* stands for Integrated Reasoning
The Next Generation GMAT that everyone is waiting for (good or bad is a matter of perception :P) The Integrated Reasoning (IR) will replace one of the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) come 5th June 2012. In this new section, you are tested on your ability to analyse a case within 30 minutes. You will given info from various sources, graphs or charts to interpret and table to analyse. Yes, all these within 30 minutes. Phewwww!
ManhattanGMAT offers an analysis of what you can expect in the Integrated Reasoning section.
For those who are going to take GMAT after 4th June, tell us about your Integrated Reasoning experience.
Jimmy Low
Showing posts with label Integrated Reasoning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Integrated Reasoning. Show all posts
Monday, May 14, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Official Guide for GMAT Review, 13th Edition
The Official Guide for GMAT Review is now in its 13th edition. A necessary companion for any GMAT takers; this Guide has over 800 questions for the Verbal and Quant sections as well as AWA essays. Included in this edition is the online companion to help you prepare for the Integrated Reasoning section, which will be introduced from 1st June 2012.
According to mba.com, the Official Guide for GMAT Review, 13th Edition Online Integrated Reasoning Section features:
- 50 Integrated Reasoning practice questions and answer explanations
- Comprehensive details about what the Integrated Reasoning section measures and how to understand each question type
- Links to additional resources to prepare for the GMAT exam
So, what has changed in the 13th Edition? ManhattanGMAT provided a detailed analysis of the 13th Edition.
You can get a copy from Amazon, mba.com or Kinokuniya Kuala Lumpur (for those in Malaysia).
Good luck in your preparation, from all of us at GMAT Malaysia.
Jimmy Low
Thursday, July 28, 2011
More about AWA and Integrated Reasoning
Recently, I received a couple of emails about Analytical Writing Assessment aka AWA. So, I thought it would be a good time to blog about this "mysterious" test. Firstly, let's go to the fine print, which like any other fine prints, no one cares to read or notice.
"Writing scores are computed separately from the multiple-choice scores and have no effect on the Verbal, Quantitative, or Total scores." - MBA.com
To do or not to do?
So, what does this mean? Either you can skip it entirely or do your best and be done. I won't recommend the first option, at least not if you're a first time GMAT taker. I don't know how much time the Admissions Officers or their part-time assistants have to read your AWA essays but given a typical top 100 business school with more than 1000 applications in any other year, I don't think they even care. However, does this mean that you should score 0 out of 6 points? Nope. Do at least a 5.5 out of 6. It's doable and I will explain how, next. For retakers, you can skip the AWA if you already hit a good 5.5 or above.
So, how do you do AWA?
As mentioned in the MBA.com website, AWA is designed to measure your ability to think critically and communicate your ideas. All the things you learn in high school and in the Sentence Correction and/or Critical Reasoning books will be used now.
There are 2 questions, each for 30 minutes including reading, thinking, planning, writing and rereading.
For Analysis of Issue, it tests your ability to explore the complexities of an issue or opinion and, if appropriate, to take a position that is informed by your understanding. So the operative word here is "take a position". So think about it - either agree or disagree. Don't be a fence-sitter. If you agree, why; if you don't, why.
For Analysis of Argument, it tests your ability to formulate an appropriate and constructive critique of a specific conclusion based on a specific line of thinking. In this case, you start with the "conclusion". Be careful now. Look for the main conclusion - weak or strong, not the subsidiary conclusion. In Critical Reasoning, you learn about different types of conclusions and must be able to differentiate which is the main one.
You can find a list of AWA questions here and sample answers. The GMAT Official Guide has examples of sample answer for a 2/6 scorer, 4/6 and 6/6 scorer. Check the Guide and learn the techniques.
How did I do it?
I spent 5 minutes reading and planning the structure, 2o minutes writing and 5 minutes proof-reading per question. Some time back, I shared my analysis of GMAT. Here it is again if you missed it. Have a structure:
1. Opening paragraph
For Issue analysis, what is your understanding of the issues? Do you agree or not?
For Argument analysis, what was the main conclusion? Do you think it was a weak or strong conclusion?
2. Body Paragraphs
Have 3 paragraphs, max. 1 point per paragraph and quote examples from real-life events or from your country. Each point and examples must support your position of the issue.
For Argument analysis, look for the assumptions. Remember, Premises (P) + (hidden) Assumptions (A) = Conclusion (C). Because assumptions are hidden premises, you need to analyse what were the assumptions that led to the conclusion and whether the assumptions were valid. Again, 3 paragraphs, max. 1 point per paragraph and examples.
