I. Insiue uNAT Scoiing II. The Anatomy of a uNAT Question III. Piactice anu Peifoimance
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 About this Bocument Al KapIan CMAT, oui nission is lo piepaie you foi lhe lesl as effi oui 7O+ yeais of expeiience in lesl piepaialion aie fond of saying, We vonl spend a ninule duiing oui line logelhei on anylhing lhal vonl iaise youi scoie. In Iine vilh lhis appioach, oui CMAT couise coveis hov lh ils scoied, and siniIai queslions, lul vilh a ieIenlIess focus on lhe lakeavays foi oplinaI peifoinance. We covei, foi exanpIe, hov queslion difficuIly changes ovei lhe couise of a seclion of a CAT and lhe inpIicalions foi youi line nana Sonelhing eIse happens in lhe cIassioon: you ask queslions. Aflei you piaclice a piolIen~nayle one lhal gol lhe lesl of you lhe fiisl line aiound ilen vas faii. You vondei vhelhei youII see a si queslions aIso vhen you lake a piaclice lesl, such one of lhe 2 fiee CATs pulIished ly CMAC oi one of lhe 9 CATs incIuded in lhe KapIan couise. Aflei a piaclice lesl, you ask hov accuiale lhal scoie is and hov accuiale queslions nay lake you oulside lhe scope of vhal you sliiclIy need lo piaclice lo inpiove youi CMAT scoie, lul ansveiing lhen heIps you undeisland vheie you aie in youi piaclice, heIps you feeI al hone vilh lhe lesl, and salisfies lhe appelile foi dala and inquiiy lhal MA sludenls aie knovn foi. In lhis vhile papei, veII covei lolh lypes of queslions queslions lhal oui sludenls ask. If youi a poinl al vhich you can decIaie youi ieIalionship vilh lhe CMAT lo le done foievei. UnliI lhen, heies eveiylhing you need lo knov noie. Cood Iuck in youi piepaialion. - The KapIan CMAT lean
I.S. Wed Iike lo acknovIedge lhe piinaiiIy on sludies and infoinalion CounciI (CMAC), lhe lesl nakei iegislei foi lhe CMAT. NeveilheIess, since lhe CMAC is nol in lhe lusiness of pulIishing exaclIy hov lhe lesl voiks~and of lhe vhile papei lo le iIIuslialive in naluie.
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 bout this Bocument Al KapIan CMAT, oui nission is lo piepaie you foi lhe lesl as efficienlIy and effecliveIy as in lesl piepaialion nake hunanIy possilIe. Oui facuIly aie fond of saying, We vonl spend a ninule duiing oui line logelhei on anylhing lhal vonl iaise youi scoie. In Iine vilh lhis appioach, oui CMAT couise coveis hov lhe lesl voiks, hov ils scoied, and siniIai queslions, lul vilh a ieIenlIess focus on lhe lakeavays foi oplinaI We covei, foi exanpIe, hov queslion difficuIly changes ovei lhe couise of a seclion of a CAT and lhe inpIicalions foi youi line nanagenenl and guessing slialegies. Sonelhing eIse happens in lhe cIassioon: you ask queslions. Aflei you piaclice a nayle one lhal gol lhe lesl of you lhe fiisl line aiound~you vondei vhelhei youII see a siniIai queslion on Tesl Day. You have vhen you lake a piaclice lesl, such one of lhe 2 fiee CATs pulIished ly CMAC one of lhe 9 CATs incIuded in lhe KapIan couise. Aflei a piaclice lesl, you ask hov accuiale lhal scoie is and hov accuiale a piedicloi il is of youi peifoinance on Tesl Day. These queslions nay lake you oulside lhe scope of vhal you sliiclIy need lo piaclice lo inpiove youi CMAT scoie, lul ansveiing lhen heIps you undeisland vheie you aie in youi piaclice, heIps ne vilh lhe lesl, and salisfies lhe appelile foi dala and lhe spiiil of piaclicaI inquiiy lhal MA sludenls aie knovn foi. , veII covei lolh lypes of queslions~lhe key lakeavays, and lhe sullIei queslions lhal oui sludenls ask. If youie Iike 99 of l-schooI appIicanls, you aie eagei lo ieach a poinl al vhich you can decIaie youi ieIalionship vilh lhe CMAT lo le done foievei. UnliI lhen, heies eveiylhing you need lo knov aloul lhe nachineiy of lhe lesl~ youi piepaialion.
Wed Iike lo acknovIedge lhe lesl nakeis. The knovIedge in lhis docunenl is lased piinaiiIy on sludies and infoinalion pulIished ly lhe Ciaduale Managenenl Adnissi lesl nakeis and lhe oiganizalion lehind nla.con, lhe sile vheie NeveilheIess, since lhe CMAC is nol in lhe lusiness of pulIishing and neilhei is KapIan~pIease considei lhe noie lechnicaI of lhe vhile papei lo le iIIuslialive in naluie. tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 cienlIy and effecliveIy as possilIe. Oui facuIly nenleis aie fond of saying, We vonl spend a ninule duiing oui line logelhei on anylhing lhal vonl e lesl voiks, hov ils scoied, and siniIai queslions, lul vilh a ieIenlIess focus on lhe lakeavays foi oplinaI We covei, foi exanpIe, hov queslion difficuIly changes ovei lhe couise of a genenl and guessing slialegies. Sonelhing eIse happens in lhe cIassioon: you ask queslions. Aflei you piaclice a CMAT you vondei vhelhei lhal niIai queslion on Tesl Day. You have vhen you lake a piaclice lesl, such one of lhe 2 fiee CATs pulIished ly CMAC one of lhe 9 CATs incIuded in lhe KapIan couise. Aflei a piaclice lesl, you ask hov accuiale a piedicloi il is of youi peifoinance on Tesl Day. These queslions nay lake you oulside lhe scope of vhal you sliiclIy need lo piaclice lo inpiove youi CMAT scoie, lul ansveiing lhen heIps you undeisland vheie you aie in youi piaclice, heIps spiiil of piaclicaI lhe key lakeavays, and lhe sullIei appIicanls, you aie eagei lo ieach a poinl al vhich you can decIaie youi ieIalionship vilh lhe CMAT lo le done foievei. UnliI and nayle a lil The knovIedge in lhis docunenl is lased ly lhe Ciaduale Managenenl Adnissions , lhe sile vheie you can NeveilheIess, since lhe CMAC is nol in lhe lusiness of pulIishing considei lhe noie lechnicaI delaiIs
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 I. Insiue uNAT Scoiing Tbe Scoring Scale The nosl inpoilanl scoie on lhe CMAT is lhe lol This scoie is lhe CMAT iesuIl lhal foIIovs a slandaid disliilulion: n aII CMAT lesl lakeis scoie vilhin 1OO poinls of lhal cIuslei is an inpoilanl pail of di sludenls vilh an aveiage CMAT scoie of 718 Scnc GMAT Pcrccn|i|cs ts. Tc|a| Sccrc The lolaI scoie is caIcuIaled fion 37 queslions) and VeilaI seclion (75 ninules, 41 queslions) fion 1 lo 6O, lul lhe exliene scoies exisl onIy lo a possilIe scoies iange fion 11 lo 51. neasuie of skiII. Ioi exanpIe, aliIily as a Quanl scoie of 43 does in 2O11.
1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 Insiue uNAT Scoiing The nosl inpoilanl scoie on lhe CMAT is lhe lolaI scoie, vhich ianges fion 2OO lo lhe CMAT iesuIl lhal schooIs Iook al piinaiiIy. The popuIalion of lhese : nosl sludenls scoie neai lhe nean scoie, and n lakeis scoie vilhin 1OO poinls of 55O, lhe nedian scoie. IuIIing youiseIf oul of an inpoilanl pail of dislinguishing youi appIicalion: lhe lop len schooIs accepl ilh an aveiage CMAT scoie of 718, aInosl 94lh peicenliIe. X kookloq 5cote 99 760-800 98 730 97 740 96 730 94 720 92 710 90 700 88 690 83 680 84 670 82 660 79 630 73 640 73 630 70 620 Scnc GMAT Pcrccn|i|cs ts. Tc|a| Sccrcs 1
The lolaI scoie is caIcuIaled fion scaIe scoies fion lhe Quanlilalive seclion (75 ninules, 37 queslions) and VeilaI seclion (75 ninules, 41 queslions). HypolhelicaIIy, lhese scoies iange scoies exisl onIy lo aIIov ioon foi fuluie expansion. C lo 51. These scoies aie neanl lo piovide a lineIess, alsoIule neasuie of skiII. Ioi exanpIe, a Quanl scoie of 43 in 2OO2 iepiesenls lhe exacl sane IeveI of aliIily as a Quanl scoie of 43 does in 2O11. 2
gmaL/gmaL-scores-and-score-reporLs/whaL-your-percenLlle-ranklng hLLp://www.gmac.com/gmac/newsandLvenLs/CMnews/2011/Apr/uemysLlfylng-Lhe-CMA1-Scale tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 aI scoie, vhich ianges fion 2OO lo 8OO. opuIalion of lhese scoies neai lhe nean scoie, and noie lhan haIf of 55O, lhe nedian scoie. IuIIing youiseIf oul of slinguishing youi appIicalion: lhe lop len schooIs accepl seclion (75 ninules, lhese scoies iange IIov ioon foi fuluie expansion. CuiienlIy, These scoies aie neanl lo piovide a lineIess, alsoIule lhe exacl sane IeveI of ranklng-means Scale-
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 The scaIe nighl seen aililiaiy lo you. You nay le vondeiing, Why 11 lo 51 possilIe scaIes` One ieason lo have a scaIe such as lhis one is lo avoid confusion vilh peicenliIes oi peicenlages. If scaIed scoies ianged fion O lo 1OO, foi exanpIe, lheie vouId le lienendous confusion lelveen lhose scoies and peicenliIes and peicenlage of queslions ansveied coiieclIy. WhiIe lhe scaIe scoies havenl peifoinance has gone up ovei line and VeilaI peifoinance has gone dovn. WhiIe l seclion scoie sliII foIIovs a faiiIy lypicaI disliilulion, lhe Quanlilalive high. In iecenl yeais, lelveen 5 an ecause of lhe shifl ovei line, and lhe naluie of lhe popuIalion, peicenliIes donl nalch exaclIy lo scaIed scoies. As lhal facl indicales, lheie is a lhiid vay of sIicing and dicing CMAT peifoinance: peicenliIes. SchooIs viev youi peicenliIe peifoinance (vhich is lhe sane lhing as a peicenl ianking) oveiaII and on each seclion of lhe CMAT. lhe oveiaII peicenliIe is nol sinpIe. Weie fiequenlIy ask peicenliIe and lhe olhei is 84lh peicenliIe. Hov can ny oveiaII peicenliIe le 87lh peicenliIe` The ansvei is lhal lhis lype of oulcone is exanpIe. Inagine lhal of one hundi 1O VeilaI, vhiIe lhe olhei fifly peopIe gol a 1O Quanl and 51 VeilaI. You lake lhe sane lesl and gel 4O Quanl and 4O VeilaI. You'd le 5O scoied voise lhan you. Hovevei lhe lesl~99 lh peicenliIe. Ooootltotlve X kookloq 98 93 86 82 77 73 72 68 63 Scnc Pcrccn|i|cs ts. Sca|c Sccrcs fcr |nc Quan|i|a|itc and Vcroa| Scc|icns Nov lhal veve cIeaied up lhal poinl of confusion, peicenliIes. The fiisl is lhal lhe oveiaII scoie is aloul youi laIanced peifoinance on lhe lvo seclions. CeneiaIIy, you viII nol
3 hLLp://www.mba.com/Lhe-gmaL/gmaL
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 The scaIe nighl seen aililiaiy lo you. You nay le vondeiing, Why 11 lo 51 ` One ieason lo have a scaIe such as lhis one is lo avoid confusion vilh oi peicenlages. If scaIed scoies ianged fion O lo 1OO, foi exanpIe, lheie vouId le lienendous confusion lelveen lhose scoies and peicenliIes and peicenlage of queslions havenl changed ovei line, lhe popuIalion of lesl lakei peifoinance has gone up ovei line and VeilaI peifoinance has gone dovn. WhiIe l foIIovs a faiiIy lypicaI disliilulion, lhe Quanlilalive scaIe lelveen 5 and 7 peicenl of lesl lakeis gol a 5O oi 51 on lhe ecause of lhe shifl ovei line, and lhe naluie of lhe popuIalion, peicenliIes donl nalch exaclIy As lhal facl indicales, lheie is a lhiid vay of sIicing and dicing CMAT youi peicenliIe peifoinance (vhich is lhe sane lhing as a peicenl ianking) oveiaII and on each seclion of lhe CMAT. The ieIalionship lelveen lhe seclion peicenliIes and lhe oveiaII peicenliIe is nol sinpIe. Weie fiequenlIy asked, One of ny scaIe peicenliIe and lhe olhei is 84lh peicenliIe. Hov can ny oveiaII peicenliIe le 87lh peicenliIe` The ansvei is lhal lhis lype of oulcone is unpiolIenalic. You can see hov in a sinpIislic one hundied sludenls laking lhe lesl, fifly peopIe gol a 51 Quanl and peopIe gol a 1O Quanl and 51 VeilaI. You lake lhe sane lesl and gel 4O Quanl and 4O VeilaI. You'd le 5O lh peicenliIe on each seclion, lecause 5O of coied voise lhan you. Hovevei, youi lolaI scoie vouId pul you highei lhan anyone eIse on Ooootltotlve
vetbol X kookloq 5cote
X kookloq 5cote 98 31
99 46-31 93 30
98 43 86 49
97 44 82 48
93 42 77 47
92 41 3 46
89 40 72 43
87 39 68 44
83 38 63 43
80 37 Scnc Pcrccn|i|cs ts. Sca|c Sccrcs fcr |nc Quan|i|a|itc and Vcroa| Scc|icns up lhal poinl of confusion, Iels nole lvo key lakeavays aloul lhe oveiaII scoie is aloul youi laIanced peifoinance on lhe lvo viII nol vin on lhe CMAT ly naiIing one seclion and hoping gmaL/gmaL-scores-and-score-reporLs/whaL-your-percenLlle-ranklng tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 The scaIe nighl seen aililiaiy lo you. You nay le vondeiing, Why 11 lo 51, of aII ` One ieason lo have a scaIe such as lhis one is lo avoid confusion vilh oi peicenlages. If scaIed scoies ianged fion O lo 1OO, foi exanpIe, lheie vouId le lienendous confusion lelveen lhose scoies and peicenliIes and peicenlage of queslions lesl lakeis has. Quanl peifoinance has gone up ovei line and VeilaI peifoinance has gone dovn. WhiIe lhe VeilaI scoie is skeved a 5O oi 51 on lhe Quanl seclion. ecause of lhe shifl ovei line, and lhe naluie of lhe popuIalion, peicenliIes donl nalch exaclIy As lhal facl indicales, lheie is a lhiid vay of sIicing and dicing CMAT youi peicenliIe peifoinance (vhich is lhe sane lhing as a peicenl ianking) The ieIalionship lelveen lhe seclion peicenliIes and scaIe scoies is 83id peicenliIe and lhe olhei is 84lh peicenliIe. Hov can ny oveiaII peicenliIe le 87lh peicenliIe` see hov in a sinpIislic peopIe gol a 51 Quanl and peopIe gol a 1O Quanl and 51 VeilaI. You lake lhe sane lesl and peicenliIe on each seclion, lecause 5O of lesl lakeis youi lolaI scoie vouId pul you highei lhan anyone eIse on Scnc Pcrccn|i|cs ts. Sca|c Sccrcs fcr |nc Quan|i|a|itc and Vcroa| Scc|icns 3
lvo key lakeavays aloul lhe oveiaII scoie is aloul youi laIanced peifoinance on lhe lvo vin on lhe CMAT ly naiIing one seclion and hoping youi ranklng-means
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 peifoinance viII oveicone a deficil VeilaI peicenliIes aienl olvious fion lhe oveiaII scoie, adnission officeis o specificaIIy. Sone adnissions officeis al lop schooIs have ienaiked on paneIs, We viII Iook specificaIIy al lhe Quanlilalive peicenliIe on lhe CMAT. You shouId have a peicenliIe on lhal seclion as veII as a sliong oveiaII scoie. nanagenenl piogians, a Quanlilalive peicenliIe of 9Olh oi noie nay le noie of lhe noin. So vhich of lhese neasuies is nosl inpoilanl inpoilanl scoie, since ils a laIanced neasuie of alsoIule and ieIalive peifoinance. Nexl cone peicenliIes, vhich adnission officeis oflen Iook al. In oui expeiience, officeis iaieIy nenlion paying all The AnaIylicaI Wiiling Assessnenl UnIike lhe lolaI and scaIe scoies, youi scoie, il viII lake lhe foin of a nunlei fion you viile off-lopic oi in a foieign Ianguage). shouId sliive foi lhe lesl scoie possilIe, an essay giaded 4 is salisfacloiy giaded 3 is nol. Pcrccn|i|cs ts. Sca|c Sccrcs fcr |nc AlA IeicenliIes give a sIighlIy diffeienl peispeclive on lhe AWA. An AWA scoie of 4.5 ianks al a shockingIy Iov 37lh peicenliIe. To lieak lhe nedian, you have lo scoie a 5 oi highei. good nevs is lhal no piogian, in oui expeiience, uses lhe AWA scoie lo diffeienliale candidale conpeliliveness. Ils noie of a ieaIily check againsl lhe viiling skiIIs lhal you denonsliale in youi appIicalion essays. And in lhis vein, a IillIe lexl of youi AWA essays in lhe officiaI scoie iepoil. Theyie nol going lo spend loo Iong
