMAT preparation.

There are a few things you should do when it comes time to sign up for the GMAT exam. First, and foremost, read through the terms and conditions in the GMAT handbook. You will have to agree to these before signing up for an exam. If you have not done so already, select which business schools you are interested in attending. These should be the school where you want to send scores to after you finish your test. Do a bit of research to see if your practice scores fall into the expected score range of students in the MBA programs at that school. The school should also help you to fulfill your personal career goals.

For the exam application process, if you have any special needs, those must be settled with the GMAC before you sign up for an exam. For more information about special accommodations testing, see the GMAT’s page to “Register as a Test Taker with Disabilities.” The documentation for any accommodations should be in place before you sign up for the exam.

The first step in the sign up process is to create an account on the GMAT’s website. This will allow you to see electronic scores, do extra practice, and sign up for a test date. Once logged in, go to the official GMAT registration page to find a location and testing time that will work with your schedule. Make sure that the date allows you enough preparation for the test and occurs at least three weeks before your business school application is due. It usually takes 21 days for schools to get your GMAT scores. You will also need to pay the full exam fee of \$250 when you register.

Once registered, you should receive a confirmation letter. If the information on this letter is incorrect in any way, you must change it before the exam by contacting the GMAC; otherwise, you will not be admitted into the testing facility.

Signing up for the GMAT is the easy part, putting in the preparation for the exam and your future MBA program is the more challenging part.

## GMAT Example Problem – Multiple Variables

If each of the x employees of a tech startup produces one unit of false hope every t minutes, how many units of false hope does the startup produce in a standard 17 hour workday?

This type of problem expects us to express a relationship between multiple variable by writing an equation that translates what our word problem tells us. This will likely be much easier if we simply choose values for each of our variables as we work through the problem. Continue reading “GMAT Example Problem – Multiple Variables” »

## GMAT vs GRE – Which One Should I Take to Get into B-School?

The GMAT and GRE are both accepted by many business schools now, but which one you should take is a personal decision that depends on your individual areas of strength and weakness. Though many schools use test scores from either exam – and in some cases allow submission of scores from both exams –  sending the test that best showcases your abilities is the best option.

Up until the GRE was revised in 2012, the GMAT was the only test you could submit when seeking admission into an MBA program. Business schools would use your GMAT to see how you directly compare to other applicants. To help you select a school based on your scores, schools would release ranges for the GMAT. After the GRE was revised, the GMAT added the integrated reasoning section, and otherwise sets itself apart with data sufficiency questions and the prohibition of a calculator on the math section. If you are certain that you want to go to business school and not seek another degree, take the GMAT, as doing so lets schools know that you are committed to obtaining your MBA.

While in the past, many MBA programs refused to accept GRE scores, that is no longer the case. The GRE, or Graduate Record Exam, is the general admissions exam for students applying to graduate school. Students who are uncertain about going to business school or graduate school should take the GRE as it has much broader applications. Educational Testing Services (ETS), the company that makes the GRE, wants everyone to know the usefulness of the exam. That is why it puts on its website a listing of the business schools that accept GRE and GMAT scores for admission. When comparing the GMAT and the GRE, keep in mind that the GRE has a second essay, a greater emphasis on vocabulary, no integrated reasoning section, and you can use an on-screen, four-function calculator for the math section. It also includes quantitative comparison questions on the math section, and does not have the data sufficiency question type found on the GMAT.

When considering whether the GRE exam is a good test for your desired business school, of particular note and consideration should be any restrictions the university may have. For example, some business schools will accept the GRE (and sometimes even the LSAT) if you completed that exam more than six months prior to your application; otherwise, they might require the GMAT. It is always a good idea to check with the universities you will apply to when before making any substantive decisions.

If you are looking to get into business school, the good news now is that you have a choice of exams to take. Testmasters has help available. The experts at Testmasters offer courses and individual help for both GRE and GMAT test takers.

## GMAT Math Example Problem – Word Problem

If Keynes was three times as old as he is now, he would be 10 years younger than Hayek. If Hayek is 50 years older than Keynes, how old is Keynes?

