COMPUTER ADAPTIVE TEST (GMAT)

The GMAT is a Computer Adaptive Test. This type of test is different from most other tests. To put it simply , a Computer Adaptive Test adapts to your performance while you are taking the test. This means the questions you will get on your GMAT, and their difficulty level, are not set beforehand. Instead, they are based on your performance during the test.

To perform well you need to do two things:
1. You need to be able to effectively manage your time under pressure.
2. To keep your performance up for three consecutive hours, you need to have endurance.

Let’s see how a Computer Adaptive Test works in practice

The GMAT starts with a question of medium difficulty. Based on your response to this question, the computer either increases or decreases the difficulty level of the next question. If you answer a question correctly, the next question will be more challenging. If you answer a question wrong, the next question will be easier. If you first answer a question wrong and then answer the next question right, the difficulty level of the third question will be somewhere in between the levels of the first two. This continues until you have either answered the total number of questions for that section of the GMAT, or you have run out of time.

After finishing the test, your score is determined by the following factors:

- The number of correct and incorrect answers
- The difficulty level of the questions you answered. Difficult questions are rewarded with more points than simple questions. Getting simple questions wrong decreases your score more than getting difficult questions wrong.
- Whether or not you answered all the questions. Your score will decrease significantly when leaving questions unanswered at the end of the exam.

Achieving a good score requires you to do the following:

Firstly, keeping up a consistent pace. Spending too much time answering questions in the beginning puts you at risk of running out of time later, and not finishing the test.

Secondly, knowing how to spend your time. To spend your time as effectively as possible, you need to know your strengths and weaknesses. Avoid spending too much time on questions that are above your level. Instead, focus on questions that reflect your ability and target score.

Practice is key

The GMAT is not about answering every single question right. It is about correctly answering questions that reflect your level and your target score within the allocated time. These circumstances make practice inevitable. We offer multiple courses that will prepare you for the GMAT exam in the best way possible. If you want to know more about the GMAT, join our free introduction session.