1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 viII oveicone a deficil on lhe olhei. The second key poinl is lhal, since Quanl and peicenliIes aienl olvious fion lhe oveiaII scoie, adnission officeis oflen Iook al lhen Sone adnissions officeis al lop schooIs have ienaiked on paneIs, We viII Iook specificaIIy al lhe Quanlilalive peicenliIe on lhe CMAT. You shouId have a peicenliIe on lhal seclion as veII as a sliong oveiaII scoie. Moieovei, al specia nanagenenl piogians, a Quanlilalive peicenliIe of 9Olh oi noie nay le noie of lhe noin. vhich of lhese neasuies is nosl inpoilanl` The piinaiy scoie of 2OO lo 8OO is lhe nosl inpoilanl scoie, since ils a laIanced neasuie of alsoIule and ieIalive peifoinance. Nexl cone peicenliIes, vhich adnission officeis oflen Iook al. In oui expeiience, l-schooI officeis iaieIy nenlion paying allenlion lo scaIe scoies. ssessnenl (AWA) is scoied sepaialeIy fion lhe iesl of lhe CMAT. scoies, AWA scoies aienl avaiIalIe on Tesl Day. When you do gel ake lhe foin of a nunlei fion 1 lo 6 in incienenls of O.5 (you gel a zeio if lopic oi in a foieign Ianguage). The nagic nunlei heie is 4. AIlhough sludenls shouId sliive foi lhe lesl scoie possilIe, an essay giaded 4 is salisfacloiy AwA X kookloq 5cote 91 6 77 3.3 36 3 37 4.3 21 4 10 3.3 3 3 4 2.3 3 0.3-2 0 0 Pcrccn|i|cs ts. Sca|c Sccrcs fcr |nc AlA 4
give a sIighlIy diffeienl peispeclive on lhe AWA. An AWA scoie of 4.5 ianks al liIe. To lieak lhe nedian, you have lo scoie a 5 oi highei. good nevs is lhal no piogian, in oui expeiience, uses lhe AWA scoie lo diffeienliale candidale Ils noie of a ieaIily check againsl lhe viiling skiIIs lhal you denonsliale in youi appIicalion essays. And in lhis vein, a IillIe-noliced facl: lusiness schooIs ieceive lhe acluaI of youi AWA essays in lhe officiaI scoie iepoil. Theyie nol going lo spend loo Iong gmaL/gmaL-scores-and-score-reporLs/whaL-your-percenLlle-ranklng com/mba/LhegmaL/gmaLscoresandscorereporLs/whaLyourpercenLlleranklngmeans.hLm tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 n lhe olhei. The second key poinl is lhal, since Quanl and flen Iook al lhen Sone adnissions officeis al lop schooIs have ienaiked on paneIs, We viII Iook specificaIIy al lhe Quanlilalive peicenliIe on lhe CMAT. You shouId have al Ieasl an 8Olh peciaIized MA and nanagenenl piogians, a Quanlilalive peicenliIe of 9Olh oi noie nay le noie of lhe noin. iy scoie of 2OO lo 8OO is lhe nosl inpoilanl scoie, since ils a laIanced neasuie of alsoIule and ieIalive peifoinance. Nexl cone schooI adnissions leIy fion lhe iesl of lhe CMAT. When you do gel .5 (you gel a zeio if nunlei heie is 4. AIlhough sludenls shouId sliive foi lhe lesl scoie possilIe, an essay giaded 4 is salisfacloiy, and an essay give a sIighlIy diffeienl peispeclive on lhe AWA. An AWA scoie of 4.5 ianks al liIe. To lieak lhe nedian, you have lo scoie a 5 oi highei. 5 The good nevs is lhal no piogian, in oui expeiience, uses lhe AWA scoie lo diffeienliale candidale Ils noie of a ieaIily check againsl lhe viiling skiIIs lhal you denonsliale in noliced facl: lusiness schooIs ieceive lhe acluaI of youi AWA essays in lhe officiaI scoie iepoil. Theyie nol going lo spend loo Iong ranklng-means com/mba/LhegmaL/gmaLscoresandscorereporLs/whaLyourpercenLlleranklngmeans.hLm
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 exanining youi 3O-ninule liealise lhe cilizens of Mauiilania, lul lhey have lhe oplion. A nev seclion, Inlegialed Reasoning (IR), is coning in 2O12. Il viII have ils ovn scoiing scaIe, independenl fion lhe 2OO lo appioaches, slay luned lo oui lIog, CMAT velsile foi noie on lhal lopic and foi noie geneiaI infoinalion on scoies Tbe Computer Adaptive Format The conpulei adaplive lesl, adaplive lecause, in lhe couise of a seclion, lhe lesl nolices pievious queslion coiieclIy oi incoiieclIy and adapls in ils seIeclion of lhe nexl A fev lasic iuIes nake lhe adaplive foinal possilIe. Youie piesenled vilh one queslion al a line, and you nusl ansvei il lo nove on lo lhe nexl queslion. You canl ieluin lo pieviousIy ansveied queslions vilhin a seclion You canl skip queslions onilled aie any queslions al lhe end of a seclion lhal you Ieave unansveied. Wilhin a seclion (Quanlilalive oi VeilaI), lhe queslions aie nol giouped ly lopic oi lype. You donl, foi exanpIe, fin Senlence Coiieclion and lhen lo CiilicaI Reasoning, lhose lhiee queslion lypes aie inleispeised vilh each olhei lhioughoul lhe seclion. Heies hov lhe adapling voiks. You slail lhe seclion (Quanlilalive oi Vei nedian-difficuIly queslion, aloul haIf of vho ansvei coiieclIy gel a haidei queslion foi lhe second ilen, and lhose vho ansvei incoiieclIy gel an easiei ilen. This pallein iepeals: lhiougho pievious queslion iighl, geneiaIIy youII gel a haidei queslion nexl. ConveiseIy, if you gol lhe pievious queslion viong, geneiaIIy youII gel an easiei one nexl. This pallein ieileiales so lhal you foIIov a geneiaIIy upvaid, hones in on lhe difficuIly IeveI lhal is lesl nalched lo youi peifoinance, al lhal difficuIly IeveI, geneiaIIy, youII gel aloul haIf lhe queslions coiiecl and haIf incoiiecl. Hov high on lhe difficuIly scaIe you end up is one of lhe ciileiia lhal deleinine youi scoie, aIong vilh hov nany queslions you ansvei and olhei faclois.
1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 ninule liealise on vhelhei addilionaI laxalion is in lhe giealei inleiesl of lhe cilizens of Mauiilania, lul lhey have lhe oplion. A nev seclion, Inlegialed Reasoning (IR), is coning in 2O12. Il viII have ils ovn scoiing scaIe, independenl fion lhe 2OO lo 8OO scaIe. WeII have a Iol lo say aloul IR a appioaches, slay luned lo oui lIog, hllp://lIog.kapIanCMAT.con. Check oul lhe officiaI foi noie on lhal lopic and foi noie geneiaI infoinalion on scoies Tbe Computer Adaptive Format onpulei adaplive lesl, oi CAT, is a faiiIy nev lesling foinal. The lecause, in lhe couise of a seclion, lhe lesl nolices vhelhei you coiieclIy oi incoiieclIy and adapls in ils seIeclion of lhe nexl A fev lasic iuIes nake lhe adaplive foinal possilIe. Youie piesenled vilh one queslion al a line, and you nusl ansvei il lo nove on lo You canl ieluin lo pieviousIy ansveied queslions vilhin a seclion. slions~oi ialhei, lhe onIy queslions lhal can le skipped oi onilled aie any queslions al lhe end of a seclion lhal you Ieave unansveied. Wilhin a seclion (Quanlilalive oi VeilaI), lhe queslions aie nol giouped ly lopic oi lype. You donl, foi exanpIe, finish Reading Conpiehension and lhen nove on lo Senlence Coiieclion and lhen lo CiilicaI Reasoning, lhose lhiee queslion lypes aie inleispeised vilh each olhei lhioughoul lhe seclion. Heies hov lhe adapling voiks. You slail lhe seclion (Quanlilalive oi Vei difficuIly queslion, aloul haIf of lesl lakeis gel il iighl, and haIf gel il viong. Those vho ansvei coiieclIy gel a haidei queslion foi lhe second ilen, and lhose vho ansvei incoiieclIy gel an easiei ilen. This pallein iepeals: lhioughoul lhe seclion, i pievious queslion iighl, geneiaIIy youII gel a haidei queslion nexl. ConveiseIy, if you gol lhe pievious queslion viong, geneiaIIy youII gel an easiei one nexl. This pallein ieileiales so lhal you foIIov a geneiaIIy upvaid, dovnvaid oi fIal liajecloiy lhiough lhe queslions. The lesl hones in on lhe difficuIly IeveI lhal is lesl nalched lo youi peifoinance, al lhal difficuIly IeveI, geneiaIIy, youII gel aloul haIf lhe queslions coiiecl and haIf incoiiecl. Hov high on lhe ficuIly scaIe you end up is one of lhe ciileiia lhal deleinine youi scoie, aIong vilh hov nany queslions you ansvei and olhei faclois. hLLp://www.mba.com/mba/LhegmaL/gmaLscoresandscorereporLs/whaLyourpercenLlleranklngmeans.hLm tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 n is in lhe giealei inleiesl of A nev seclion, Inlegialed Reasoning (IR), is coning in 2O12. Il viII have ils ovn scoiing WeII have a Iol lo say aloul IR as lhe change heck oul lhe officiaI foi noie on lhal lopic and foi noie geneiaI infoinalion on scoies. 6
. The lesl is caIIed vhelhei you ansveied lhe coiieclIy oi incoiieclIy and adapls in ils seIeclion of lhe nexl queslion. Youie piesenled vilh one queslion al a line, and you nusl ansvei il lo nove on lo . queslions lhal can le skipped oi onilled aie any queslions al lhe end of a seclion lhal you Ieave unansveied. Wilhin a seclion (Quanlilalive oi VeilaI), lhe queslions aie nol giouped ly lopic oi ish Reading Conpiehension and lhen nove on lo Senlence Coiieclion and lhen lo CiilicaI Reasoning, lhose lhiee queslion lypes aie Heies hov lhe adapling voiks. You slail lhe seclion (Quanlilalive oi VeilaI) vilh a s gel il iighl, and haIf gel il viong. Those vho ansvei coiieclIy gel a haidei queslion foi lhe second ilen, and lhose vho ansvei ul lhe seclion, if you gol lhe pievious queslion iighl, geneiaIIy youII gel a haidei queslion nexl. ConveiseIy, if you gol lhe pievious queslion viong, geneiaIIy youII gel an easiei one nexl. This pallein ieileiales so lhal dovnvaid oi fIal liajecloiy lhiough lhe queslions. The lesl hones in on lhe difficuIly IeveI lhal is lesl nalched lo youi peifoinance, al lhal difficuIly IeveI, geneiaIIy, youII gel aloul haIf lhe queslions coiiecl and haIf incoiiecl. Hov high on lhe ficuIly scaIe you end up is one of lhe ciileiia lhal deleinine youi scoie, aIong vilh hov Llleranklngmeans.hLm
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 A rcugn scncna|ic cf ncu adap|itc sccring ucr|s cn a CAT The adaplive design of lhe lesl 1. Accuracq. A CAT is aIIegedIy noie accuiale lhan a Iineai lecause il zeioes in on a give Iucky lesleis haidei queslions lhan lhey can ansvei, lhus eIininaling any gains iesuIling fion chance. ConveiseIy, unIucky aiilhnelic eiiois on lough piolIens give unIucky lesleis easiei piolIens, and alIe lo gel lhe easiei scoie. 2. Tinc. CATs can le de duialion is a lenefil lolh lo you and lhe lhal a CAT does nol vasle queslions. pielly nuch nevei see a pielly nuch nevei see a haid one. On a Iineai hand, eveiyone gels lhe sane nix of easy and haid queslions. sludenls sliuggIing on lhe easy quesli chaIIenging piolIens, vhiIe high queslions. Thus, giving Iov veisa) doesn'l acluaIIy piovi
7 As you may have guessed, quesLlon dlfflculLy lsn'L measured on scale of 200 Lo 800. AfLer all, Lhe CuanLlLaLlve and verbal secLlons are scored separaLely and noL even scored on a 200 Lo 800 scale Lhemselves. 1he reallLy ls LhaL quesLlon dlfflculLy has lLs own unlque measure, boLh on Lhe CMA1 and also on our pracLlce LesLs.
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 A rcugn scncna|ic cf ncu adap|itc sccring ucr|s cn a CAT 7
The adaplive design of lhe lesl has lvo puiposes: is aIIegedIy noie accuiale lhan a Iineai (i.e., non lecause il zeioes in on a lesl lakeis aliIily IeveI. Lucky guesses cause lhe CMAT lo give Iucky lesleis haidei queslions lhan lhey can ansvei, lhus eIininaling any ion chance. ConveiseIy, unIucky aiilhnelic eiiois on lough nIucky lesleis easiei piolIens, and lhese unIucky lhe easiei queslions iighl, lhus coiiecling lhe non-iepiesenlalive diop in CATs can le designed as shoilei lhan conpaialIe Iineai lesls a lenefil lolh lo you and lhe lesl nakei. The ieason foi lhis efficiency is a CAT does nol vasle queslions. If you gel nosl of lhe queslions iighl, you pielly nuch nevei see an easy one, and if you gel nosl of lhe queslions viong, you ei see a haid one. On a Iineai lesl such as lhe SAT, on lhe olhei hand, eveiyone gels lhe sane nix of easy and haid queslions. ludenls sliuggIing on lhe easy queslions viII do IillIe lellei lhan chance on lhe chaIIenging piolIens, vhiIe high-scoiing sludenls viII gel cIose lo 1OO of lhe easy queslions. Thus, giving Iov-scoiing queslions lo high-scoiing sludenls (and vice veisa) doesn'l acluaIIy piovide nuch usefuI slalislicaI dala. In lhis iespecl, nany As you may have guessed, quesLlon dlfflculLy lsn'L measured on scale of 200 Lo 800. AfLer all, Lhe CuanLlLaLlve and verbal secLlons are scored separaLely and noL even scored on a 200 Lo 800 scale Lhemselves. 1he reallLy ls LhaL sLlon dlfflculLy has lLs own unlque measure, boLh on Lhe CMA1 and also on our pracLlce LesLs. tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1
(i.e., non-adaplive) lesl Lucky guesses cause lhe CMAT lo give Iucky lesleis haidei queslions lhan lhey can ansvei, lhus eIininaling any ion chance. ConveiseIy, unIucky aiilhnelic eiiois on lough lesleis shouId le iepiesenlalive diop in lhan conpaialIe Iineai lesls, and lhe shoilei . The ieason foi lhis efficiency is If you gel nosl of lhe queslions iighl, you n easy one, and if you gel nosl of lhe queslions viong, you lesl such as lhe SAT, on lhe olhei On such a lesl, ons viII do IillIe lellei lhan chance on lhe scoiing sludenls viII gel cIose lo 1OO of lhe easy scoiing sludenls (and vice lalislicaI dala. In lhis iespecl, nany As you may have guessed, quesLlon dlfflculLy lsn'L measured on scale of 200 Lo 800. AfLer all, Lhe CuanLlLaLlve and verbal secLlons are scored separaLely and noL even scored on a 200 Lo 800 scale Lhemselves. 1he reallLy ls LhaL sLlon dlfflculLy has lLs own unlque measure, boLh on Lhe CMA1 and also on our pracLlce LesLs.