3. Closing Paragraph
Sum up with your stated position (Issue analysis) or what would make make a weak conclusion stronger (Argument analysis).
I always find that using real-life examples would boost your arguments in the body paragraphs. The examples also something you can relate and tie to your arguments. Don't worry about quoting numbers. You can make it up. The examiners are not going to check anyway, except for some obvious facts or numbers. If you make up on these, God bless you.
After May 2012
Starting from 1 June 2012, there will only be 1 AWA essay for 3o minutes. It could be either Analysis of Issue or Argument. Whatever it will be, the above technique applies.
In place of the other 30 minutes is the Integrated Reasoning. Now I can't tell you how tough it is or how to prepare. I did not take it and do not plan to take it. You could be the first to do it. Again, GMAC has said that you will get a separate score for Integrated Reasoning. Read this press release.
Since GMAC has consulted business schools on Integrated Reasoning and the schools welcomed this change, it means that how well you do in it matters a lot. You can expect at least for the next 2-5 years, Admissions Officers will look closely at how well you do in Integrated Reasoning AND the usual Verbal/Quant score than AWA. GMAC already announced that takers can try out between now and May 2012, inclusive without affecting your score. How true this is I can't tell. But if you choose to try the Integrated Reasoning during this trial period and is reported in your GMAT Score report, then be prepared to explain during admission interviews.
Overall, these changes are said to be in line with the reality of next-generation business managers which business schools will churn out. Just be prepared to take that next step.
Jimmy Low
"Writing scores are computed separately from the multiple-choice scores and have no effect on the Verbal, Quantitative, or Total scores." - MBA.com
To do or not to do?
So, what does this mean? Either you can skip it entirely or do your best and be done. I won't recommend the first option, at least not if you're a first time GMAT taker. I don't know how much time the Admissions Officers or their part-time assistants have to read your AWA essays but given a typical top 100 business school with more than 1000 applications in any other year, I don't think they even care. However, does this mean that you should score 0 out of 6 points? Nope. Do at least a 5.5 out of 6. It's doable and I will explain how, next. For retakers, you can skip the AWA if you already hit a good 5.5 or above.
So, how do you do AWA?
As mentioned in the MBA.com website, AWA is designed to measure your ability to think critically and communicate your ideas. All the things you learn in high school and in the Sentence Correction and/or Critical Reasoning books will be used now.
There are 2 questions, each for 30 minutes including reading, thinking, planning, writing and rereading.
For Analysis of Issue, it tests your ability to explore the complexities of an issue or opinion and, if appropriate, to take a position that is informed by your understanding. So the operative word here is "take a position". So think about it - either agree or disagree. Don't be a fence-sitter. If you agree, why; if you don't, why.
For Analysis of Argument, it tests your ability to formulate an appropriate and constructive critique of a specific conclusion based on a specific line of thinking. In this case, you start with the "conclusion". Be careful now. Look for the main conclusion - weak or strong, not the subsidiary conclusion. In Critical Reasoning, you learn about different types of conclusions and must be able to differentiate which is the main one.
You can find a list of AWA questions here and sample answers. The GMAT Official Guide has examples of sample answer for a 2/6 scorer, 4/6 and 6/6 scorer. Check the Guide and learn the techniques.
How did I do it?
I spent 5 minutes reading and planning the structure, 2o minutes writing and 5 minutes proof-reading per question. Some time back, I shared my analysis of GMAT. Here it is again if you missed it. Have a structure:
1. Opening paragraph
For Issue analysis, what is your understanding of the issues? Do you agree or not?
For Argument analysis, what was the main conclusion? Do you think it was a weak or strong conclusion?
2. Body Paragraphs
Have 3 paragraphs, max. 1 point per paragraph and quote examples from real-life events or from your country. Each point and examples must support your position of the issue.
For Argument analysis, look for the assumptions. Remember, Premises (P) + (hidden) Assumptions (A) = Conclusion (C). Because assumptions are hidden premises, you need to analyse what were the assumptions that led to the conclusion and whether the assumptions were valid. Again, 3 paragraphs, max. 1 point per paragraph and examples.
3. Closing Paragraph
Sum up with your stated position (Issue analysis) or what would make make a weak conclusion stronger (Argument analysis).
I always find that using real-life examples would boost your arguments in the body paragraphs. The examples also something you can relate and tie to your arguments. Don't worry about quoting numbers. You can make it up. The examiners are not going to check anyway, except for some obvious facts or numbers. If you make up on these, God bless you.
