The GMAT exam has been getting a series of makeover during the last 4 to 6 years. The trend continues and the change effected in 2018 is a major one. The duration of the test has been reduced by 23 minutes and the exam will sport 11 lesser questions. This is the first time since the test became a computer adaptive test, the number of questions and the duration have been changed.
These changes will come into effect from April 16, 2018. If you are taking the exam after April 16, 2018, you will benefit from taking a shorter exam.
The table below gives details about the changes to be effected to the quantitative reasoning and the verbal reasoning section of exam.
The change will affect only the quantitative reasoning and the verbal reasoning sections.
Note: Only the scores in these two sections count toward your overall GMAT score that is presented in the 200 to 800 format. So, this change will significantly and positively affect aspirants taking the test after April 16, 2016.
As a one time gesture, GMAC has allowed test takers who have scheduled to take the test prior to May 6, 2018 to have their test rescheduled to benefit from this change free of charge. Only catch. You have to call the call center on or before April 11, 2018 to get this benefit. You can make the change online through mba.com to get the fee waiver benefit.
Scoring and other aspects: No change whatsoever, either in the section scores or overall scores. IR and AWA continue to be administered without any change.
So what does it mean to a test taker?
Definitely a welcome change. An exam such as the GMAT which ended up lasting about 4 hours including the breaks was not only mentally taxing but was also physically tiring. The last one or two sections always bore the brunt of test taker fatigue. The fatigue level will be a lot lesser now.
There is no doubt that the test is getting friendlier without losing its core value. Make the best of these test taker friendly change and get set to crack the exam.
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Queries, answers, comments welcome