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 queslions aie vasled, and lhe CAT can affoid lo le a nuch shoilei lesl al equaI accuiacy. Those poinls define lhe lasic pallein of lhe CAT, lul lheie aie addilionaI leIIs and vhislIes in lhe aIgoiilhn. One of lhe no aIvays adjusl difficuIly IeveI queslion ly queslion. assessing lhe difficuIly IeveI of a queslion youie on and allenpling lo infei vhelhei you gol lhe pievious queslion coiiecl. Lven if you couId assess a queslions difficuIly IeveI (and you canl, in piaclice, foi ieasons ve discuss pailIy leIov), you vouIdnl le alIe lo diav any concIusions, since lhe lesl doesnl aIvays adapl queslion The liiaI oi expeiinenlaI queslions aie anolhei iefinenenl lo lhe CAT foinuIa. Sone lhe queslions in each seclion do nol counl lovaid youi scoie. queslions oul on peopIe vho do nol knov lhal lhey aie expeiinenlaI in oidei lo vaIidily and difficuIly of lhe queslions avay one punchIine eaiIy: do nol liy lo guess vhich queslions aie expeiinenlaI. Are tbe first questions more important? Nov Iels go sliaighl lo IiequenlIy Asked Queslion #1 aloul CMAT scoiing, vhich is, Aie lhe fiisl len oi so queslions As veve discussed, lhe CMAT adaplive aIgoiilhn slails vilh a nediun queslion. If you gel il iighl, youi nexl queslion is haidei, and queslion is easiei. The svings aie viId al lhe leginning, naiioving peifoinance. Ioi lhal ieason, you nay find il leginning of lhe lesl. The shoil void on lhal idea: don'l. The lesl nakeis addiess lhis queslion head Il is liue lhal lhe conpulei iniliaI eslinale of youi aliIily, hovevei, lhal is onIy an ansvei queslions, lhe aIgoiilhn seIf aII lhe queslions you have ansveied, and lhen adninisleis ilens lhal aie cIoseIy nalched lo lhis nev eslinale of youi aliIily. Youi f difficuIly of aII lhe queslions you ansveied. Taking addilionaI line on lhe fiisl 1O queslions viII nol gane lhe syslen and can huil youi aliIily lo finish lhe lesl. The lesl nakeis insisl lhal oulsnail lhe CMAT ly spending exlia line al lhe leginning. you'ie coiieclIy ansveiing noie queslions lhan
8 Offlclol ColJe to CMA1 kevlew, 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 8. 9 Offlclol ColJe to CMA1 kevlew, 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 17.
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 queslions aie vasled, and lhe CAT can affoid lo le a nuch shoilei lesl al equaI lhe lasic pallein of lhe CAT, lul lheie aie addilionaI leIIs and vhislIes One of lhe nosl inpoilanl delaiIs lo le avaie of is lhal lhe lesl does nol aIvays adjusl difficuIly IeveI queslion ly queslion. 8 Theiefoie, avoid lhe lenplalion of assessing lhe difficuIly IeveI of a queslion youie on and allenpling lo infei vhelhei you gol us queslion coiiecl. Lven if you couId assess a queslions difficuIly IeveI (and you canl, in piaclice, foi ieasons ve discuss pailIy leIov), you vouIdnl le alIe lo diav any oesnl aIvays adapl queslion so innedialeIy. iiaI oi expeiinenlaI queslions aie anolhei iefinenenl lo lhe CAT foinuIa. Sone lhe queslions in each seclion do nol counl lovaid youi scoie. The lesl nakei queslions oul on peopIe vho do nol knov lhal lhey aie expeiinenlaI in oidei lo vaIidily and difficuIly of lhe queslions. WeII laIk noie aloul lhis lopic leIov, lul veII give avay one punchIine eaiIy: do nol liy lo guess vhich queslions aie expeiinenlaI. Are tbe first questions more important? IiequenlIy Asked Queslion #1 aloul CMAT scoiing, vhich is, s noie inpoilanl` , lhe CMAT adaplive aIgoiilhn slails vilh a nediun queslion. If you gel il iighl, youi nexl queslion is haidei, and if you gel il viong, youi nexl queslion is easiei. The svings aie viId al lhe leginning, naiioving in on an eslinale of Ioi lhal ieason, you nay find il lenpling lo spend Iols of exlia line al lhe idea: don'l. s addiess lhis queslion head-on vilh lhe foIIoving expIanalion: Il is liue lhal lhe conpulei-adaplive lesling aIgoiilhn uses lhe fiisl 1O queslions lo ollain an iniliaI eslinale of youi aliIily, hovevei, lhal is onIy an ini|ia| eslinale. As you conlinue lo ansvei queslions, lhe aIgoiilhn seIf-coiiecls ly conpuling an updaled eslinale on lhe lasis of aII lhe queslions you have ansveied, and lhen adninisleis ilens lhal aie cIoseIy nalched lo lhis nev eslinale of youi aliIily. Youi finaI scoie is lased on aII youi iesponses and consideis lhe difficuIly of aII lhe queslions you ansveied. Taking addilionaI line on lhe fiisl 1O queslions viII nol gane lhe syslen and can huil youi aliIily lo finish lhe lesl. 9
insisl lhal lhal, despile peisislenl iunois lo lhe conliaiy, you can'l oulsnail lhe CMAT ly spending exlia line al lhe leginning. The ieason foi lhis is lining, if Iy ansveiing noie queslions lhan you shouId in noie line lhan you shouId, lhen 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 8. 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 17. tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 queslions aie vasled, and lhe CAT can affoid lo le a nuch shoilei lesl al equaI lhe lasic pallein of lhe CAT, lul lheie aie addilionaI leIIs and vhislIes sl inpoilanl delaiIs lo le avaie of is lhal lhe lesl does nol Theiefoie, avoid lhe lenplalion of assessing lhe difficuIly IeveI of a queslion youie on and allenpling lo infei vhelhei you gol us queslion coiiecl. Lven if you couId assess a queslions difficuIly IeveI (and you canl, in piaclice, foi ieasons ve discuss pailIy leIov), you vouIdnl le alIe lo diav any iiaI oi expeiinenlaI queslions aie anolhei iefinenenl lo lhe CAT foinuIa. Sone of lesl nakei nusl liy fuluie queslions oul on peopIe vho do nol knov lhal lhey aie expeiinenlaI in oidei lo deleinine lhe . WeII laIk noie aloul lhis lopic leIov, lul veII give avay one punchIine eaiIy: do nol liy lo guess vhich queslions aie expeiinenlaI. IiequenlIy Asked Queslion #1 aloul CMAT scoiing, vhich is, , lhe CMAT adaplive aIgoiilhn slails vilh a nediun-difficuIly if you gel il viong, youi nexl in on an eslinale of exlia line al lhe on vilh lhe foIIoving expIanalion: adaplive lesling aIgoiilhn uses lhe fiisl 1O queslions lo ollain an slinale. As you conlinue lo coiiecls ly conpuling an updaled eslinale on lhe lasis of aII lhe queslions you have ansveied, and lhen adninisleis ilens lhal aie cIoseIy nalched lo lhis inaI scoie is lased on aII youi iesponses and consideis lhe difficuIly of aII lhe queslions you ansveied. Taking addilionaI line on lhe fiisl 1O queslions viII hal, despile peisislenl iunois lo lhe conliaiy, you can'l he ieason foi lhis is lining, if you shouId in noie line lhan you shouId, lhen
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 lhe ienaining lhiee quaileis of lhe seclion viII le nuch haidei and undei noie line piessuie~youi shoil-lein gains viII le eiased. Hovevei, you sliII vanl lo adjusl youi lesl SpecificaIIy, ienenlei lhal even vhen you ha youi lesl is nade up of chaIIenging, high sinpIei piolIens lo gel lheie~don'l iush oi lecone oveiconfidenl jusl lecause lhose fiisl fev queslions aie easiei. One of oui CMAT facuIly nenleis fiisl innings oi lhe fiisl quailei of a gane noie inpoilanl lhan lhe foIIoving ones` Mayle, since lhey sel lhe vhoIe lone of a gane and give lhe Ieading lean oplions. ul lo slail sliong and finish sliong. The cosl of nol finishing sli queslions, lheie is a penaIly assessed vhich viII CMAC, lhis effecl is noie exaggeialed in lhe case of high scoieis. queslions.couId ieduce youi scoie fion lhe 91sl peicenliIe lo lhe 77lh peicenliIe. viII see nov, a scoie diffeience of lhal nagnilude is sulslanliaI. How mucb can a CMAT sc Theie aie lvo pieces lo lhe queslion of hov nuch a peisons CMAT scoie can change vilhin a given peiiod of line: 1. Hov nuch scoies vaiy, 2. Hov nuch scoies can le inpioved. These aie inpoilanl piaclicaI queslions. If you have a laseIine scoie lhal laigel, you need lo knov vhelhei you can ieach youi laigel and hov nuch voik il Oi, you nay have ieceived a Iov scoie on lhe CMAT, nighl go up if you ielook lhe lesl in a nonlh vilh youi acl sIigh Hcu nucn sccrcs tarq. Scoies can vaiy videIy, lul lend nol lo. The slalislics on lhe suljecl lhal leII sIighlIy diffeienl sloiies. Iiisl is lhe ieIialiIily of lhe lesl. The CMAC ansveis oui queslion diieclIy ly you aie 92 IikeIy lo gel lhe sane scoie on lhe CMAT if you lake lhe lesl and lhen ielake il (vilhoul any sludy in lelveen). lesl nakeis do go on lo nake lhe foIIoving slalenenl: The cuiienl slandaid eiioi of neasuienenl foi lhe CMAT TolaI scoie is 29, vhich neans lhe iepoiled CMAT TolaI scoie is vilhin 29 poinls alove oi leIov a scoie iefIecling liue
1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 g lhiee quaileis of lhe seclion viII le nuch haidei and undei noie line lein gains viII le eiased. Hovevei, you sliII vanl lo adjusl youi lesl-piep slialegy lo accounl foi lhose eaiIy SpecificaIIy, ienenlei lhal even vhen you have ieached lhe high-scoiing poinl lhal nosl of youi lesl is nade up of chaIIenging, high-ievaid piolIens, you sliII have lo go lhiough lhe don'l iush oi lecone oveiconfidenl jusl lecause lhose fiisl fev nenleis Iikes lo nake conpaiison lo a spoiling evenl. Aie lhe fiisl innings oi lhe fiisl quailei of a gane noie inpoilanl lhan lhe foIIoving ones` Mayle, since lhey sel lhe vhoIe lone of a gane and give lhe Ieading lean oplions. ul lo slail sliong and finish sliong. The cosl of nol finishing sliong on lhe CMAT is sulslanliaI. If you donl ansvei aII lhe queslions, lheie is a penaIly assessed vhich viII piecipilousIy Iovei youi scoie. Accoiding lo s noie exaggeialed in lhe case of high scoieis. IaiIing lo ansvei five queslions.couId ieduce youi scoie fion lhe 91sl peicenliIe lo lhe 77lh peicenliIe. viII see nov, a scoie diffeience of lhal nagnilude is sulslanliaI. How mucb can a CMAT score cbange? Theie aie lvo pieces lo lhe queslion of hov nuch a peisons CMAT scoie can change Hov nuch scoies vaiy, Hov nuch scoies can le inpioved. These aie inpoilanl piaclicaI queslions. If you have a laseIine scoie lhal laigel, you need lo knov vhelhei you can ieach youi laigel and hov nuch voik il ieceived a Iov scoie on lhe CMAT, and youie vondeiing hov nuch il nighl go up if you ielook lhe lesl in a nonlh vilh youi acl sIighlIy noie logelhei. coies can vaiy videIy, lul lend nol lo. The lesl nakei slalislics on lhe suljecl lhal leII sIighlIy diffeienl sloiies. Iiisl is lhe ieIialiIily of lhe lesl. The CMAC ansveis oui queslion diieclIy ly you aie 92 IikeIy lo gel lhe sane scoie on lhe CMAT if you lake lhe lesl and lhen ielake il (vilhoul any sludy in lelveen). 11 Thals piolalIy a Iol noie ieIialIe lhan you expecled. The s do go on lo nake lhe foIIoving slalenenl: uiienl slandaid eiioi of neasuienenl foi lhe CMAT TolaI scoie is 29, vhich neans lhe iepoiled CMAT TolaI scoie is vilhin 29 poinls alove oi leIov a scoie iefIecling liue 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 17. hLLp://www.gmac.com/gmac/LhegmaL/gmaLbaslcs/whyrelyongmaLscores.hLm tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 g lhiee quaileis of lhe seclion viII le nuch haidei and undei noie line piep slialegy lo accounl foi lhose eaiIy svings. scoiing poinl lhal nosl of ievaid piolIens, you sliII have lo go lhiough lhe don'l iush oi lecone oveiconfidenl jusl lecause lhose fiisl fev Iikes lo nake conpaiison lo a spoiling evenl. Aie lhe fiisl innings oi lhe fiisl quailei of a gane noie inpoilanl lhan lhe foIIoving ones` Mayle, since lhey sel lhe vhoIe lone of a gane and give lhe Ieading lean oplions. ul lo vin, you need ong on lhe CMAT is sulslanliaI. If you donl ansvei aII lhe Iovei youi scoie. Accoiding lo IaiIing lo ansvei five queslions.couId ieduce youi scoie fion lhe 91sl peicenliIe lo lhe 77lh peicenliIe. 1O And as ve Theie aie lvo pieces lo lhe queslion of hov nuch a peisons CMAT scoie can change These aie inpoilanl piaclicaI queslions. If you have a laseIine scoie lhals fai fion youi laigel, you need lo knov vhelhei you can ieach youi laigel and hov nuch voik il viII lake. youie vondeiing hov nuch il lIy noie logelhei. lesl nakeis piesenl lvo Iiisl is lhe ieIialiIily of lhe lesl. The CMAC ansveis oui queslion diieclIy ly saying lhal you aie 92 IikeIy lo gel lhe sane scoie on lhe CMAT if you lake lhe lesl and lhen ielake il Thals piolalIy a Iol noie ieIialIe lhan you expecled. The uiienl slandaid eiioi of neasuienenl foi lhe CMAT TolaI scoie is 29, vhich neans lhe iepoiled CMAT TolaI scoie is vilhin 29 poinls alove oi leIov a scoie iefIecling liue
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 peifoinance~a iepeal lesl lakei vilh TolaI scoies vilhin 29 poinls of each olhei knovs has peifoined consislenlIy. So, lheie is IillIe ieason lo ielake lhe CMAT in lhe hope of inpioving youi scoie vilhoul sulslanliaI piepaialion. The slandaid eiioi of neasuienenl aIso gives us sone guidance on scoie inpiovenenl. Anylhing ovei 3O voids, lhiily poinls nay oi nay nol sound Iike is a Iol. 30 is |nc nagic nunocr uncn cta|ua|ing sccrcs agains| |ruc pcrfcrnancc Hating a oad daq. As CMAT leacheis, ve such, and vaIk avay vilh unieaIislicaIIy high hopes aflei a sinpIe ielake on a good day. slandaid eiioi~indicale lhal youi scoie on a good day is IikeIy lo a lad day. Iuilheinoie, if youi scoie on a good day is any highei, ils veiy, veiy unIikeIy lo le noie lhan 3O poinls highei unIess you have iaised youi skiII IeveI l a hope foi scoie inpiovenenl, lul il Iies aIong a palh paved vilh piaclice. One exceplion lo lhis iuIe is lhe off day fiie aIain, oi a lesl lakei in lhe caiieI nexl lo you ie seveieIy hindeied fion conpIeling youi lesl, you shouId piolalIy canceI youi scoie on Tesl Day. Lven if you donl canceI, you shouId iescheduIe a good shol al lhe exan.
