What to Expect on GMAT Test Day

Most of you, after months of careful study, know what to expect on Test Day in terms of GMAT content. However, it’s also important to know what to expect when you arrive at the Pearson Center for your GMAT Test Day. Just as you have learned and practiced GMAT strategies, you should have a plan for handling your breaks and using your note board (the odd beast that stands in for scratch paper) wisely.

Test Day security

When you first arrive at the Pearson Center, you will use your ID to check in and register a digital scan of the vein patterns in your palm. Next, you will place all of you personal items in a locker. This includes IDs, watches, phones, wallets, keys, and even tissues. You will not be able to bring anything with you into the testing room, and you will not be able to access these items during breaks in the test.

When you first arrive at the Pearson Center, you will use your ID to check in and register a digital scan of the vein patterns in your palm. Next, you will place all of you personal items in a locker. This includes IDs, watches, phones, wallets, keys, and even tissues. You will not be able to bring anything with you into the testing room, and you will not be able to access these items during breaks in the test. 

Once you are ready to get started, you will again scan your palm at the door to the testing room, and you will be assigned a computer on which to take your exam. Any time you re-enter the test room you will need to provide a palm scan to prove you are still the same person.

Testing room distractions 

Once seated, you will begin the GMAT, but keep in mind that other test takers will not be starting at the exact same time as you. Some will be in the middle of their exams when you begin, and some may start after you. Furthermore, some test takers will be taking tests other than the GMAT. This means that everyone’s breaks will be at different times. While no one will talk in the testing room, be ready for people to move around while you are taking your exam. 

The proctor will offer you noise-canceling headphones when you arrive. These can help to minimize these distractions, but you may want to take one of your GMAT practice tests with headphones to get used to the sound of your breathing. It can be a bit distracting… you might sound a bit like Darth Vader. 

Taking breaks 

 

Your breaks will be either minutes long and are optional (though we do recommend that you use them for a bit of mental and physical respite). Be careful: the test will start without you if you are not back in time. Remember that you have some time-consuming security hoops to jump through to get back to the computer, so make sure you don’t take too long of a break. Also remember to locate the bathrooms before you start your exam, so that you can find them quickly once you are on your break. 

GMAT resources 

Finally, you will be given four bound, double-sided wet erase sheets and a wet erase pen (very different from the pencil or pen and paper you may have been practicing with). If you run out of room, you can request a new set of sheets. To do so you must raise your hand, and the proctor will bring a new set to you and take away your used set. 

Since this process takes time, you want to minimize how often you trade. The best move is to always trade during the breaks so that it doesn’t take up any of your test time. Additionally, you may want to switch sets once in the middle of the quantitative section. You should try not to trade out your scratch sheets during any of the other sections. 

The vast majority of your prep time should be on GMAT content, but you don’t want to run into unnecessary Test Day stress because you are not ready for all of the rules at the Pearson Center. So, make sure you know exactly what to expect on Test Day.

How to learn English quickly

Here are some tips on how to learn English quickly :

Find out what your learning style is. Are you an eye learner (or visual)? Then you learn best by seeing words written down, taking notes and making mind maps. Are you an ear learner (or auditory)? Then repeating new words aloud, talking things through with a teacher or other student and telling stories will help you learn. Are you a body learner (or kinesthetic)? Then you can do role plays, move around while learning things and can learn by writing and rewriting edited drafts. You may also use a mixture of these styles. English language courses in Atlanta usually tend to focus on different style in different lessons or in different parts of lessons.

Think about how you can integrate newly learnt skills together. For example, you may have been watching TV and written down a couple of new words or a phrase that you heard. Try to use them again as quickly as possible either in conversation, in an email or in a writing exercise in class. Keep practising the new language until you get the context and pronunciation right. Think of yourself as a scientist, testing and retesting!

Use the resources around you every day. Just a simple walk down the street can be a great lesson. Look at all the signs, eavesdrop on all the conversations on the bus and train, and ask every shop assistant lots of questions about their products. TV is a great medium, especially soapies where the stores are quite simple and you’ll learn lots of local slang. The Internet is an amazing resource so if you can find a site related to one of your interests, you can read new vocabulary, natural grammar, listen to native speakers and maybe even chat with people who have the same interests. Remember that English language schools are not the only places where you can learn English. When you learn English in Atlanta, English is around you all day.