After May 2012
Starting from 1 June 2012, there will only be 1 AWA essay for 3o minutes. It could be either Analysis of Issue or Argument. Whatever it will be, the above technique applies.
In place of the other 30 minutes is the Integrated Reasoning. Now I can't tell you how tough it is or how to prepare. I did not take it and do not plan to take it. You could be the first to do it. Again, GMAC has said that you will get a separate score for Integrated Reasoning. Read this press release.
Since GMAC has consulted business schools on Integrated Reasoning and the schools welcomed this change, it means that how well you do in it matters a lot. You can expect at least for the next 2-5 years, Admissions Officers will look closely at how well you do in Integrated Reasoning AND the usual Verbal/Quant score than AWA. GMAC already announced that takers can try out between now and May 2012, inclusive without affecting your score. How true this is I can't tell. But if you choose to try the Integrated Reasoning during this trial period and is reported in your GMAT Score report, then be prepared to explain during admission interviews.
Overall, these changes are said to be in line with the reality of next-generation business managers which business schools will churn out. Just be prepared to take that next step.
Jimmy Low
Friday, May 6, 2011
Next Generation GMAT: Coming to you in June 2012
Starting from June 2012, GMAT takers will have to sit for a new section called "Integrated Reasoning". The Integrated Reasoning section is a 30-minute test which covers a combination of quantitative (interpreting graphs, spreadsheets, data) and verbal (critical reasoning, analyze information, draw conclusions and discern relationships between data points, etc.). The Integrated Reasoning questions may include multiple parts but they are non-adaptive, according to GMAC, the official GMAT provider.
Source: mba.com
Format of Integrated Reasoning section
This section takes 30 minutes and will have 12 to 15 questions covering:
- Multi-Source Reasoning. The questions are accompanied by two to three sources of information presented on tabbed pages. Test takers click on the tabs and examine all the relevant information─which may be a combination of text, charts, and tables─to answer questions.
- Table Analysis. Test takers will be presented with a sortable table of information, similar to a spreadsheet, which has to be analyzed to find whether answer statements are accurate.
- Graphics Interpretation. Test takers will be asked to interpret a graph or graphical image, and select the option from a drop-down list to make response statements accurate.
- Two-Part Analysis. A question will involve two components for a solution. Possible answers will be given in a table format with a column for each component and rows with possible options; test takers will be asked to consider the options provided.
Sample question
Manhattan Review posted a sample table/graph and a set of questions. See for yourself how the questions will be structured and tested. In this case, the questions were TRUE/FALSE. Try answering these 5 questions in 10 minutes.
Between now and May 2012, inclusive
The current GMAT structure - 60-min essays (2 essays), 75-min Quant (37 Qs) and 75-min Verbal (41 Qs) remains until May 2012, inclusive. Takers can opt-in to try the Integrated Reasoning section and will not be counted towards your GMAT score. GMAC is offering a monetary incentive for those who opt-in to take this Integrated Reasoning section.
From June 2012 onwards
The Integrated Reasoning section will be part of your new GMAT score. The total test time will remained unchanged at 3 hours 30 minutes, excluding break time. Instead of 2 AWA essays, you will do 1 essay for 30 minutes and Integrated Reasoning for 30 minutes. The Quant and Verbal sections remained unchanged.
For more information:
Next Gen GMAT press release, here.
Next Gen GMAT more information, here.
Integrated Reasoning format, here.
Integrated Reasoning test, here.
Commentary:
I do not know how the actual Integrated Reasoning section is tested but judging for the above video clip, my take is it will be a good addition for future GMAT takers and potential MBA students. I don't see having 2 AWA essays actually beneficial since you are tested on your ability to write and analyze. You could easily score a 4/5 on the AWA if you know the trick. Furthermore, AWA score does not form part of your GMAT score. If you can't write well, you are unlikely to get pass the admissions committee anyway (the admissions essays are even tougher)
Based on what was shown in the video clip, I understand the benefits of having Integrated Reasoning. The charts, graphs and spreadsheets are common in case studies, the basis of many MBA learning and teaching. To be actually tested in GMAT for something that you will do in MBA raises a host of questions. Rightly or wrongly, I believe it is a refreshing move by GMAC and hope that future MBA students will benefit from the Integrated Reasoning section.
Don't delay your GMAT (after all the your score is valid for 5 years from date of test) or be ready for the next generation GMAT.
Jimmy Low
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