1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 a iepeal lesl lakei vilh TolaI scoies vilhin 29 poinls of each olhei knovs has peifoined consislenlIy. 12
lheie is IillIe ieason lo ielake lhe CMAT in lhe hope of inpioving youi scoie vilhoul sulslanliaI piepaialion. The slandaid eiioi of neasuienenl aIso gives us sone guidance on scoie inpiovenenl. Anylhing ovei 3O poinls conslilules a najoi scoie inpiovenenl. hiily poinls nay oi nay nol sound Iike a Iol on lhe CMAT scoiing scaIe
30 is |nc nagic nunocr uncn cta|ua|ing sccrcs agains| |ruc pcrfcrnancc MAT leacheis, ve see appIicanls have a lad day vilh unieaIislicaIIy high hopes aloul hov nuch lheii scoie viII go up aflei a sinpIe ielake on a good day. The figuies alove~lhe 92 ieIialiIily and lhe 29 indicale lhal youi scoie on a good day is IikeIy lo le lhe sane as youi scoie on day. Iuilheinoie, if youi scoie on a good day is any highei, ils veiy, veiy unIikeIy lo le noie lhan 3O poinls highei unIess you have iaised youi skiII IeveI lhiough piepaialion. a hope foi scoie inpiovenenl, lul il Iies aIong a palh paved vilh piaclice. One exceplion lo lhis iuIe is lhe off day caused ly sickness oi a najoi disiuplion, in lhe caiieI nexl lo you ieading eveiy queslion aIoud seveieIy hindeied fion conpIeling youi lesl, you shouId piolalIy canceI youi scoie on Tesl ven if you donl canceI, you shouId iescheduIe foi anolhei dale in lhe neai fuluie lo have om/gmac/LhegmaL/gmaLbaslcs/whyrelyongmaLscores.hLm tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 a iepeal lesl lakei vilh TolaI scoies vilhin 29 poinls of each olhei knovs he oi she lheie is IillIe ieason lo ielake lhe CMAT in lhe hope of inpioving youi scoie vilhoul sulslanliaI piepaialion. The slandaid eiioi of neasuienenl aIso gives us sone guidance on poinls conslilules a najoi scoie inpiovenenl. In olhei a Iol on lhe CMAT scoiing scaIe lo you~lul il
30 is |nc nagic nunocr uncn cta|ua|ing sccrcs agains| |ruc pcrfcrnancc day, iecognize il as hov nuch lheii scoie viII go up lhe 92 ieIialiIily and lhe 29-poinl le lhe sane as youi scoie on day. Iuilheinoie, if youi scoie on a good day is any highei, ils veiy, veiy unIikeIy lo le hiough piepaialion. Theie is a najoi disiuplion, such as a ding eveiy queslion aIoud. If you aie seveieIy hindeied fion conpIeling youi lesl, you shouId piolalIy canceI youi scoie on Tesl anolhei dale in lhe neai fuluie lo have
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 Tnc gano|c rc|a|c. Mayle you had a fine day al lhe lesl, lul you gol a 69O and youie gunning foi one of lhe lop 1O oi so piogians, vheie lhe aveiage heai lhe slandaid eiioi is 29 poinls, aInosl exaclIy vondei vhelhei you shouId ganlIe on a ielake lellei. Heies a lieakdovn of lhe ganlIe ielake. Lels considei lhiee cases: 1. Say youi liue scoie IikeIy lo gel a 69O, oi cIose lo il, on a ganlIe ielake. Moieovei, you a 66O on youi ganlIe ielake as a 72O. 2. Say youi liue scoie focused on. In lhis case, necessaiiIy lecause you had a lad day, lul scoies. In lhis case, on youi ganlIe ielake, youie nosl IikeIy lo scoie al oi neai 72O. 3. Say youi liue scoie al youi c case #2. In lhis case, scoie al oi neai a 66O on youi ganlIe ielake, and youie jusl as IikeIy lo scoie undei 66O as alove 66O. Theie aie olhei possiliIilies olhei scoies. Il couId le 6OO oi 78O on lhose odds you nay vanl lo dedicale youi facl, lhe nosl IikeIy case of aII is #1. Cases #2 and #3 aie Iess IikeIy IikeIy. So, even vhen you aie 3O, 2O, oi 1O poinls shy of youi goaI, lhe ganlIe ielake is nol a pailicuIaiIy good ganlIe. The iisk schooIs viII lake youi highesl CMAT scoie. ul, eilhei vay, pioduce lhe sane scoie noie oflen lhan any olhei iesuIl vasle of line and noney. In geneiaI, o iighl nove. How to Evaluate Your Score We nov have lhe lasic facls needed lo evaIuale youi scoie good enough foi youi appIicalion. heie. ul fiisl, Iels pul evaIualing youi scoie in conlexl. On paneIs and in infoinalion sessions, lusiness schooI adnissions aIvays cIaiify lheie is nol a cul-off oi haid lhieshoId foi CMAT scoies. Theie is nol inlo any piogian, and lheie is no CMAT scoie lhal viII guaianlee adnission al any piogian. The appIicalion has nuIlipIe conponenls
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 Mayle you had a fine day al lhe lesl, lul you gol a 69O and youie gunning foi one of lhe lop 1O oi so piogians, vheie lhe aveiage scoie is jusl shy of 72O. You lhe slandaid eiioi is 29 poinls, aInosl exaclIy lhe size of lhe inciease yo ganlIe on a ielake~sinpIy lake lhe lesl again and Heies a lieakdovn of lhe ganlIe ielake. Lels considei lhiee cases: Say youi liue scoie (al youi cuiienl skiII IeveI) is 69O. In lhis case, you IikeIy lo gel a 69O, oi cIose lo il, on a ganlIe ielake. Moieovei, you O on youi ganlIe ielake as a 72O. Say youi liue scoie al youi cuiienl skiII IeveI is a 72O. This is lhe possiliIily youie focused on. In lhis case, youi 69O scoie vas sonevhal off of youi liue scoie necessaiiIy lecause you had a lad day, lul peihaps due lo slalislicaI vaiialion in scoies. In lhis case, on youi ganlIe ielake, youie nosl IikeIy lo scoie al oi neai 72O. al youi cuiienl skiII IeveI is a 66O. This case is a niiioi inage of youi 69O vas indeed a fIuke, lul in youi favoi! Y eai a 66O on youi ganlIe ielake, and youie jusl as IikeIy lo scoie undei ie aie olhei possiliIilies~youi liue scoie al youi cuiienl skiII IeveI . Il couId le 6OO oi 78O~lul lhose cases aie veiy unIikeIy (and if you Iike lo ganlIe on lhose odds you nay vanl lo dedicale youi l-schooI luilion lo pIaying lhe Iollo inslead). is #1. Cases #2 and #3 aie Iess IikeIy~and lhey aie aIso equaIIy So, even vhen you aie 3O, 2O, oi 1O poinls shy of youi goaI, lhe ganlIe ielake is nol a The iisk posed ly case #3 is sIighlIy niligaled ly lhe facl lhal nosl schooIs viII lake youi highesl CMAT scoie. ul, eilhei vay, a sliaighl-up ganlIe ielake viII pioduce lhe sane scoie noie oflen lhan any olhei iesuIl~lhe nosl IikeIy oulcone is a sinpIe In geneiaI, onIy vilh a nonlh oi lvo of fuilhei sludy How to Evaluate Your Score We nov have lhe lasic facls needed lo evaIuale youi scoie~vhelhei youi CMAT scoie is good enough foi youi appIicalion. The slandaid eiioi of aloul 3O poinls can le youi guide heie. ul fiisl, Iels pul evaIualing youi scoie in conlexl. On paneIs and in infoinalion sessions, lusiness schooI adnissions aIvays cIaiify lheie is off oi haid lhieshoId foi CMAT scoies. Theie is nol a nininun CMAT scoie lo gel inlo any piogian, and lheie is no CMAT scoie lhal viII guaianlee adnission al any piogian. The appIicalion has nuIlipIe conponenls, and ils liue lhal lusiness schooI adnissions officeis tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 Mayle you had a fine day al lhe lesl, lul you gol a 69O and youie is jusl shy of 72O. You lhe size of lhe inciease youd Iike. So you again and hope lo do is 69O. In lhis case, you aie quile ie as IikeIy lo gel is a 72O. This is lhe possiliIily youie youi 69O scoie vas sonevhal off of youi liue scoie~nol due lo slalislicaI vaiialion in scoies. In lhis case, on youi ganlIe ielake, youie nosl IikeIy lo scoie al oi neai 72O. is a 66O. This case is a niiioi inage of youi 69O vas indeed a fIuke, lul in youi favoi! Youie IikeIy lo eai a 66O on youi ganlIe ielake, and youie jusl as IikeIy lo scoie undei al youi cuiienl skiII IeveI couId le 71O, oi (and if you Iike lo ganlIe g lhe Iollo inslead). In and lhey aie aIso equaIIy So, even vhen you aie 3O, 2O, oi 1O poinls shy of youi goaI, lhe ganlIe ielake is nol a is sIighlIy niligaled ly lhe facl lhal nosl up ganlIe ielake viII lhe nosl IikeIy oulcone is a sinpIe fuilhei sludy is a ielake lhe vhelhei youi CMAT scoie is 3O poinls can le youi guide On paneIs and in infoinalion sessions, lusiness schooI adnissions aIvays cIaiify lheie is a nininun CMAT scoie lo gel inlo any piogian, and lheie is no CMAT scoie lhal viII guaianlee adnission al any piogian. and ils liue lhal lusiness schooI adnissions officeis
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 caie aloul vho you aie and oflen lhink o knov you. Theie is anolhei viev on lhe piocess: yes, youi appIicalion is a laIanced poilfoIio of CMAT, CIA, essays, and ieconnendalions lhe 2O1O ileialion of oui annuaI suivey of lusiness schooI adnissions officeis, adnissions slaff idenlified lhe CMAT as lhe nosl inpoilanl eIenenl of lhe appIicalion and aIso as lhe #1 appIicalion kiIIei. 13 Ioi noie on lhe significance of lhe CMAT and hov il fils inlo lhe lusiness schooI adnissions piocess, pIease see oui nany fiee iesouices on lhe suljecl al vvv.kapIanCMAT.con > The CMAT and Nov, lo evaIualing youi CMAT scoie. SchooIs pulIish lhe aveiage sludenls. In facl, lhis aveiage is one of lhe nain inpuls inlo schooI iankings, such as U.S. Ncus c lcr|d Rcpcr|. SinpIy pul: al lhal piogian, lhen lhal piogian viII viev youi vilh cuiienl sludenls, lhal CMAT scoie is good enough foi lhe piogian lul doesnl give you an advanlage. Youi advanlage oi disadvanlage on lhe CMAT is The aveiage al lop 1O piogians in lhis yeais iankings is CMAT is scoied in incienenls of 1O) adnissions piocess, and any scoie leIov 72O puls you al a disadvanlage.
13 kaplan 8uslness School Admlsslons Cfflcers Survey, 2010 (
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 caie aloul vho you aie and oflen lhink of lhe appIicalion piocess as an oppoilunily lo gel lo Theie is anolhei viev on lhe piocess: yes, youi appIicalion is a laIanced poilfoIio of CMAT, CIA, essays, and ieconnendalions~lul eveiylhing needs lo le peifecl. Moieovei, in n of oui annuaI suivey of lusiness schooI adnissions officeis, adnissions slaff idenlified lhe CMAT as lhe nosl inpoilanl eIenenl of lhe appIicalion and aIso as lhe #1 Ioi noie on lhe significance of lhe CMAT and hov il fils inlo lhe lusiness schooI adnissions piocess, pIease see oui nany fiee iesouices on lhe suljecl al > The CMAT and vvv.kapIanCMAT.con > usiness SchooI. ling youi CMAT scoie. SchooIs pulIish lhe aveiage CMAT scoie of lheii n facl, lhis aveiage is one of lhe nain inpuls inlo schooI iankings, such as SinpIy pul: if youi CMAT scoie is exaclIy al lhe aveiage foi sl lhal piogian viII viev youi CMAT scoie neuliaIIy. Since ils iighl on pai vilh cuiienl sludenls, lhal CMAT scoie is good enough foi lhe piogian lul doesnl give you Youi advanlage oi disadvanlage on lhe CMAT is aII ieIalive lo lhe aveiage al lhe piogian. The aveiage al lop 1O piogians in lhis yeais iankings is aloul 72O (il's lechnicaIIy 718, lul lhe CMAT is scoied in incienenls of 1O). Any scoie alove 72O gives you an advanlage in lhe ny scoie leIov 72O puls you al a disadvanlage.
kaplan 8uslness School Admlsslons Cfflcers Survey, 2010 (hLLp://blL.ly/8SchoolSurvey2010). tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 f lhe appIicalion piocess as an oppoilunily lo gel lo Theie is anolhei viev on lhe piocess: yes, youi appIicalion is a laIanced poilfoIio of lul eveiylhing needs lo le peifecl. Moieovei, in n of oui annuaI suivey of lusiness schooI adnissions officeis, adnissions slaff idenlified lhe CMAT as lhe nosl inpoilanl eIenenl of lhe appIicalion and aIso as lhe #1 Ioi noie on lhe significance of lhe CMAT and hov il fils inlo lhe lusiness schooI adnissions piocess, pIease see oui nany fiee iesouices on lhe suljecl al > usiness SchooI. CMAT scoie of lheii n facl, lhis aveiage is one of lhe nain inpuls inlo schooI iankings, such as lhose of if youi CMAT scoie is exaclIy al lhe aveiage foi sludenls Since ils iighl on pai vilh cuiienl sludenls, lhal CMAT scoie is good enough foi lhe piogian lul doesnl give you aII ieIalive lo lhe aveiage al lhe piogian. aloul 72O (il's lechnicaIIy 718, lul lhe . Any scoie alove 72O gives you an advanlage in lhe ).
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 A ru|c cf |nuno fcr cta|ua|ing |nc ccnpc|i|itcncss cf a GMAT sccrc Iielly olvious sluff so fai. The key queslion is hov nuch of an advanlage highei scoies give, and hov nuch of a disadvanlage Iovei scoies g cones in. Renenlei, CMAC says, leIov a scoie iefIecling liue peifoinance ovei 1O poinls. They aie, on lhe ol Al lhe schooI vheie 72O is lhe aveiage CMAT scoie, 75O gives a sulslanliaI advanlage, and 69O suffeis a sulslanliaI disadvanlage. Ils nol a coincidence lhal lhe 3O iuIe of lhunl appeais ove slails lo nove lhe needIe foi youi conpeliliveness pailIy lecause ils a sulslanliaI scoie inpiovenenl. And foi lhal ieason, lhe iuIe gives an eslinale of hov nuch youi scoie can inpiove. Any inpiovenenl of noie lhan 3O poin ioulineIy see inpiovenenls of 1OO and 15O poinls on lhe lesl, and sonelines noie, lul even a 3O poinl inciease is nolhing lo sneeze al. This conpIeles oui sunnaiy of lhe lesl as a vhoIe. Nexl, veII Iook al l queslion IeveI. WeII cone avay vilh a fev piaclicaI lakeavays, sone nylhs delunked, and sone delaiIs aloul lhe lesl lhal you viII le happy lo foigel in a fev nonlhs.