Finally, the most important aspect to learning English quickly in Atlanta is your attitude. The trick is to have fun learning but have the serious intention to learn. Studying English in Atlanta is sure to be one of your best memories for the rest of your life. Be strong but flexible enough to make mistakes as sometimes it feels like you are back being a child! English language schools will help you do this. Learn to express your ideas and feelings and remember everyone has to right to their point of view since the ability to listen is an equally important part of the communication equation. This is an expectation once you reach higher level English language courses. Finally, remain optimistic and keep your eye on your long term goal – you will have forgotten any small problems when you have your dream job or are communicating easily with travellers on your next holiday.

GMAT Preparation Course Atlanta

GMAT ^® Verbal 1

This is the first of two GMAT ^® preparation courses developed to prepare the student for success on the Verbal Section of the GMAT ^® exam. The course stresses the mastery of principles required in order to learn the skills necessary for successes, including Reading Comprehension, Analysis on an Argument Essay Writing, recognition of the proper grammatical requirements for Sentence Correction, and the basics of Integrated Reasoning.

GMAT ^® Verbal II

The second GMAT ^® Verbal course involves extensive use of and practice with the principles taught in GMAT ^® Verbal I. These include ample Writing practice under the time conditions of various parts of the writing portions of the test, applying test strategies for Reading Comprehension, and answering actual GMAT ^® Verbal type questions relating to Sentence Correction. The course will also instruct the student on the required skills needed to answer any type question on the Integrated Reasoning part of the GMAT ^® test. The student will also take several GMAT ^® Verbal practice tests for diagnosis of progress and improvement of scores on the actual test.

GMAT ^® Math I

This is the first of two GMAT ^® prep courses developed to prepare the student to be successful on the Math Section of the GMAT ^® exam. The course encompasses the principles, properties, theorems and postulates of Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, and Numerical Systems. The student will use this information to solve problems and become prepared to enter GMAT ^® Math II.

GMAT ^® Math II

The second GMAT ^® preparation course in the Math series includes extensive practice with the principles, properties, theorems and postulates of Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, and Numerical Systems learned in GMAT ^® Math I. The student will also have the opportunity to take several GMAT ^® Math practice tests for diagnosis of progress and improvement of scores on the actual test.

AEI - Recommended ESL School by the SACM

Atlanta English Institute is proud to be one of the recommended ESL schools by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM). AEI is approved by SACM to enroll Saudi scholarship students who are aiming to study English as a Second Language in Atlanta. http://esllist.sacm.org/

Announcing Two Hours Increase to Our Intensive English Program (IEP)

In an effort to enhance our Intensive English Program (IEP) by providing more time to build skills, increase knowledge, and foster communication, our Academic Affairs Office has proposed to add two hours to the current Intensive English Program schedule. This restructure will increase instruction from 18 hours to 20 hours weekly with no additional tuition cost. IEP tuition is $1,383, including books. The school, faculty and staff will continuously strive to provide not only academic excellence but also the finest counseling, services and resources with individual care.

Studying too much for the GMAT: is there such a thing?

Students often ask me whether they should be concerned about studying too much for the GMAT. The short answer is that in almost all cases, the more you study for the exam, the better your performance will be. 

Gauge your progress with practice tests

A common-sense approach is needed to know when you are ready to take the exam. The good thing is that there are tools that can you help you to assess when you are ready. The main tool you can use is practice tests.

Practice tests can give you a good guide as to your current level of preparedness for specific topics, as well as provide you with the best possible practice for the test itself. Taking one practice exam at the beginning of your studies can give you a sense of what is to come, while strategically timed practice tests later in your studies—generally starting at the halfway mark or later—will allow you to consolidate your knowledge, practice timing strategy and start getting comfortable with the exam.

As long as you are adding new tools to your metaphorical GMAT toolbox, you are undoubtedly using your time well. Over the course of your studies, you will develop a sense of whether or not you are still making progress. When you finally feel like your skills can’t progress further, test this feeling with a practice exam: if everything is in order, proceed to register for the test.

Too much study can lead to diminishing returns

In some rare cases, it is indeed possible to study too much. GMAT preparation and the GMAT itself are mentally demanding. Approximately 10-20 hours per week of studies are what our tutors advise, though on any given day, once you are feeling too tired to concentrate properly, it is time to put your study materials aside and take a rest. In the long term, between two and four months of GMAT studies (sometimes a bit less or more depending on special circumstances) ought to suffice. Much more than that—sometimes we hear of individuals drawing their preparation out for years—can negatively affect knowledge retention and motivation.