Entrance Tests and Test Preparation 

As discussed in ‘CANDIDATE EVALUATION POINTS’ sub section on GRE, subject GRE if required, or MAT, or LSAT, or MCAT, or GMAT, etc. entrance examinations are intended to evaluate your competency in a variety of areas: critical thinking, analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills, reading comprehension, analysis of text, math and computational skills, writing/communication, and time management and ability to follow instructions. There are many studies that dispute the value of standardized testing and their predictive ability to define and determine a quality candidate. Many point to contradictory studies that purport to validate the use and application of testing in admissions.

Whatever the studies may indicate, graduate entrance tests are still used by most post-BA/BS studies and professional admissions boards in concert with other candidate evaluation points. Consequently, it is necessary to understand the nature, scope, and methodology in approaching and taking these required entrance tests. There are also many ways to prepare for these tests and opinions on when to take the test, approach, and retest if necessary. For example, some believe that the best time to take these tests is in the senior year of college or at the end of a proscribed course of studies. The rational: the candidate is ‘test ready’ and better able to handle the material on the test. This approach assumes that the entrance tests should be approached within the context of already defined knowledge and abilities without additional enhancement or preparation. Another opinion holds that a candidate might better achieve a good score after serious study into the nature, depth, and methodology of the tests beyond whatever competencies are already in place. Whatever your approach, it might be wise to at least review the structure and content of the proposed entrance tests and evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses before you officially take them. Finally, realize that the GRE General test can cost about $130.00 and that the results are good for five years. BE SURE you know which tests are required for the graduate and professional schools before you take them!

There are mixed reactions to test preparation courses for the Graduate Management Admission Test – GMAT – Graduate Record Exam – GRE – and other required entrance tests. Bluntly: those, whose scores go up, rave about them; those whose scores remain the same, or decrease, hate them. Point is: do you need the structured practice, review, training, access to tutoring and special study aids, and rehearsal offered by the review courses? If you believe that you will profit by those structured options, test preparation courses could work for you. The issue is your study habits and practice needs. The review courses offer you test preparation structure and potential tips on the best way to approach the test, techniques, and rehearsals. If, on the other hand, you can structure your study environment to meet your preparation style, perhaps buying the review books and CDs would be enough. There are also the costs: test preparation courses can cost applicants in excess of $1,000.00; commercial study guides less than $100.00. Finally, test preparation will give you an opportunity to study with other candidates, group study sessions, and access to trained coaches who can assist in pin pointing techniques for improving your approach and mastery of parts of the test. Consider the costs, time, and your options carefully and some of the new web-accessible tutorials as you review this option.

Gmac.com: The Graduate Management and Admissions Council site is the primary research, evaluation, and oversight of the Graduate Management Admission Test.

ETS site for the GRE, GMAT, GRE subject tests, TOFEL [Test of English as a Foreign LanguageTM], etc: This portal will give the test taker an in depth overview of the instrument, preparation options, registration, test centers, news, research, and related downloads.

GMAT [Graduate Management Admissions Test]: This comprehensive site will allow the business school candidate to learn about the GMAT, MBA admission, applying, and related issues and links. It will also allow you to register and receive information from schools that may match your profile of qualifications or that interest you.

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions: This site provides web databases to schools, registration for test preparation courses, and related information. You can also register and receive updates and information from graduate programs.

Princeton Review: This site provides web databases to schools, registration for test preparation courses, and related information. You can also register and receive updates and information from graduate programs.

PowerScore, Ultimate Test Preparation: This newer test prep training option, also offers web databases to schools, registration for test preparation courses, and related information. You an also take a sample diagnostic test on line. 

Print Sources

GMAT CAT Answers to the Real Essay Questions. 3rd Edition. Mark Alan Stewart, Frederick J. O’Toole, Linda Bomstad. Thomson/Arco, Canada

This guide gives sample response for more than 200 GMAT essay questions, insider tips and strategies, and advice on writing timed essay responses. Good analysis and approach to this section of the GMAT.

Practicing to Take the GRE. 10th Edition. Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ

This “official” test prep guide walks through the entire test, gives tips, approaches, strategies, and sample timed tests with answers for the candidate.

Logic & Reading Review for the GRE, GMAT, LAST, MCAT. Peterson’s, Princeton, NJ:

This and later versions by other issuing agencies will focus on the specialized part of the entrance exam and give strategies, examples, approaches, and trainings. Similar study guides are available on line at the various sites note above.

GMAT CAT Success. Peterson’s, Princeton, NJ

When the GMAT became a computer administered test, publishers offered specialized guides to aid the candidate. This and later editions from various publisher cover a variety of approaches, grammar, math, sentence structure and correction exercises, math, data, analytical, critical reasoning reviews and sample test questions. Be sure that current review books contain CDs for the sample or diagnostic testing process.

Cracking the GRE. Karen Lurie. The Princeton Review, Random House, Inc., New York, NY

Well written overview of the various sections of the GRE along with reviews, hints, tactics, and related approaches. Contains print samples. Again, be sure later editions contain a CD for computer practice.

Cracking the GMAT. Geoff Martz. The Princeton Review, Random House, Inc., New York, NY

Practice sections for the various parts of the GRE. Later editions should contain a practice CD or links to on-line training and diagnostic testing.