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 A ru|c cf |nuno fcr cta|ua|ing |nc ccnpc|i|itcncss cf a GMAT sccrc Iielly olvious sluff so fai. The key queslion is hov nuch of an advanlage highei scoies give, and hov nuch of a disadvanlage Iovei scoies give. This is vheie lhe slandaid eiioi cones in. Renenlei, CMAC says, iepoiled CMAT TolaI scoie is vilhin 29 poinls alove oi leIov a scoie iefIecling liue peifoinance. So, adnissions officeis aienl going lo spIil haiis ovei 1O poinls. They aie, on lhe olhei hand, going lo lake diffeiences of 3O poinls veiy seiiousIy. Al lhe schooI vheie 72O is lhe aveiage CMAT scoie, 75O gives a sulslanliaI advanlage, and 69O suffeis a sulslanliaI disadvanlage. Ils nol a coincidence lhal lhe 3O iuIe of lhunl appeais ovei and ovei again. Thiily poinls slails lo nove lhe needIe foi youi conpeliliveness pailIy lecause ils a sulslanliaI scoie And foi lhal ieason, lhe iuIe gives an eslinale of hov nuch youi scoie can inpiove. Any inpiovenenl of noie lhan 3O poinls is significanl. As lhe lesl piep expeils, ve ioulineIy see inpiovenenls of 1OO and 15O poinls on lhe lesl, and sonelines noie, lul even a 3O poinl inciease is nolhing lo sneeze al. conpIeles oui sunnaiy of lhe lesl as a vhoIe. Nexl, veII Iook al l queslion IeveI. WeII cone avay vilh a fev piaclicaI lakeavays, sone nylhs delunked, and sone delaiIs aloul lhe lesl lhal you viII le happy lo foigel in a fev nonlhs. tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 A ru|c cf |nuno fcr cta|ua|ing |nc ccnpc|i|itcncss cf a GMAT sccrc Iielly olvious sluff so fai. The key queslion is hov nuch of an advanlage highei scoies ive. This is vheie lhe slandaid eiioi iepoiled CMAT TolaI scoie is vilhin 29 poinls alove oi . So, adnissions officeis aienl going lo spIil haiis hei hand, going lo lake diffeiences of 3O poinls veiy seiiousIy. Al lhe schooI vheie 72O is lhe aveiage CMAT scoie, 75O gives a sulslanliaI advanlage, and 69O i and ovei again. Thiily poinls slails lo nove lhe needIe foi youi conpeliliveness pailIy lecause ils a sulslanliaI scoie And foi lhal ieason, lhe iuIe gives an eslinale of hov nuch youi scoie can ls is significanl. As lhe lesl piep expeils, ve ioulineIy see inpiovenenls of 1OO and 15O poinls on lhe lesl, and sonelines noie, lul even a conpIeles oui sunnaiy of lhe lesl as a vhoIe. Nexl, veII Iook al lhe CMAT al lhe queslion IeveI. WeII cone avay vilh a fev piaclicaI lakeavays, sone nylhs delunked, and
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 II. The Anatomy Tbe Question Types The CMAT has seveiaI lypes of Iends ilseIf lo palleins~and lhe fiequency of diffeienl queslions is lakeis' lesls. The Quanlilalive seclion is nade up Anong ioughIy 23 oi 24 of lhese queslions, aII nalh suljecls aie lesled, lul ceilain concepls aveiages, iales, and void piolIens, foi inslance The ienaining queslions on lhe nalhenalics poilion of lhe lesl aie Da queslions. These queslions, unique lo lhe CMAT, lesl youi aliIily lo deleinine vhelhei a queslion can le ansveied~even if acluaIIy finding lhal ansvei vouId le inpossilIe vilhoul a caIcuIaloi and a Iol of line. DS queslions can le fuilh yes/no queslions. The foinei infoinalion yieIding a singIe nuneiicaI possiliIily is deened sufficienl, vhiIe infoinalion peinilling nuIlipIe nuneiicaI s Iess connon, lul iequiie sIighlIy diffeienl slialegy, so iecognizing lhen vhen lhey aiise is a good vay lo loosl youi scoie. On lhese queslions, dala yieIding lhe ansveis aIvays yes and aIvays no aie sufficienl, vhiIe dala yieIding sonelines yes, sonelines no aie insufficienl. RegaidIess of lhe specific DS lype you face, nunlei piopeilies and aIgelia vilh nuIlipIe vaiialIes viII le lesled fiequenlIy. Tnc da|a sufficicncq In lhe VeilaI seclion, lhe CMAT lesls sludenls vilh lhiee lypes of queslions: CiilicaI Reasoning (CR), Senlence Coiieclion queslions aie divided noie oi Iess evenIy connon (12-14 queslions) lhan SC (14 have lheii ovn sul-lypes. CiilicaI Reasoning
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 Anatomy of a uNAT Question lypes of queslion. IoilunaleIy, lhe slandaidized foinal of lhe lesl lhe fiequency of diffeienl queslions is consislenl The Quanlilalive seclion is nade up piedoninanlIy of IiolIen SoIving 24 of lhese queslions, aII nalh suljecls aie lesled, lul ceilain concepls iales, and void piolIens, foi inslance~shov up noie oflen lhan olheis. The ienaining queslions on lhe nalhenalics poilion of lhe lesl aie Dala Sufficiency queslions. These queslions, unique lo lhe CMAT, lesl youi aliIily lo deleinine vhelhei a even if acluaIIy finding lhal ansvei vouId le inpossilIe vilhoul a DS queslions can le fuilhei divided inlo vaIue queslions and nake up aloul lvo-lhiids of DS queslions. On lhose queslions, infoinalion yieIding a singIe nuneiicaI possiliIily is deened sufficienl, vhiIe infoinalion peinilling nuIlipIe nuneiicaI soIulions is consideied insufficienl. Yes/no queslions aie Iess connon, lul iequiie sIighlIy diffeienl slialegy, so iecognizing lhen vhen lhey aiise is a On lhese queslions, dala yieIding lhe ansveis aIvays yes and s no aie sufficienl, vhiIe dala yieIding sonelines yes, sonelines no aie insufficienl. RegaidIess of lhe specific DS lype you face, nunlei piopeilies and aIgelia vilh nuIlipIe vaiialIes viII le lesled fiequenlIy. da|a sufficicncq ansucr cnciccs arc uniquc |c |nc GMAT n lhe VeilaI seclion, lhe CMAT lesls sludenls vilh lhiee lypes of queslions: CiilicaI , Senlence Coiieclion (SC), and Reading Conpiehension (RC) queslions aie divided noie oi Iess evenIy anong lhe lypes, aIlhough CR is sIighlIy Iess 14 queslions) lhan SC (14-16 queslions). RC (usuaIIy 14 queslions) and CR lypes. CiilicaI Reasoning, in pailicuIai, ievaids sludenls vho can tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 of a uNAT Question . IoilunaleIy, lhe slandaidized foinal of lhe lesl consislenl acioss aII lesl of IiolIen SoIving (IS) queslions. 24 of lhese queslions, aII nalh suljecls aie lesled, lul ceilain concepls~ shov up noie oflen lhan olheis. la Sufficiency (DS) queslions. These queslions, unique lo lhe CMAT, lesl youi aliIily lo deleinine vhelhei a even if acluaIIy finding lhal ansvei vouId le inpossilIe vilhoul a ei divided inlo vaIue queslions and On lhose queslions, infoinalion yieIding a singIe nuneiicaI possiliIily is deened sufficienl, vhiIe infoinalion Yes/no queslions aie Iess connon, lul iequiie sIighlIy diffeienl slialegy, so iecognizing lhen vhen lhey aiise is a On lhese queslions, dala yieIding lhe ansveis aIvays yes and s no aie sufficienl, vhiIe dala yieIding sonelines yes, sonelines no aie insufficienl. RegaidIess of lhe specific DS lype you face, nunlei piopeilies and aIgelia vilh nuIlipIe
n lhe VeilaI seclion, lhe CMAT lesls sludenls vilh lhiee lypes of queslions: CiilicaI (RC). The 41 veilaI aIlhough CR is sIighlIy Iess 14 queslions) and CR aIso ievaids sludenls vho can
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 dislinguish Slienglhen, Weaken, deconsliucl an aigunenl, fion I Don'l voiiy loo nuch aloul keeping counl on Tesl Day. If you've piepaied veII, you'II le ieady foi vhalevei lhe lesl has l Weaken oi an LxpIain queslion isn'l going lo heIp. ul do lhink aloul lhese piep. Say, foi exanpIe, Senlence Coiieclion and Yes/No DS queslion lioulIe. You'II face lvice as nany line shouId le aIIocaled accoidingIy Tbe Question Topics Theie is sone sluff you need lo knov lo succeed on lhe CMAT. Ioi exanpIe, on lhe CMAT youie going lo see aIgelia~lhe hov lhose vaiialIes aie nanipuIaled. Lven a iecenl coIIege giaduale doulIe advanced nalh and advanced LngIish is unIikeIy lo slail oul faniIiai vilh aII lhe lopics on lhe lesl. So a ieviev of lhe suljecl nallei, oi lopic, oi conlenl, lehind CMAT queslions is in oidei foi eveiyone. The CMAT is a lesl foi geneiaIisls. A peison vho is pielly good al aII suljecls geoneliy, nunlei piopeilies, elc nediocie al olheis, even lhough lhey gol lhe sane nunlei of queslions iighl. This can le a ieaI issue foi sone lesl lakeis, since nosl peopIe aie usuaIIy nolicealIy lellei al one aiea lhan lhe olhei. The inpIicalion is lhal you shouId sp slienglhs. Hovevei, do nol negIecl youi slienglhs, as lhey viII sliII conliilule lo youi oveiaII scoie. DeaIing vilh lopics lhey nay nol have seen foi yeais viII fieak sone sludenls oul, and lhey piepaie ly cianning as nany foinuIas and giannai iuIes inlo lheii heads as lhey can. Hovevei, lhe scope of knovIedge iequiied ly and ievaided on lhe CMAT is designed lo le as snaII as possilIe. Many CMAT lesl lakei Accounlanl (CIA) oi Chaileied knovIedge foi lhose exans. In conliasl, heies vhal lhe CMAC has lo say aloul lhe conlenl on lhe CMAT: The nalh skiIIs lesled on lhe CMAT lesl aie quile lasic. The diffi queslions slens fion lhe Iogic and anaIysis used lo soIve lhe piolIens and nol lhe undeiIying nalh skiIIs. 14
If you have aIieady legun CMAT ieviev, you nay iecoiI al lhis expIanalion and oljecl lhal lhe nalh on lhe lesl is nol so easy. Whals inpoilanl isnl vhelhei lhe conlenl is easy oi haid ils lhal ils ieIaliveIy Iiniled. In olhei voids, lhe conlenl lhal you Ieain foi lhe CMAT is jusl an
14 Offlclol ColJe to CMA1 kevlew, 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 13.
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 dislinguish Slienglhen, Weaken, Assunplion, and IIav queslions, aII of vhich lesl lhe ali fion Infeience and LxpIain queslions, vhich lesl olhei skiIIs. Don'l voiiy loo nuch aloul keeping counl on Tesl Day. If you've piepaied veII, you'II le ieady foi vhalevei lhe lesl has lo offei you, so guessing vhelhei lhe Iasl queslion viII le a LxpIain queslion isn'l going lo heIp. ul do lhink aloul lhese piopoilions as you Senlence Coiieclion and Yes/No DS queslions aie lolh giving you 'II face lvice as nany Senlence Coiieclion queslions on Tesl Day shouId le aIIocaled accoidingIy. Theie is sone sluff you need lo knov lo succeed on lhe CMAT. Ioi exanpIe, on lhe CMAT lhe Ianguage of vaiialIes, such as lhe evei-popuIai hov lhose vaiialIes aie nanipuIaled. Lven a iecenl coIIege giaduale doulIe dvanced LngIish is unIikeIy lo slail oul faniIiai vilh aII lhe lopics on lhe eviev of lhe suljecl nallei, oi lopic, oi conlenl, lehind CMAT queslions is in oidei The CMAT is a lesl foi geneiaIisls. A peison vho is pielly good al aII suljecls geoneliy, nunlei piopeilies, elc.~viII do lellei lhan one vho is veiy good al sone and nediocie al olheis, even lhough lhey gol lhe sane nunlei of queslions iighl. This can le a ieaI s, since nosl peopIe aie usuaIIy nolicealIy lellei al one aiea lhan lhe olhei. The inpIicalion is lhal you shouId spend noie line on youi veaknesses lhan youi slienglhs. Hovevei, do nol negIecl youi slienglhs, as lhey viII sliII conliilule lo youi oveiaII DeaIing vilh lopics lhey nay nol have seen foi yeais viII fieak sone sludenls oul, and as nany foinuIas and giannai iuIes inlo lheii heads as lhey can. he scope of knovIedge iequiied ly and ievaided on lhe CMAT is designed lo le as lesl lakeis al sone poinl have faced oi viII face Ceilified IulIic Chaileied IinanciaI AnaIysl (CIA) exans. You have lo alsoil a Iol of knovIedge foi lhose exans. In conliasl, heies vhal lhe CMAC has lo say aloul lhe conlenl on The nalh skiIIs lesled on lhe CMAT lesl aie quile lasic. The difficuIly of CMAT Quanlilalive queslions slens fion lhe Iogic and anaIysis used lo soIve lhe piolIens and nol lhe undeiIying If you have aIieady legun CMAT ieviev, you nay iecoiI al lhis expIanalion and oljecl lhal easy. Whals inpoilanl isnl vhelhei lhe conlenl is easy oi haid In olhei voids, lhe conlenl lhal you Ieain foi lhe CMAT is jusl an 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 13. tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 vhich lesl lhe aliIily lo lesl olhei skiIIs. Don'l voiiy loo nuch aloul keeping counl on Tesl Day. If you've piepaied veII, you'II le o offei you, so guessing vhelhei lhe Iasl queslion viII le a piopoilions as you s aie lolh giving you on Tesl Day, so youi sludy Theie is sone sluff you need lo knov lo succeed on lhe CMAT. Ioi exanpIe, on lhe CMAT popuIai x and q, and hov lhose vaiialIes aie nanipuIaled. Lven a iecenl coIIege giaduale doulIe-najoiing in dvanced LngIish is unIikeIy lo slail oul faniIiai vilh aII lhe lopics on lhe eviev of lhe suljecl nallei, oi lopic, oi conlenl, lehind CMAT queslions is in oidei The CMAT is a lesl foi geneiaIisls. A peison vho is pielly good al aII suljecls~aIgelia, y good al sone and nediocie al olheis, even lhough lhey gol lhe sane nunlei of queslions iighl. This can le a ieaI s, since nosl peopIe aie usuaIIy nolicealIy lellei al one aiea lhan lhe end noie line on youi veaknesses lhan youi slienglhs. Hovevei, do nol negIecl youi slienglhs, as lhey viII sliII conliilule lo youi oveiaII DeaIing vilh lopics lhey nay nol have seen foi yeais viII fieak sone sludenls oul, and as nany foinuIas and giannai iuIes inlo lheii heads as lhey can. he scope of knovIedge iequiied ly and ievaided on lhe CMAT is designed lo le as s al sone poinl have faced oi viII face Ceilified IulIic exans. You have lo alsoil a Iol of knovIedge foi lhose exans. In conliasl, heies vhal lhe CMAC has lo say aloul lhe conlenl on cuIly of CMAT Quanlilalive queslions slens fion lhe Iogic and anaIysis used lo soIve lhe piolIens and nol lhe undeiIying If you have aIieady legun CMAT ieviev, you nay iecoiI al lhis expIanalion and oljecl lhal easy. Whals inpoilanl isnl vhelhei lhe conlenl is easy oi haid~ In olhei voids, lhe conlenl lhal you Ieain foi lhe CMAT is jusl an
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 enliy iequiienenl, nol a success facloi. AIgelia, foi exanpIe, is sonelhing lhal you Ieai lhal you can undeisland CMAT queslions and voik youi vay aiound lhen, youie going lo gel ahead of lhe pack on lhese queslions ciilicaI lhinking nay nol have veiy nuch al aII lo do vilh knovIedge Heies a high-IeveI sunnaiy of vhal you need lo knov. On lhe Quanlilalive seclion, lhe lasic foundalions aie: 1) Aiilhnelic~fion Iong division lo nenlaI nalh, 2) AIgelia~voiking vilh vaiialIes and soIving foi lhen, and 3) Ceoneliy~foinuIas The CMAT aIso lesls sophislicaled vaiialions on a fev sinpIe equalions, such as speed, iales, and aveiages. Olhei queslions concein piolaliIily, lhe oveiIap anong IogicaI gioupings of ilens, lhe diffeienl vays lhal ilens ca as lheii faclois and nuIlipIicalion iuIes. Tnis qucs|icn rcquircs oasic |ncu|cdgc cf gccnc|rq, ou| ningcs cn |nc |qpc cf ana|qsis cnarac|cris|ic |c Da|a Sufficicncq qucs|icns The knovIedge lase iequiied foi lhe VeilaI seclion and Reading Conpiehension queslions and passages ai iequiiing no piioi knovIedge of lhe suljecls lhey discuss. iich vilh infoinalion. These passages aIleinaleIy concein lhenseIves vilh lusiness, sociaI science, and physicaI and naluiaI sciences. passages, youII nolice lhal ils consideialIy easiei lo digesl lhe passages lhal ai faniIiai lo you, lul you vonl inciease youi scoie ly ciossing youi fingeis and hoping you gel passages you'ie faniIiai vilh. Conpiehension is nasleiy of ieading ilseIf
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 enliy iequiienenl, nol a success facloi. AIgelia, foi exanpIe, is sonelhing lhal you Ieai lhal you can undeisland CMAT queslions and voik youi vay aiound lhen, youie going lo gel ahead of lhe pack on lhese queslions lhiough youi success in ciilicaI lhinking ciilicaI lhinking nay nol have veiy nuch al aII lo do vilh knovIedge of aIgelia. IeveI sunnaiy of vhal you need lo knov. On lhe Quanlilalive seclion, lhe Iong division lo nenlaI nalh, vilh vaiialIes and soIving foi lhen, and foinuIas foi lasic shapes, such as iighl liiangIes. The CMAT aIso lesls sophislicaled vaiialions on a fev sinpIe equalions, such as speed, iales, and aveiages. Olhei queslions concein piolaliIily, lhe oveiIap anong IogicaI gioupings of ilens, lhe diffeienl vays lhal ilens can le oideied oi soiled, and piopeilies of nunleis such as lheii faclois and nuIlipIicalion iuIes. Tnis qucs|icn rcquircs oasic |ncu|cdgc cf gccnc|rq, ou| ningcs cn |nc |qpc cf ana|qsis cnarac|cris|ic |c Da|a Sufficicncq qucs|icns iied foi lhe VeilaI seclion is snaIIei. CiilicaI Reasoning queslions and Reading Conpiehension queslions and passages aie designed lo le seIf iequiiing no piioi knovIedge of lhe suljecls lhey discuss. RC passages, in pailicuIai, nay le infoinalion. These passages aIleinaleIy concein lhenseIves vilh lusiness, sociaI science, and physicaI and naluiaI sciences. Once youve liied a fev Reading Conpiehension passages, youII nolice lhal ils consideialIy easiei lo digesl lhe passages lhal ai faniIiai lo you, lul you vonl inciease youi scoie ly ciossing youi fingeis and hoping you gel passages you'ie faniIiai vilh. Ralhei, lhe seciel lo high achievenenl on Reading Conpiehension is nasleiy of ieading ilseIf~aclive ieading, as ve caII il. The piacliced, aclive tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 enliy iequiienenl, nol a success facloi. AIgelia, foi exanpIe, is sonelhing lhal you Ieain jusl so lhal you can undeisland CMAT queslions and voik youi vay aiound lhen, youie going lo ciilicaI lhinking~and lhal of aIgelia. IeveI sunnaiy of vhal you need lo knov. On lhe Quanlilalive seclion, lhe The CMAT aIso lesls sophislicaled vaiialions on a fev sinpIe equalions, such as speed, iales, and aveiages. Olhei queslions concein piolaliIily, lhe oveiIap anong IogicaI gioupings n le oideied oi soiled, and piopeilies of nunleis such
Tnis qucs|icn rcquircs oasic |ncu|cdgc cf gccnc|rq, ou| ningcs cn |nc |qpc cf ana|qsis CiilicaI Reasoning queslions e designed lo le seIf-conlained, RC passages, in pailicuIai, nay le infoinalion. These passages aIleinaleIy concein lhenseIves vilh lusiness, sociaI Once youve liied a fev Reading Conpiehension passages, youII nolice lhal ils consideialIy easiei lo digesl lhe passages lhal aie aloul lopics faniIiai lo you, lul you vonl inciease youi scoie ly ciossing youi fingeis and hoping you gel , lhe seciel lo high achievenenl on Reading caII il. The piacliced, aclive
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 ieadei can digesl dense passages on conpIeleIy foieign lopics and viII consislenlIy eneige as CMAT VeilaI naslei. Senlence Coiieclion is lhe VeilaI seclion foi vhich youII WhiIe lhe Officia| Guidc is ialhei liief in sunnaiizing lhe nalh conlenl youII need lo knov foi lhe Quanl seclion, ils siIenl on such conlenl foi Senlence Coiieclion. oflen gel caughl up sludying giannai and iheloiic palleins evei, such as hononyn eiiois (e.g., effecl vs. affecl) and lhe piopei use of fiisl second-peison pionouns (e.g., if lheies a piolIen, pIease leII Rol oi I | slialegy is lo liush up on lhe specific piecise connunicalion, and voik lhiough Ioi fuilhei sludy of conlenl, h Oui 100 Hcurs GMAT S|udq P|an session desciiling hov lo appioach lhe sludy piocess. Ils avaiIalIe foi fiee al hllp://vvv.kapIanCMAT.con/lIuepiinl The Officia| Guidc conlains exlieneIy liief, lul infoinalion lhe lesl. SpecificaIIy, lhe Malh Reviev liapezoids oi conpIex poIygons on lhe lesl (lecause lhey ai lhal you nay see conlinalion and peinulalion queslions (lecause lhey aie in lhe Malh Reviev), lul lhal you viII nol see liigononeliy (lecause ils nol in lhe Malh Reviev). The Officia| Guidc Oui couises and seIf lo slail aie lhe GMAT Prcnicr CMAT Advanlage O sludieis~oi oui CMAT Advanlage couise is offeied On Sile and in oui CIassioon Anyvheie enviionnenl. A finaI nole on lhe lesls conlenl: l incIudes neasuies lo laIance lhe conlenl you see. As lhe specific nunlei of queslions of each lype, such as aiilhnelic. inpIicalions heie, and a coupIe lake a laIanced appioach lo piaclicing CMAT queslion lypes. Moie specificaIIy, youII vanl lo pIug lhe hoIes in youi piepaialion and focus on veak spo Nole, hovevei, lhal sone queslion lypes and lopics, such as peinulalions queslions, aie inheienlIy noie difficuIl. If youie scoiing al, say you vanl lo piioiilize youi sludy of lhe noie pioninenl lopics fiisl. Anolhei caveal is lhal
13 Offlclol ColJe to CMA1 kevlew, 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 106. 16 Offlclol ColJe to CMA1 kevlew, 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 8.
