Critical Reasoning

Many students enter the business school application process with excellent undergraduate grades. Since excellent undergraduate grades require passing frequent tests and final examinations, these students must have learned very strong test-taking techniques either before or during their undergraduate educational careers. Despite this, many students with promising grades fail to get scores on the GMAT that match the level of performance displayed by their undergraduate careers.

The apparent discontinuity between undergraduate academic performance and GMAT test results could best be explained by which of the following suppositions?

Many students with strong undergraduate careers aspire to get accepted into a top tier business school and, therefore, feel that they must present not only solid grades but also a flawless GMAT score.

The GMAT tests quantitative and verbal skills, both of which are covered to some extent in an undergraduate curriculum.

The skills necessary to excel on most academically derived exams are often learned in study-skills workshops held by colleges, from peer tutors, or from written feedback provided by professors and teaching assistants, whereas the skills required for the GMAT are often learned in classes or from books dedicated to preparing for the exam.

Over 75% of business school applicants report that they found it necessary to study for the GMAT, using computer software, books, and/or specialty classes.

The skills and strategies required for excellence on the GMAT and other standardized tests are often quite divergent from those required for success on traditional academic exams

The answer is E because the argument asks us to fill the gap between performance on the GMAT and traditional exams

What is the source for this one?

I feel like this must be written by a GMAT Prep company.

As a GMAT instructor I love answers C, D, and E! Each of these seems to argue in favor of people getting help in studying either through classes or tutoring or books. So this one works as an advertisement!

Now, as a Critical Reasoning problem I think that many students could get the correct answer. I will come back to discuss this one after more students have commented and the official answer is revealed.

Hi David,

This is from VeritasPrep itself

Okay, as u suggest,I'll hold back the ans until someone else comments on this.

Regards,
~Himu.

Ha!!

I had not seen this one! No wonder I love it...

David

OA is E.. it is the only option in my opinion answers the gap in reasonining

I would say E. Good question. What is OA?

solution

Correct Answer: E

This passage suggests that there is something responsible for the failure of academically strong students to excel on the GMAT. Therefore, we need to look for an answer choice that provides a rationale to explain this discrepancy. Answer choice E, the correct answer, offers an explanation, noting that the skills necessary to succeed on academic exams are different from those that lead to success on the GMAT. Answer choice B would lead one to expect scores to match undergraduate grades, and is therefore incorrect. Choices C and D further discuss the need for study and the challenges facing applicants, but do not offer actual explanations, making both of these choices incorrect. Answer choice A suggests why students might find the GMAT stressful, but does not offer a reason for their poor standardized test performance.

IMO: E..

As David said, the argument is more of an advertisement - Stating a surprising fact, creating a need and providing the solution.

Thanks,
Sathish

It is funny isn't it Satish? I have to call it like I see it even when it is my own company! It looks like an ad posing as a question!

Do you know what is so cool about the Veritas Question Bank (where this question comes from)? We are taking statistics on each of these questions. So if this question does turn out to be too easy then we will know it! In fact we will know approximately what percentile it is.

And the Veritas Question Bank is free check it out at https://www.veritasprep.com/gmat-question-bank/