GMAT Strategy

After long thought and a month of prep I decided to book a retake date for July 2011 to meet a target college's deadline, but I was set aback by below info :

"from 5th July to 19th August- the exam will continue to run after Verbal part for an additional half hour. This section will not count but there will be a prize or something like that for giving in an honest effort."

I guess this is the integrated reasoning stuff. Last december I read people claiming their scores being screwd by this prototype section. After all its a software, you never know. Is the score displayed before attempting this IR section ? Is there anything to worry about. I need some motivation.

this is scary for me..i went ahead and booked a date for July

rohu27 wrote:this is scary for me..i went ahead and booked a date for July

when did u book ? did u not get a warning that on the above said dates exam will last 4.5 hours ? I got this messages as soon as I clicked on next after selecting time slot.

The only other option was to change dates.

You must not worry about this!!

It will be fine. You get $25 for giving an "honest effort" at the additional section. It WILL NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON YOUR SCORE!

Please do not go doubting the software or else you better not take the exam at all...we must rely on the computer. We put in our answers and magically a number comes back out. Do not go down the path of thinking that perhaps the number is not quite right.

So you will have to do something with that final section...you can just move right through it and not get your $25. Or give an honest effort.

I had the same thing on the GRE in 2006. It was an additional section also at the end that did not count. It was not a big deal. Do not save any energy for it or give your attention until you get there. If you have something left then give an effort.

Hey, David, something new definitely freaks people out on such an important day.

But I am seeing it from a positive perspective. That I will be one of the first persons to have a sneak peak at this section. And of course GMAC is a big company and people who said their scores were screwd by IR were foolish people with no ability to do well on the test.


And after all who cares after I press next on the Q41 of verbal. All will be over by then so no point in being intimidated about the IR thing. Heard there is some TOEFL type listening section in IR ?

can u give a heads up ?

I like your attitude!!

You are exactly right, whatever happens after the final verbal question does not matter. As long as they do not do anything that harms you physically - I say "no worries." Although $25 back on a $250 test in to such a good return. Let's form a union and hold out for more!!!!

when did u book ? did u not get a warning that on the above said dates exam will last 4.5 hours ? I got this messages as soon as I clicked on next after selecting time slot.

Yes i did get this message and had to get the date booked via customer care. the thng which scared me was the december test takers opnion u mentoned, though it doesnt make much sense. As David said we need not worry abt it.

Thanks David for your views on this.