This word problem tests our ability to assign variables to unknown quantities and translate the relationships described between these variable into equations. Our first step is to identify the unknown quantities and assign a variable to each. Generally, for age problems such as this one, our unknowns will be the current ages of the people involved. In this case, let K represent Keyne’s current age and let H represent Hayek’s current age. Now we must determine what relationships are described between these two people’s ages and create an equation for each relationship.

Our problem states, “If Keynes was three times as old as he is now, he would be 10 years younger than Hayek.” In other words, if we multiply Keyne’s age by 3, we would get the same number as if we subtracted 10 from Hayek’s age, or:

$3K = H-10$

Next, we are told that Hayek is 50 years older than Keynes, or that if we take Keyne’s age and add 50, we get Hayek’s age:

$K+50=H$

This gives us a system of equations. Of the two most common methods for solving a system of equations (substitution and elimination), substitution seems to be the easiest method for this system. As such we will substitute K + 50 in for the H in our first equation, since we know these two quantities to be equal. This gives us the following equation:

$3K = (K+50)-10$

We then solve algebraically for K:

$3K = K+40$
$2K = 40$
$K = 20$

This gives us our final answer: Keynes is currently 20 years old.

Have a question? Ask the experts at Testmasters!

Interested in more GMAT Example Problems? Find them here!

Need help preparing for the GMAT? Look no further than the test preparation professionals at Testmasters!

## How do I get into business school without work experience?

A lack of work experience might not keep you out of Business school.

Work experience is an important part of your application for business school. If you don’t have work experience, you may find it to be more difficult to get into business school, but it is not impossible. If you intend to go to a full-time one or two-year program, you will need to have work experience. The course schedules for these programs often do not allow for work during the school year, but the two-year program does give you a summer off to do an internship. Part-time programs offer a little more flexibility because you can work full time while taking classes.

To make your application shine if you don’t have work experience, you will want to focus on getting a great GMAT score as well as finding important people to write your recommendations. While Testmasters cannot write a recommendation letter for you, we can help you with improving your GMAT score to put your best foot forward when you apply to business school.

## What if I don’t like my score? Can I get canceled scores back?

How Do I Cancel a GMAT Score?

As soon as you finish your GMAT, you have the chance to see your unofficial score. Before you leave the testing center, you have only two minutes to decide to keep this score (verbal, quantitative, and integrated reasoning) or to cancel it, which keeps it from ever appearing on your score report. You must make an active decision during this time frame because if you do nothing, the system treats it as a score cancellation. If you accept the score, the center will print out your unofficial score and give it to you when you leave. Then, you have another 72 hours to go online and cancel your scores, but if you choose to cancel after the exam, it will cost \$25 dollar. The option of canceling your scores gives you more control over what business schools see. Although there is a fee involved, this is a good option because it allows you the opportunity to see your unofficial score before cancelling.

Why Should I Cancel a GMAT Score?

What If I Change My Mind About Canceling My Score?

Should you change your mind about canceling your score, you do have a chance to reinstate it, which will also give you a chance to see your score again. You will only have 60 days after the exam to get your score back, and it will cost \$100 to do so. Once 60 days have past, your scores are permanently gone, and you will not get them back.

Do Business Schools See How Many Times I Have Canceled My Scores?

Only scores that you personally cancel will not show up on your score report, which includes all your GMAT scores from the past five years. Should there have been any test irregularities such as violations or technical failures and the GMAC cancels your scores, those will still appear on your report as a “C.” If you cancel your score but have it reinstated, there will be no indication on your score report that this happened. A business school will not be able to differentiate a reinstated score from scores you chose to keep at the end of your exam.

Do you want to get a GMAT score that you’ll want to keep? It starts with preparation. The test prep experts at Testmasters can help you to get the score you want the first time you take the exam. Make an investment in your future by choosing a Testmasters GMAT course or one-on-one tutoring to get the best possible score on the GMAT.

