GMAT Strategy

The new Integrated Reasoning section is set to roll out on the GMAT in June 2012. I'm concerned that if I take the GMAT now and wait to apply to business school until after the new format that schools may undervalue my score and/or request me to retake the exam following the new format. Is my concern justified?

Also, because the GMAT scores do last for five years, in general terms, does taking the test now and applying 4 years from now have an effect on percentile weight and/or acceptance criteria? Thanks.

The Integrated Reasoning section will not be part of the 200-800 score but will be a separate score like the AWA essays. For that reason, your main score will be fully acceptable even after the change. The new section will likely be used the way that the AWA is used, in other words taken into consideration at certain times but only in a limited way. For example, the time when the AWA comes into play the most is when you score very low. Of course over time the Integrated Reasoning score might gain in importance to schools, but certainly not right away.

So the point is that the 200 -800 score, which comes from Verbal and Quant, is the star attraction. If you can do well on this now then do it! Do not worry about the new section. Your scores will be good for five years. Remember, schools are interested in padding their numbers, too. So they are not going to want to send you back in to get a lower main score just to have you attempt the new section.

My thought: take the test now, get a great score and don't worry about the new section.

Great response, David!

And just since we've been hearing this same question more frequently these days, I should point everyone to an article that we wrote on the topic last month: https://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/04 ... ore-today/

And to the Official GMAT blog's article (also linked in ours): https://www.mba.com/mbacommunity/MBA_com ... later.aspx

David's logic is (as expected) pretty sound - business schools probably won't know what to make of the new score for the first year or two, so your 200-800 score is still going to be the main factor by an incredibly large margin. Keep this in mind - schools have had many years of evidence to determine what the 200-800 score means to them. They're pretty confident that a 720 student is X% more likely to be successful and land a quality job than is a 650 student, and they can make admissions decisions accordingly. They don't yet know that about the Integrated Reasoning scores, so it will take a few years before they can reliably use them as determining factors in admissions.

Because of that, schools aren't apt to punish anyone for not taking the I.R. or reward anyone for simply taking it. They know that there's a line on the calendar that provides that difference - it's not a question of your being up for a challenge or shrinking from one...it's all about your registration date and so it's not going to be a factor.

Wow this is the first I've heard of this! I am taking my test on June 18 -- does this mean I'll have to take this new section in addition to the AWA, quant, and verbal? Does anyone know how long this section is and when it'll appear!? Thanks to the experts on posting links with more info! And thanks to wayofjungle for asking! This totally freaks me out!!!!

maus wrote:Wow this is the first I've heard of this! I am taking my test on June 18 -- does this mean I'll have to take this new section in addition to the AWA, quant, and verbal? Does anyone know how long this section is and when it'll appear!? Thanks to the experts on posting links with more info! And thanks to wayofjungle for asking! This totally freaks me out!!!!

It's June 2012, not 2011.

That's right! The new section is not until 2012. Is it too early to book my exam date for June of 2012? I am - and no doubt many fellow instructors are - psyched to get to take the new section!!!

Thank you for the excellent responses and I agree with your rationale. Added confidence that now is the time to shine!

Haha, sorry guys. Obviously now I can save my energy to freak out about other things!

Go me! ::waves pom poms::