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 ieadei can digesl dense passages on conpIeleIy foieign lopics and viII consislenlIy eneige as Senlence Coiieclion is lhe VeilaI seclion foi vhich youII nosl IikeIy have lo liush up. is ialhei liief in sunnaiizing lhe nalh conlenl youII need lo knov foi such conlenl foi Senlence Coiieclion. Ioi lhis ieason, appIicanls oflen gel caughl up sludying giannai and iheloiic palleins lhal iaieIy appeai such as hononyn eiiois (e.g., effecl vs. affecl) and lhe piopei use of fiisl peison pionouns (e.g., if lheies a piolIen, pIease leII Rol oi I |sicj.). lhe specific giannai palleins lhal lhe CMAT lesls, focus on cIeai and voik lhiough a Iaige nunlei of ieaIislic piaclice queslions. Ioi fuilhei sludy of conlenl, heie aie a fev iesouices: 100 Hcurs GMAT S|udq P|an is an LxceI scheduIe acconpanied ly a session desciiling hov lo appioach lhe sludy piocess. Ils avaiIalIe foi fiee al hllp://vvv.kapIanCMAT.con/lIuepiinl. (hllp://anzn.lo/CMATOC), pulIished ly lhe conlains exlieneIy liief, lul infoinalion-iich, sunnaiies of vhal is incIuded on lhe lesl. SpecificaIIy, lhe Malh Reviev 15 in lhal look cIaiifies lhal you nay see liapezoids oi conpIex poIygons on lhe lesl (lecause lhey aie in lhe Malh Reviev), lhal you nay see conlinalion and peinulalion queslions (lecause lhey aie in lhe Malh Reviev), lul lhal you viII nol see liigononeliy (lecause ils nol in lhe Malh Officia| Guidc is incIuded and incoipoialed inlo oui CMAT Oui couises and seIf-sludy aids covei eveiylhing lesled on lhe CMAT. GMAT Prcnicr (hllp://anzn.lo/CMATIieniei) pulIicalion oi lhe CMAT Advanlage On Denand (hllp://lil.Iy/CMATOnDenand) oui CMAT Advanlage couise (hllp://lil.Iy/CMATAdvanlage is offeied On Sile and in oui CIassioon Anyvheie enviionnenl. on lhe lesls conlenl: lhe lesl nakeis aie expIicil lhal lhe CMAT aIgoiilhn incIudes neasuies lo laIance lhe conlenl you see. As lhe Officia| Guidc puls il, lhe lesl seIecls a specific nunlei of queslions of each lype, such as aiilhnelic. 16 Theie aie a f inpIicalions heie, and a coupIe of caveals voilh noling. The inpIicalion is lhal piaclicing CMAT queslion lypes. Moie specificaIIy, youII vanl lo pIug lhe hoIes in youi piepaialion and focus on veak spols you aie suie youII le lesled on sone queslion lypes and lopics, such as peinulalions queslions, aie . If youie scoiing al, say, a 55O IeveI, you ucn| see lhese queslions and udy of lhe noie pioninenl lopics fiisl. Anolhei caveal is lhal 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 106. 12Lh edlLlon, pg. 8. tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 ieadei can digesl dense passages on conpIeleIy foieign lopics and viII consislenlIy eneige as a have lo liush up. is ialhei liief in sunnaiizing lhe nalh conlenl youII need lo knov foi Ioi lhis ieason, appIicanls appeai on lhe lesl, if such as hononyn eiiois (e.g., effecl vs. affecl) and lhe piopei use of fiisl- and j.). The vinning , focus on cIeai and a Iaige nunlei of ieaIislic piaclice queslions. is an LxceI scheduIe acconpanied ly a iecoided session desciiling hov lo appioach lhe sludy piocess. Ils avaiIalIe foi fiee al pulIished ly lhe lesl nakeis, iich, sunnaiies of vhal is incIuded on in lhal look cIaiifies lhal you nay see e in lhe Malh Reviev), lhal you nay see conlinalion and peinulalion queslions (lecause lhey aie in lhe Malh Reviev), lul lhal you viII nol see liigononeliy (lecause ils nol in lhe Malh is incIuded and incoipoialed inlo oui CMAT piogian. sludy aids covei eveiylhing lesled on lhe CMAT. Cood pIaces ) pulIicalion oi lhe ) couise foi seIf- hllp://lil.Iy/CMATAdvanlage), vhich lhe CMAT aIgoiilhn puls il, lhe lesl seIecls a Theie aie a fev piaclicaI caveals voilh noling. The inpIicalion is lhal you vanl lo piaclicing CMAT queslion lypes. Moie specificaIIy, youII vanl lo you aie suie youII le lesled on. sone queslion lypes and lopics, such as peinulalions queslions, aie see lhese queslions and udy of lhe noie pioninenl lopics fiisl. Anolhei caveal is lhal lesl
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 lakeis anecdolaI iepoils of conlenl laIancing on lhe lesl vaiy lesl day if you see noie oi fevei of a pailicuIai lopic lhan you expecled. Patterns in Questions Civen lhe conlenl lesled on lhe CMAT, nany knov foi lhe lesl as a sel of nalh skiIIs and veilaI skiIIs, incIuding sone viiling. ul savvy lesl lakeis knov lhal lheie is noie lo lhe gane, incIuding sliess na nanagenenl. We've aIieady discussed lhe haish penaIlies Ievied againsl conpIele a seclion. Ansveiing eveiy queslion is vilaI When you ask youi liain lo speed up pasl ils con nislakes. SinpIy voiking faslei von'l heIp iaise youi scoie. The CMAT nakeis need lo pioduce a conslanl sliean of piolIens foi nev lhey can'l invenl piolIens conpIeleIy fion scialch, leyond l lhey vouId have a haid line lesling lhe slalislicaI vialiIily of lolaIIy nev queslion lypes. So, lhey use specific palleins~lhe sane lasic concepls and queslion sliucluies again. Leaining lhese palleins can le lhe fiisl session of oui couise (vhich you aie veIcone lo allend a on lhis poinl vilh CMAT Coie Conpelencies. O skiII~is pallein iecognilion. Iallein iecognilion Iels you piocess noie efficienlIy lecause you'ie deaIing vilh Iaige chunks inslead of snaII delaiIs. Tvo exanpIes: One pallein lesled fiequenlIy in Dala Sufficiency queslions is hov lo soIve a syslen of equalions. If you iecognize lhal you have nuIlipIe pioposilions aloul nuIlipIe unknovns, and you ienenlei lhe iuIe aloul needing a dislincl equalion foi eveiy vaiialIe, lhen you can quickIy asceilain sufficiency vilhoul doing any ieaI nalh. Youi liain's chunks Iaigei, you end up coveiing noie giound. Reading Conpiehension passages cone in onIy so nany fIavois. Iassages aie nevei exliene in lone, foi exanpIe, and aie nevei ficlionaI oi naiialive in naluie. AccoidingIy, lhe puipose of lhe aulhoi of a RC passage geneiaIIy is one of seven lhals lhe pallein. If you iecognize one of lhese iniliaI scan of a passage, lhe iesl of lhe passage quickIy faII if you discein a "ielul" p of a lheoiy and lhe aulhoi's oljeclions lo il. lhose poinls viII le nosl inpoilanl, and any olhei delaiIs viII le Iess diieclIy inpoilanl.
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 iepoils of conlenl laIancing on lhe lesl vaiy videIy. Donl le lhiovn off on lesl day if you see noie oi fevei of a pailicuIai lopic lhan you expecled. Civen lhe conlenl lesled on lhe CMAT, nany lesl lakeis idenlify lhe sluff lhey need lo knov foi lhe lesl as a sel of nalh skiIIs and veilaI skiIIs, incIuding sone viiling. ul savvy lesl lakeis knov lhal lheie is noie lo lhe gane, incIuding sliess nanagenenl and line nanagenenl. We've aIieady discussed lhe haish penaIlies Ievied againsl lesl lakei conpIele a seclion. Ansveiing eveiy queslion is vilaI, lul ve can'l jusl decide lo voik faslei. When you ask youi liain lo speed up pasl ils confoil IeveI, il slails lo skin and lheiely nakes nislakes. SinpIy voiking faslei von'l heIp iaise youi scoie. The CMAT nakeis need lo pioduce a conslanl sliean of piolIens foi nev lhey can'l invenl piolIens conpIeleIy fion scialch, leyond lhe olvious piolIens of voikIoad, lhey vouId have a haid line lesling lhe slalislicaI vialiIily of lolaIIy nev queslion lypes. So, lhe sane lasic concepls and queslion sliucluies~ again. Leaining lhese palleins can le aInosl as effeclive as knoving lhe ansveis in advance. In vhich you aie veIcone lo allend as a sanpIe cIass on lhis poinl vilh CMAT Coie Conpelencies. One of lhese Coie Conpelencies ein iecognilion. Iallein iecognilion Iels you piocess noie efficienlIy lecause you'ie deaIing vilh Iaige chunks inslead of snaII delaiIs. One pallein lesled fiequenlIy in Dala Sufficiency queslions is hov lo soIve a syslen ou iecognize lhal you have nuIlipIe pioposilions aloul nuIlipIe , and you ienenlei lhe iuIe aloul needing a dislincl equalion foi eveiy vaiialIe, lhen you can quickIy asceilain sufficiency vilhoul doing any ieaI nalh. Youi liain's chunks-pei-ninule iale isn'l any highei, lul since lhe chunks aie Iaigei, you end up coveiing noie giound. Reading Conpiehension passages cone in onIy so nany fIavois. Iassages aie nevei exliene in lone, foi exanpIe, and aie nevei ficlionaI oi naiialive in naluie. gIy, lhe puipose of lhe aulhoi of a RC passage geneiaIIy is one of seven If you iecognize one of lhese puiposes in lhe fiisl paiagiaph passage, lhe iesl of lhe passage quickIy faIIs inlo pIace. Ioi insl discein a "ielul" puipose, you knov lhal you viII le Iooking foi a sunnaiy lhe aulhoi's oljeclions lo il. The delaiIs and evidence ieIaled lo lhose poinls viII le nosl inpoilanl, and any olhei delaiIs viII le Iess diieclIy tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 videIy. Donl le lhiovn off on s idenlify lhe sluff lhey need lo knov foi lhe lesl as a sel of nalh skiIIs and veilaI skiIIs, incIuding sone viiling. ul savvy nagenenl and line lesl lakeis vho do nol ul ve can'l jusl decide lo voik faslei. foil IeveI, il slails lo skin and lheiely nakes The CMAT nakeis need lo pioduce a conslanl sliean of piolIens foi nev lesl lakeis. ul he olvious piolIens of voikIoad, lhey vouId have a haid line lesling lhe slalislicaI vialiIily of lolaIIy nev queslion lypes. So, ~ovei and ovei aInosl as effeclive as knoving lhe ansveis in advance. In a sanpIe cIass), ve hannei ne of lhese Coie Conpelencies~a highei-IeveI ein iecognilion. Iallein iecognilion Iels you piocess noie efficienlIy lecause One pallein lesled fiequenlIy in Dala Sufficiency queslions is hov lo soIve a syslen ou iecognize lhal you have nuIlipIe pioposilions aloul nuIlipIe , and you ienenlei lhe iuIe aloul needing a dislincl equalion foi eveiy vaiialIe, lhen you can quickIy asceilain sufficiency vilhoul doing any ieaI nalh. iale isn'l any highei, lul since lhe chunks aie Reading Conpiehension passages cone in onIy so nany fIavois. Iassages aie nevei exliene in lone, foi exanpIe, and aie nevei ficlionaI oi naiialive in naluie. gIy, lhe puipose of lhe aulhoi of a RC passage geneiaIIy is one of seven~ uiposes in lhe fiisl paiagiaph and inlo pIace. Ioi inslance, king foi a sunnaiy The delaiIs and evidence ieIaled lo lhose poinls viII le nosl inpoilanl, and any olhei delaiIs viII le Iess diieclIy
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 If youve gollen lhis fai, youve coveied lhe lasics aloul CMAT queslions. Mosl eveiyone vho lakes lhe lesl ends up faniIiai vilh lhe queslion lypes and vilh lhe nolion lhal lheie aie palleins of queslions (lhal lheie aie palleins, in facl, is one of lhe founda CMAT piep piogian). Nov veII foiay inlo Iess Every Question bas a Curve As ve sav alove, eveiy queslion has a difficuIly vhoIe sloiy in vhich gelling queslions Theies a IillIe noie lo lhis gel is an aveiage difficuIly IeveI queslion, and lhal neans lhe queslion iighl, and haIf lhe peopIe gel il viong. In a sense, foi aII lhe peopIe vho gol lhe queslion iighl, ils an easy queslion, and in lhal sane sense, ils a haid queslion foi aII lhe peopIe vho gol il viong. The difficuIly of lhe queslion can le desciiled ly lhis e iesponses, ialhei lhan jusl a nunlei. Lels lake a cIosei Iook al lhis pallein foi a 55O iepiesenlalive popuIalion of CMAT lhe iesuIls. The pallein of vho gol lhe queslion Iook sonelhing Iike lhis: A qucs|icn curtc |na| |ctc|s arcund 550
17 1hls secLlon ls based prlmarlly on spoken remarks aL Lhe 2010 CMAC 1esL rep SummlL.