## Testmasters Testimonials: GMAT Online Course

Testmasters offers one of the most comprehensive and popular GMAT online courses available. Every Testmasters online course comes with the same materials, lectures, and Score Increase Guarantee (100 points for the GMAT) the corresponding classroom course. View a sample video, take directly from the GMAT online course, below:

Here’s what people are saying about Testmasters:

“Starting a family left me little time to prepare for the GMAT, so I made the most of it with the Testmasters’ online GMAT course. The flexibility of watching videos and taking practice tests during my free time were critical to my success. I was able to increase my score from 590 to 730. Thanks Testmasters!”

-Dan H.

“I took a test GRE about two months ago and bombed the quantitative (a 142 – 12%!). I’m 37 and hadn’t opened a math book in almost 20 years, so the prep books were just hieroglyphics. After hearing you were the best, I called in. Yesterday, I scored a 155 (60%) — my target Q score — meaning your tutors helped me jump almost 50% of test takers in just two months with only eight very reasonably-priced sessions. I’m simply overjoyed.

If I may say: my math instructor was fantastic and made math, for the first time in my life, actually interesting to learn.

Thank you, “Test Masters,” for living up to your name.

-Matt P.

“Testmasters is all about great teachers, a ton of course material, and helping you score high. I went from a 550 on the GMAT to a 710! I love you guys!”

-Brenda V.

## GMAT Math Example Problem Inclusive Multiples

How many multiples of 3 are there between 15 and 81, inclusive?

For a problem like this, it may be tempting to simply count out all the multiples of 3 by hand. While this would work, it would certainly not be the most efficient method. We can use a pattern to simplify our work. The first question we should ask ourselves is, “How often do multiples of 3 show up?” The answer to this, unsurprisingly, is that multiples of 3 show up every third integer. This tells us that we will want every third integer between 15 and 81. To calculate this, we find one-third of our total amount of integers:

$\frac{1}{3}*(81-15)=$
$\frac{1}{3}*66=$
$22$

Unfortunately, we are not quite finished. When we subtracted 15 from 81 above, we inadvertently left out one of our integers, specifically one of the two endpoints. Since 15 and 81 are both multiples of 3, we can’t leave either one of them out. As such, we have to add that missing integer back into our total:

$22+1=23$

This gives us our final answer of 23.

Have a question? Ask the experts at Testmasters!

Interested in more GMAT Example Problems? Find them here!

Need help preparing for the GMAT? Look no further than the test preparation professionals at Testmasters!

## Does the Integrated Reasoning section on the GMAT matter?

The Integrated Reasoning section of the GMAT was added when the GMAT introduced the computer adaptive test (CAT) exam. This is a 30-minute, 12-question section that tests your ability to use information from several sources to answer questions that require both reasoning and math skills. It is graded separately from the verbal and quantitative sections and does not count toward your total 200 to 800-point score. The Integrated Reasoning section is scored out of 8 total points, and you can only get scores of whole number values.

So, since it is graded separately, many people wonder if this section is even important. Does the Integrated Reasoning section really matter? The answer is “yes.” Many business schools use the Integrated Reasoning score as a reflection of your ability to process information in a timely manner, which is a critical skill for the business world, and because this section is graded separately, it makes it easier for schools to see how well you do on this section at a quick glance.

You will need to do your best on all the questions in the Integrated Reasoning section, even though the questions will not count toward your composite GMAT score. Doing well on this section can only make your overall score look better, but if you disregard this section, a low score can reflect poorly on you. Do you need Integrated Reasoning help? Contact the professionals at Testmasters to prepare for this and all other sections of the GMAT.

It’s that time of year again! No, not Flag Day. Application deadlines!

Just a friendly reminder from us here at Testmasters that it’s already July, and the first round of application deadlines will likely be sometime in September. Deadlines are obviously different for every program, but many of you who are hoping to find yourself enrolled in school next year should be polishing up your resumes, fleshing out those essays, and requesting those letters of recommendation! Hopefully you’ve already taken your GMAT and are satisfied with your results – if not, we’re always happy to help out in whatever way we can!

Here’s a quick, very general checklist of items you will most likely need to complete an application:

1. A resume
3. GMAT scores
4. Letters of recommendation
5. Essays
6. A completed application
7. An application fee
8. A TOEFL score for international students

Be sure to check you program’s website to make sure you have everything you need to apply. Best of luck to everyone!