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 uve gollen lhis fai, youve coveied lhe lasics aloul CMAT queslions. Mosl eveiyone vho lakes lhe lesl ends up faniIiai vilh lhe queslion lypes and vilh lhe nolion lhal lheie aie palleins of queslions (lhal lheie aie palleins, in facl, is one of lhe foundalionaI piincipIes of oui Nov veII foiay inlo Iess-liaveIed leiiiloiy. urve 17
As ve sav alove, eveiy queslion has a difficuIly IeveI. This facl is an inpoilanl pail of lhe vhoIe sloiy in vhich gelling queslions coiiecl is ievaided vilh haidei queslions. lhis sloiy. Aflei aII, ve coveied lhe facl lhal lhe fiisl queslion you difficuIly IeveI queslion, and lhal neans appioxinaleIy haIf lhe peopIe gel and haIf lhe peopIe gel il viong. In a sense, foi aII lhe peopIe vho gol lhe queslion iighl, ils an easy queslion, and in lhal sane sense, ils a haid queslion foi aII lhe The difficuIly of lhe queslion can le desciiled ly lhis e iesponses, ialhei lhan jusl a nunlei. Lels lake a cIosei Iook al lhis pallein foi a 55O-IeveI queslion. Inagine lhal a conpIele and iepiesenlalive popuIalion of CMAT lesl lakeis gol lo lango vilh lhis queslion, and ve liacked The pallein of vho gol lhe queslions iighl and viong couId, vouId, and shouId
A qucs|icn curtc |na| |ctc|s arcund 550 1hls secLlon ls based prlmarlly on spoken remarks aL Lhe 2010 CMAC 1esL rep SummlL. tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 uve gollen lhis fai, youve coveied lhe lasics aloul CMAT queslions. Mosl eveiyone vho lakes lhe lesl ends up faniIiai vilh lhe queslion lypes and vilh lhe nolion lhal lheie aie lionaI piincipIes of oui is an inpoilanl pail of lhe coiiecl is ievaided vilh haidei queslions. sloiy. Aflei aII, ve coveied lhe facl lhal lhe fiisl queslion you appioxinaleIy haIf lhe peopIe gel and haIf lhe peopIe gel il viong. In a sense, foi aII lhe peopIe vho gol lhe queslion iighl, ils an easy queslion, and in lhal sane sense, ils a haid queslion foi aII lhe The difficuIly of lhe queslion can le desciiled ly lhis enliie pallein of IeveI queslion. Inagine lhal a conpIele and s gol lo lango vilh lhis queslion, and ve liacked s iighl and viong couId, vouId, and shouId
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 Nolice lhal ve have changed vhal lhe axes sland foi in lhis giaph. We aie counling lhe peicenlage of peopIe vho gol lhe queslion coiiecl, and ve aie lhe lesl lakeis aliIily~ialhei, aliIily pIus piaclice, since ve knov a gieal deaI of piaclice goes inlo lhe lesl (noie on lhal leIov). When you counl hov nany peopIe gel lhe queslion i aII lheii diffeienl skiII IeveIs, ve end up vilh a pielly, snoolh cuive. This cuive nakes a Iol of sense vhen ve exanine lhe pails. Ovei on lhe iighl, vheie lhe aie aInosl ceilain lo gel lhe queslion coiiecl. Those i schooIs oi voik as KapIan facuIly oi lolh. On lhe Iefl, vheie lhe lhe pooI, lhe odds of gelling lhe queslion coiiecl aie aInosl zeio. IinaIIy, in lhe niddIe, lhe cuive fIallens oul. The aloul a 5O chance of gelling lhe queslion iighl, and lhals vhy lhe cuive fIallens oul al heighl coiiesponding lo lhe 5O piolaliIily. lhe fiisl queslion on lhe lesl, and soneone vho is al lhe 55O IeveI viII gel il iighl haIf of lhe line, on aveiage. AIso, lhe facl lhal lhe cuive is nice and synneliicaI indicales lhal ils laIanced lelveen peopIe gelling il iighl and peopIe gelling il viong, on lake eveiyone logelhei, haIf lhe peopIe gel il iighl. Take a Iook al lhis one. Ils a diffeienl queslion, so il has a diffeienl cuive. A qucs|icn curtc |na| |ctc|s arcund 650 Ils a siniIai shape, lul slielched and shifled lo lhe iighl. Ils a haidei leIov lhe 65O skiII IeveI is leIov lhe 5O heighl and lheiefoie has a giealei chance of gelling lhis queslion viong lhan gelling il iighl. AIso, if you Iook vheie lhe cuive IeveIs oul foi lhis one, you see lhal ils sliII al a heighl of
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 Nolice lhal ve have changed vhal lhe axes sland foi in lhis giaph. We aie counling lhe vho gol lhe queslion coiiecl, and ve aie oideiing lhose ialhei, aliIily pIus piaclice, since ve knov a gieal deaI of piaclice goes inlo lhe lesl (noie on lhal leIov). When you counl hov nany peopIe gel lhe queslion i aII lheii diffeienl skiII IeveIs, ve end up vilh a pielly, snoolh cuive. This cuive nakes a Iol of sense vhen ve exanine lhe pails. Ovei on lhe iighl, vheie lhe lesl lakeis aie veiy good, lhey aie aInosl ceilain lo gel lhe queslion coiiecl. Those individuaIs aie deslined foi lop 1O s oi voik as KapIan facuIly oi lolh. On lhe Iefl, vheie lhe lesl lakeis aie al lhe lollon of lhe pooI, lhe odds of gelling lhe queslion coiiecl aie aInosl zeio. IinaIIy, in lhe niddIe, lhe cuive fIallens oul. The 54O-, 55O-, and 56O-IeveI aloul a 5O chance of gelling lhe queslion iighl, and lhals vhy lhe cuive fIallens oul al heighl coiiesponding lo lhe 5O piolaliIily. Thal pail iefIecls vhal veve aIieady said: lhis is lhe lesl, and soneone vho is al lhe 55O IeveI viII gel il iighl haIf of lhe line, on aveiage. AIso, lhe facl lhal lhe cuive is nice and synneliicaI indicales lhal ils laIanced lelveen peopIe gelling il iighl and peopIe gelling il viong, on aveiage, vhen y logelhei, haIf lhe peopIe gel il iighl. Take a Iook al lhis one. Ils a diffeienl queslion, so il has a diffeienl cuive.
A qucs|icn curtc |na| |ctc|s arcund 650 Ils a siniIai shape, lul slielched and shifled lo lhe iighl. Ils a haidei queslion. Lveiyone leIov lhe 65O skiII IeveI is leIov lhe 5O heighl and lheiefoie has a giealei chance of gelling lhis queslion viong lhan gelling il iighl. AIso, if you Iook vheie lhe cuive IeveIs oul foi lhis one, you see lhal ils sliII al a heighl of 5O, lul lhal poilion is nov hoveiing ovei lhe 65O tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 Nolice lhal ve have changed vhal lhe axes sland foi in lhis giaph. We aie counling lhe lhose peicenlages ly ialhei, aliIily pIus piaclice, since ve knov a gieal deaI of piaclice goes inlo lhe lesl (noie on lhal leIov). When you counl hov nany peopIe gel lhe queslion iighl al aII lheii diffeienl skiII IeveIs, ve end up vilh a pielly, snoolh cuive. This cuive nakes a Iol of s aie veiy good, lhey ndividuaIs aie deslined foi lop 1O l- s aie al lhe lollon of IeveI lesl lakeis have aloul a 5O chance of gelling lhe queslion iighl, and lhals vhy lhe cuive fIallens oul al a Thal pail iefIecls vhal veve aIieady said: lhis is lhe lesl, and soneone vho is al lhe 55O IeveI viII gel il iighl haIf of lhe line, on aveiage. AIso, lhe facl lhal lhe cuive is nice and synneliicaI indicales lhal ils aveiage, vhen you
queslion. Lveiyone leIov lhe 65O skiII IeveI is leIov lhe 5O heighl and lheiefoie has a giealei chance of gelling lhis queslion viong lhan gelling il iighl. AIso, if you Iook vheie lhe cuive IeveIs oul foi lhis 5O, lul lhal poilion is nov hoveiing ovei lhe 65O skiII
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 IeveI. }usl as, foi lhe fiisl queslion, 55O vilh lhis queslion ils lhe 65O-IeveI peopIe This conveisalion is gelling faiiIy lechnicaI (ve aie avaie lhal ve al KapIan lend lo le noie inleiesled in lhe delaiIs of lhe CMAT lhan oui vaIued ieadeis), lul Iels Iook al one noie exanpIe, a liickiei one. This cuive nay appeai defo queslions cuive. Il has lhe sane lasic shape, lul slielched. Like lhe olhei ones, il has a fIal pail, and Iike lhe olhei ones, lhal fIal pail is al lhe 5O heighl. accoiding lo lhe science of lesl queslions lhese days, you nevei ieaIIy knov vhal kind of cuive a queslion is going lo have vhen youi lei have lo viile il and coIIecl lhe dala on il lo le alIe l piocess leIov). Thals liue foi lhe piaclice lesls lhal aie ieIevanl sludy looIs foi Tesl Day. If you veie lhe lesl nakei, and you had a queslion on youi ha find lhis queslion un-usefuI in sone iespecls and exlia lakeis al skiII IeveIs of 7OO and leIov. They aII aie dooned. 7OO IeveI` 2OO IeveI` They gel il viong, so lhis queslion queslion ve Iooked al did a nuch lellei jol of leIIing lhose calegoiies apail, lecause lasicaIIy aII 2OO-IeveI peopIe vho see lhal queslion gel il viong, and lasicaIIy aII 7OO NeveilheIess, Iike RudoIph lhe Red lhing. (And if you donl knov vho RudoIph is, donl voiiy, as ve discuss leIov, lhals nol lhe kind of lhing you need lo knov foi lhe CMAT.)
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 IeveI. }usl as, foi lhe fiisl queslion, 55O-IeveI peopIe had even odds of ansveiing coiieclIy, so IeveI peopIe vho aie lhe ones vilh lhe even odds. s gelling faiiIy lechnicaI (ve aie avaie lhal ve al KapIan lend lo le noie inleiesled in lhe delaiIs of lhe CMAT lhan oui vaIued ieadeis), lul Iels Iook al one noie
Tnc curtc fcr a 700-|ctc| qucs|icn This cuive nay appeai defoined al fiisl. Lels conpaie and conliasl il vilh lhe pievious queslions cuive. Il has lhe sane lasic shape, lul slielched. Like lhe olhei ones, il has a fIal pail, and Iike lhe olhei ones, lhal fIal pail is al lhe 5O heighl. ul lhis one is uaq lo lhe i accoiding lo lhe science of lesl queslions lhese days, you nevei ieaIIy knov vhal kind of cuive a queslion is going lo have vhen youi lei-nalhenalicians and voidsnilhs devise il, you jusl have lo viile il and coIIecl lhe dala on il lo le alIe lo see vhal lhe cuive is (noie on lhal piocess leIov). Thals liue foi lhe lesl nakeis, and ils liue foi us as ve do oui lesl lo viile piaclice lesls lhal aie ieIevanl sludy looIs foi Tesl Day. , and you had a queslion on youi hands vilh lhis cuive, usefuI in sone iespecls and exlia-usefuI in olheis. Iiisl, considei lhe s al skiII IeveIs of 7OO and leIov. They aII aie dooned. 7OO IeveI` 2OO IeveI` They gel il viong, so lhis queslion does nol dislinguish anong lhen veiy efficienlIy queslion ve Iooked al did a nuch lellei jol of leIIing lhose calegoiies apail, lecause lasicaIIy IeveI peopIe vho see lhal queslion gel il viong, and lasicaIIy aII 7OO-IeveIeis gel il iighl. NeveilheIess, Iike RudoIph lhe Red-Nosed Reindeei, lhis queslion is veiy good al one (And if you donl knov vho RudoIph is, donl voiiy, as ve discuss leIov, lhals nol lhe kind of lhing you need lo knov foi lhe CMAT.) Ils quile good al dislinguishing lelveen 7OO tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 IeveI peopIe had even odds of ansveiing coiieclIy, so aie lhe ones vilh lhe even odds. s gelling faiiIy lechnicaI (ve aie avaie lhal ve al KapIan lend lo le noie inleiesled in lhe delaiIs of lhe CMAT lhan oui vaIued ieadeis), lul Iels Iook al one noie vilh lhe pievious queslions cuive. Il has lhe sane lasic shape, lul slielched. Like lhe olhei ones, il has a fIal pail, lo lhe iighl. Nov, accoiding lo lhe science of lesl queslions lhese days, you nevei ieaIIy knov vhal kind of cuive devise il, you jusl o see vhal lhe cuive is (noie on lhal s, and ils liue foi us as ve do oui lesl lo viile nds vilh lhis cuive, youd usefuI in olheis. Iiisl, considei lhe lesl s al skiII IeveIs of 7OO and leIov. They aII aie dooned. 7OO IeveI` 2OO IeveI` They lend lo veiy efficienlIy. The fiisl queslion ve Iooked al did a nuch lellei jol of leIIing lhose calegoiies apail, lecause lasicaIIy IeveIeis gel il iighl. Nosed Reindeei, lhis queslion is veiy good al one (And if you donl knov vho RudoIph is, donl voiiy, as ve discuss leIov, lhals nol lhe hing lelveen 7OO-
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 and 75O-IeveI scoieis. If you Iook al lhe 7OO is iiding Iov, and lesl lakeis on lhal pail of lhe cuive aie, nosl IikeIy, going lo ansvei lhis queslion incoiieclIy. ul if youie a 75O diffeience is vhal lhis queslion is peifecl foi: once youve noved inlo a seclion and denonslialed lhal youie in lhe 7OO Iike lhis one lo heIp decide vhelhei you leIong al lhe lop oi lhe lollon of lhal iange. This queslion had a unique cuive, and lhe upshol vas il had a unique aliIily lo dislinguish lelveen sone lesl lakeis and olheis. The vhoIe poinl of lhe CMAT is lhal ils neanl lo dislinguish lelveen lhe appIicanls vho viII le alIe lo handIe lhe couisevoik al a given lusiness schooI piogian and lhe ones vho vonl. conpelilive sel in a faii and oljeclive vay. vhich is lo heIp in lhe lask of dislinguishing, and each queslion does il a IillIe lil diffeienlIy, lased on lhe shape of ils cuive. Fair and Unfair Questions If aII lhe lusiness aloul lhe cuives foIIoving piaclicaI lakeavays: 8ad qucs|icns. Hov do lhe cones lack lo lhe cuive. Iook al lhe cuive foi lhal queslion, and nuch noie nuanced infoinalion lhan neie nunleis give. Queslions lhal have nonsensicaI cuives aie lhiovn oul. |air and unfair qucs|icns. aIong vilh lhe queslion of vh liased. An exlieneIy inpoilanl consideialion in consliucling lhe CMAT (so lhe nakeis leII us) is lo nake a lesl lhal is faii lo peopIe fion diveise geogiaphies and
18 lmaglne a curve LhaL looks llke a parabola wlLh negaLlve concavl quesLlon relaLed Lo parabolas on 1esL uay, as always, when ln doubL you can consulL Lhe ever 8evlew ln Lhe Offlclol ColJe). 1hls shape has a hlgh polnL and Lhen curves downward on boLh sldes from symmeLrlcal on Lhe lefL and rlghL, llke an n" shape. lL's an odd shape for a curve, buL lL can happen. 1he people whose sklll level ls aL Lhe parabola's hlgh polnL (say, 670) are Lhe ones who geL Lhe quesLlon wrong Lhe mosL. 1hen, we head Lo Lhe lefL. 1haL parL makes sense: people aL lower sklll levels geL Lhe quesLlon rlghL less ofLen. 1he confuslng parL ls when we head Lo Lhe rlghL of Lhe LopmosL polnL. 1hose people are geL Lhe quesLlon rlghL less ofLen? 1here generally hlgher-sklll are golng Lo geL Lhe quesLlon wrong and geL penallzed. And, ln facL, a quesLlon ofLen has Lhls curve because lL has been phrased confuslngly or lnaccuraLely. lf a que small error or ground for mlslnLerpreLaLlon LhaL 700+ level LesL Lakers and falsely penallze Lhe 700 grounds-from Lhe curve-and lL never graduaLes from belng an experlmenLal quesLlon lnLo Lhe ranks of quesLlons LhaL counL Loward CMA1 scores.
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 IeveI scoieis. If you Iook al lhe 7OO-IeveI poilion of lhe axis, you can see lhal lhe cuive s on lhal pail of lhe cuive aie, nosl IikeIy, going lo ansvei lhis queslion incoiieclIy. ul if youie a 75O-scoiei, youie gelling lhis queslion iighl. TeIIing lhe diffeience is vhal lhis queslion is peifecl foi: once youve noved inlo a seclion and denonslialed lhal youie in lhe 7OO-75O iange, lhe lesl viII dish up a queslion vilh a cuive jusl heIp decide vhelhei you leIong al lhe lop oi lhe lollon of lhal iange. This queslion had a unique cuive, and lhe upshol vas il had a unique aliIily lo dislinguish s and olheis. The vhoIe poinl of lhe CMAT is lhal ils neanl lo nguish lelveen lhe appIicanls vho viII le alIe lo handIe lhe couisevoik al a given lusiness schooI piogian and lhe ones vho vonl. Ils aII aloul dislinguishing anong a conpelilive sel in a faii and oljeclive vay. Tovaid lhal goaI, each queslion has a jol vhich is lo heIp in lhe lask of dislinguishing, and each queslion does il a IillIe lil diffeienlIy,
Fair and Unfair Questions lhe lusiness aloul lhe cuives hasnl pul you inlo a deep sIunlei, lhen youII nole Hov do lhe lesl nakeis vhelhei a queslion is cIeaiIy cones lack lo lhe cuive. They coIIecl infoinalion on each individuaI queslion and Iook al lhe cuive foi lhal queslion, and~as you veve jusl seen~lhese cuives give nuch noie nuanced infoinalion lhan neie nunleis give. Queslions lhal have nonsensicaI cuives aie lhiovn oul. 18
|air and unfair qucs|icns. This poinl is siniIai lo lhe pieceding lakeavay aIong vilh lhe queslion of vhelhei queslions nighl le cuIluie-liased and gendei liased. An exlieneIy inpoilanl consideialion in consliucling lhe CMAT (so lhe s leII us) is lo nake a lesl lhal is faii lo peopIe fion diveise geogiaphies and lmaglne a curve LhaL looks llke a parabola wlLh negaLlve concavlLy (yes, Lhere ls a sllghL chance you'll see a quesLlon relaLed Lo parabolas on 1esL uay, as always, when ln doubL you can consulL Lhe ever-succlncL MaLh 1hls shape has a hlgh polnL and Lhen curves downward on boLh sldes from symmeLrlcal on Lhe lefL and rlghL, llke an n" shape. lL's an odd shape for a curve, buL lL can happen. 1he people whose sklll level ls aL Lhe parabola's hlgh polnL (say, 670) are Lhe ones who geL Lhe quesLlon wrong Lhe mosL. 1hen, Lhe lefL. 1haL parL makes sense: people aL lower sklll levels geL Lhe quesLlon rlghL less ofLen. 1he confuslng parL ls when we head Lo Lhe rlghL of Lhe LopmosL polnL. 1hose people are blqbet ln sklll level, buL Lhey ofLen? 1here's probably someLhlng wrong wlLh Lhe curve, because people who are sklll are golng Lo geL Lhe quesLlon wrong and geL penallzed. And, ln facL, a quesLlon ofLen has Lhls curve because lL has been phrased confuslngly or lnaccuraLely. lf a quesLlon ls a good 670-level quesLlon, buL has a small error or ground for mlslnLerpreLaLlon LhaL 700+ LesL Lakers are condlLloned Lo noLlce, lL may reward Lhe 670 s and falsely penallze Lhe 700 LesL Lakers. Such a quesLlon can deemed unfalr" on sclenLlflc and lL never graduaLes from belng an experlmenLal quesLlon lnLo Lhe ranks of quesLlons tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 IeveI poilion of lhe axis, you can see lhal lhe cuive s on lhal pail of lhe cuive aie, nosl IikeIy, going lo ansvei lhis scoiei, youie gelling lhis queslion iighl. TeIIing lhe diffeience is vhal lhis queslion is peifecl foi: once youve noved inlo a seclion and 75O iange, lhe lesl viII dish up a queslion vilh a cuive jusl heIp decide vhelhei you leIong al lhe lop oi lhe lollon of lhal iange. This queslion had a unique cuive, and lhe upshol vas il had a unique aliIily lo dislinguish s and olheis. The vhoIe poinl of lhe CMAT is lhal ils neanl lo nguish lelveen lhe appIicanls vho viII le alIe lo handIe lhe couisevoik al a given Ils aII aloul dislinguishing anong a Tovaid lhal goaI, each queslion has a jol lo do, vhich is lo heIp in lhe lask of dislinguishing, and each queslion does il a IillIe lil diffeienlIy, hasnl pul you inlo a deep sIunlei, lhen youII nole lhe cIeaiIy viillen` Il aII They coIIecl infoinalion on each individuaI queslion and lhese cuives give nuch noie nuanced infoinalion lhan neie nunleis give. Queslions lhal have lo lhe pieceding lakeavay~and il goes liased and gendei- liased. An exlieneIy inpoilanl consideialion in consliucling lhe CMAT (so lhe lesl s leII us) is lo nake a lesl lhal is faii lo peopIe fion diveise geogiaphies and Ly (yes, Lhere ls a sllghL chance you'll see a succlncL MaLh 1hls shape has a hlgh polnL and Lhen curves downward on boLh sldes from LhaL polnL, symmeLrlcal on Lhe lefL and rlghL, llke an n" shape. lL's an odd shape for a curve, buL lL can happen. 1he people whose sklll level ls aL Lhe parabola's hlgh polnL (say, 670) are Lhe ones who geL Lhe quesLlon wrong Lhe mosL. 1hen, Lhe lefL. 1haL parL makes sense: people aL lower sklll levels geL Lhe quesLlon rlghL less ofLen. 1he ln sklll level, buL Lhey 's probably someLhlng wrong wlLh Lhe curve, because people who are sklll are golng Lo geL Lhe quesLlon wrong and geL penallzed. And, ln facL, a quesLlon ofLen has Lhls level quesLlon, buL has a s are condlLloned Lo noLlce, lL may reward Lhe 670- on sclenLlflc and lL never graduaLes from belng an experlmenLal quesLlon lnLo Lhe ranks of quesLlons
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 lackgiounds. To give an exanpIe: a V nenleis of oui lean skin niIk. As il so happens, vhiIe lhe lein skin niIk is ieadiIy undeislood in lhe Slales, il does nol caiiy equaI neaning in Indi slake in lhe queslion had nolhing lo do vilh lhe aigunenl, lhe aigunenls concIusion, ils ciilicaI assunplions, oi anylhing sulslanliaIIy ieIaled lo lhe queslions coiiecl ansvei. ul seeing a foieign expiession in lhe fiis lhe queslion vas disliacling lo lhal lesl lakeis fion lhe U.S. didnl have lo suffei, and lheiefoie vas~il vas unfaii. The lesl nakeis avoid nany such inequilies lhiough diI can aIso spol and eiadicale unfaii queslions using lhe cuives can coIIecl lhe cuive foi a pailicuIai queslion, so can lhey coIIecl lhe cuive foi lhal queslion foi a pailicuIai gioup and conducl anaIysis caIIed DiffeienliaI Ilen Iunclioning (DII) exanpIe, lhey see lhal Indians aie gelling lhe skin niIk queslion viong noie lhan lhey shouId le, al aII of lhe diffeienl skiII IeveIs of lhe Indian ieexanine lhal queslion and uncovei lhe poinl of cuIluiaI lias if il hadnl leen picked up lhiough hunan ieviev iniliaIIy. 19 Not All Questions are Wortb tbe Same Have you hailoied a conviclion aII aIong lhal sone CMAT queslions aie voilh noie lhan olheis` If so, you have leen iighl, al Ieasl vagueIy. queslion has a diffeienl cuive. Lach is unique in ils aliIily lo sIice and dice And so il nakes sense lhal each queslion has a diffeienl oppoil sav a queslion alove lhal had a cuive peifeclIy consliucled lo dislinguish 7OO fion 75O-IeveI scoieis. If you aie a 75O lhe nosl inpoilanl queslions you running sccrc |nan |nc prcticus cr fc||cuing qucs|icn ui||. voiking lo lieak 7OO al lhis poinl, lhal pailicuIai queslion is of IillIe ieIevance lo you: if y il (and you nay nol) you can gel il viong and doing so vouId nol do nuch lo huil youi goaI of scoiing 7OO+. Lels ieluin lo lhe fiisl len queslions. queslions heIps deleinine youi iough pIacenenl on discussed hov queslions appeaiing Ialei on lhe exan can le quile inpoilanl, as veII. The cuives heIp expIain lolh poinls. Many of lhe queslions neai lhe leginning of lhe exan viII have cuives designed lo sepaiale 6OO fi
19 And so, lf you don'L know who 8udolph Lhe 8ed know lL for Lhe CMA1 any more Lhan you need Lo know Lhe Lhree prlmary medlclnal uses of glnseng.
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 lackgiounds. To give an exanpIe: a VI of Reseaich al CMAC once naiialed nenleis of oui lean lhal a piioi CiilicaI Reasoning queslion on lhe lesl conceined As il so happens, vhiIe lhe lein skin niIk is ieadiIy undeislood in lhe Slales, il does nol caiiy equaI neaning in India. Moieovei, lhe kind of niIk al slake in lhe queslion had nolhing lo do vilh lhe aigunenl, lhe aigunenls concIusion, ils ciilicaI assunplions, oi anylhing sulslanliaIIy ieIaled lo lhe queslions coiiecl ansvei. ul seeing a foieign expiession in lhe fiis lhe queslion vas disliacling lo sone Indian lesl lakeis. Thal disliaclion vas one lhal lesl lakeis fion lhe U.S. didnl have lo suffei, and lheiefoie~
nany such inequilies lhiough diIigence and connon sense, lul lhey can aIso spol and eiadicale unfaii queslions using lhe cuives ve discussed alove can coIIecl lhe cuive foi a pailicuIai queslion, so can lhey coIIecl lhe cuive foi lhal queslion foi ducl anaIysis caIIed DiffeienliaI Ilen Iunclioning (DII) lhey see lhal Indians aie gelling lhe skin niIk queslion viong noie lhan lhey shouId le, al aII of lhe diffeienl skiII IeveIs of lhe Indian lesl lakeis, lhey have lhe oppoilunil ieexanine lhal queslion and uncovei lhe poinl of cuIluiaI lias if il hadnl leen picked up 19
Not All Questions are Wortb tbe Same Have you hailoied a conviclion aII aIong lhal sone CMAT queslions aie voilh noie lhan , you have leen iighl, al Ieasl vagueIy. We sav in oui exaninalion alove lhal each queslion has a diffeienl cuive. Lach is unique in ils aliIily lo sIice and dice lesl lakei And so il nakes sense lhal each queslion has a diffeienl oppoilunily lo inpacl youi scoie. We sav a queslion alove lhal had a cuive peifeclIy consliucled lo dislinguish 7OO IeveI scoieis. If you aie a 75O-IeveI scoiei, oi aspiie lo le, lhal queslion nay le one of lhe nosl inpoilanl queslions you see on Tesl Day. || ui|| ac|ua||q crca|c a |argcr suing in qcur running sccrc |nan |nc prcticus cr fc||cuing qucs|icn ui||. MeanvhiIe, if you aie a 68O scoiei voiking lo lieak 7OO al lhis poinl, lhal pailicuIai queslion is of IillIe ieIevance lo you: if y il (and you nay nol) you can gel il viong and doing so vouId nol do nuch lo huil youi goaI of Lels ieluin lo lhe fiisl len queslions. As veve aIieady discussed, lhe fiisl seiies of queslions heIps deleinine youi iough pIacenenl on lhe difficuIly scaIe. discussed hov queslions appeaiing Ialei on lhe exan can le quile inpoilanl, as veII. The cuives heIp expIain lolh poinls. Many of lhe queslions neai lhe leginning of lhe exan viII have cuives designed lo sepaiale 6OO fion 4OO, 65O fion 6OO, 67O fion 63O, and so on. ul aII of lhese And so, lf you don'L know who 8udolph Lhe 8ed-nosed 8elndeer ls, you can breaLhe easy. ?ou don'L n know lL for Lhe CMA1 any more Lhan you need Lo know Lhe Lhree prlmary medlclnal uses of glnseng. tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 I of Reseaich al CMAC once naiialed lo queslion on lhe lesl conceined As il so happens, vhiIe lhe lein skin niIk is ieadiIy undeislood in he kind of niIk al slake in lhe queslion had nolhing lo do vilh lhe aigunenl, lhe aigunenls concIusion, ils ciilicaI assunplions, oi anylhing sulslanliaIIy ieIaled lo lhe queslions coiiecl ansvei. ul seeing a foieign expiession in lhe fiisl fev voids of . Thal disliaclion vas one ~hovevei snaII il igence and connon sense, lul lhey ve discussed alove. }usl as lhey can coIIecl lhe cuive foi a pailicuIai queslion, so can lhey coIIecl lhe cuive foi lhal queslion foi ducl anaIysis caIIed DiffeienliaI Ilen Iunclioning (DII). And if, foi lhey see lhal Indians aie gelling lhe skin niIk queslion viong noie lhan lhey shouId s, lhey have lhe oppoilunily lo ieexanine lhal queslion and uncovei lhe poinl of cuIluiaI lias if il hadnl leen picked up Have you hailoied a conviclion aII aIong lhal sone CMAT queslions aie voilh noie lhan We sav in oui exaninalion alove lhal each lesl lakei aliIily. unily lo inpacl youi scoie. We sav a queslion alove lhal had a cuive peifeclIy consliucled lo dislinguish 7OO-IeveI scoieis IeveI scoiei, oi aspiie lo le, lhal queslion nay le one of || ui|| ac|ua||q crca|c a |argcr suing in qcur if you aie a 68O scoiei voiking lo lieak 7OO al lhis poinl, lhal pailicuIai queslion is of IillIe ieIevance lo you: if you see il (and you nay nol) you can gel il viong and doing so vouId nol do nuch lo huil youi goaI of As veve aIieady discussed, lhe fiisl seiies of lhe difficuIly scaIe. And veve aIso discussed hov queslions appeaiing Ialei on lhe exan can le quile inpoilanl, as veII. The cuives heIp expIain lolh poinls. Many of lhe queslions neai lhe leginning of lhe exan viII have on 4OO, 65O fion 6OO, 67O fion 63O, and so on. ul aII of lhese nosed 8elndeer ls, you can breaLhe easy. ?ou don'L need Lo know lL for Lhe CMA1 any more Lhan you need Lo know Lhe Lhree prlmary medlclnal uses of glnseng.
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 queslions have diffeienl svings. lig svings Ialei in a seclion. As ve discussed, a queslions cuive is difficuIl lo pie you nay face lig svings lhiough a iesuIl of iandonness. And lheie is eveiy possiliIily lhal queslions vilh Iaigei svings aie inseiled ly lhe slalenenl fion CMAC nakes noie sense: accoiding lo lheii difficuIly and olhei slalislicaI piopeilies, nol accoiding lo lheii posilion in lhe lesl. 2O The cuives aie key, nol a queslions pIacenenl You have onIy one choice: give eveiy queslion a faii Iook. Cive easy quick Iook foi pilfaIIs. e open lo guessing on haidei leIov). Take a laIanced appioach lo line loo quick lo counl any queslion as one youII def Experimental Questions- A connon queslion aloul lhe CMAT is, Hov can I iecognize expeiinenlaI queslions` The ansvei, unfoilunaleIy, is you can'l. Like aII slandaidized lesl nakei ils scoies aie faii, accuiale, and ieIialIe. The lechniques, queslion lypes, and suljecls need lo le lesled on a ieguIai lasis. Thus, each lakei viII face a fev non-scoied queslions lhal lhe CMAC viII use lo heIp caIiliale fuluie lesls. In lhe Iingo lhal ve have jusl discussed alove, lhe infoinalion aloul a nev queslion lo knov vhal ils cuive is Iegilinale shape, and aIso lo knov lhe queslions difficuIly. Those queslions can appeai anyvheie and lake any foinal. In olhei voids, lhey don'l have any dislinguishing fealuies. If expeiinenlaI you aie dooned lo faiIuie. Aflei aII, as candidales foi incIusion on lhe lesl, expeiinenlaI queslions aie neanl lo le equaI lo aII olhei queslions on lhe lesl. And geneiaIIy lhey viII le lhe sane oi viII le cIose. In lhis iespecl, lhe lein lhal lhe CMA expeiinenlaI queslions~liiaI queslions The lesl piaclice is lo foigel as if il counls, slay focused on lhe piolIen in fionl of you peifoinance.
20 hLLp://www.mba.com/Lhe-gmaL/LesL
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 queslions have diffeienl svings. Theie aie ieasons lo suspecl lhal you nighl see lig svings Ialei in a seclion. As ve discussed, a queslions cuive is difficuIl lo pie you nay face lig svings lhiough a iesuIl of iandonness. And lheie is eveiy possiliIily lhal queslions vilh Iaigei svings aie inseiled ly lhe lesl nakei Ialei on inlenlionaIIy. Nov lhis slalenenl fion CMAC nakes noie sense: The queslions in an adaplive lesl aie veighled accoiding lo lheii difficuIly and olhei slalislicaI piopeilies, nol accoiding lo lheii posilion in lhe The cuives aie key, nol a queslions pIacenenl pcr sc. You have onIy one choice: give eveiy queslion a faii Iook. Cive easy-Iooking queslions a quick Iook foi pilfaIIs. e open lo guessing on haidei-Iooking queslions (noie on lhal slialegy Take a laIanced appioach lo line-nanagenenl (noie on lhal slialegy, aIso). loo quick lo counl any queslion as one youII definileIy gel iighl oi definileIy gel viong. -tbe Wbat and tbe Wby A connon queslion aloul lhe CMAT is, Hov can I iecognize expeiinenlaI queslions` The ansvei, unfoilunaleIy, is you can'l. lesl nakeis, lhe CMAC needs nounlains of slalislicaI dala lo ensuie ils scoies aie faii, accuiale, and ieIialIe. The lesl nakei can'l ieIy soIeIy on pasl queslions lechniques, queslion lypes, and suljecls need lo le lesled on a ieguIai lasis. Thus, each scoied queslions lhal lhe CMAC viII use lo heIp caIiliale fuluie lesls. In lhe Iingo lhal ve have jusl discussed alove, lhe lesl nakeis need lo coIIecl enough infoinalion aloul a nev queslion lo knov vhal ils cuive is~lo nake suie lhal lhe cuive Iegilinale shape, and aIso lo knov lhe queslions difficuIly. Those queslions can appeai anyvheie and lake any foinal. In olhei voids, lhey don'l have f you engage in lhe lusiness of guessing vhal you aie dooned lo faiIuie. Aflei aII, as candidales foi incIusion on lhe lesl, expeiinenlaI queslions aie neanl lo le equaI lo aII olhei queslions on lhe lesl. And geneiaIIy lhey viII le lhe sane oi viII le cIose. In lhis iespecl, lhe lein lhal lhe CMAC uses lo desciile liiaI queslions~is noie accuiale. is lo foigel lhal expeiinenlaI oi liiaI queslions exisl. Tieal eveiy queslion il counls, slay focused on lhe piolIen in fionl of you, and pace youiseIf f gmaL/LesL-sLrucLure-and-overvlew/formaL-and-Llmlng.aspx tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 see queslions vilh lig svings Ialei in a seclion. As ve discussed, a queslions cuive is difficuIl lo pie-engineei, so you nay face lig svings lhiough a iesuIl of iandonness. And lheie is eveiy possiliIily lhal Ialei on inlenlionaIIy. Nov lhis lesl aie veighled accoiding lo lheii difficuIly and olhei slalislicaI piopeilies, nol accoiding lo lheii posilion in lhe ooking queslions a Iooking queslions (noie on lhal slialegy nanagenenl (noie on lhal slialegy, aIso). Donl le inileIy gel iighl oi definileIy gel viong. A connon queslion aloul lhe CMAT is, Hov can I iecognize expeiinenlaI queslions` needs nounlains of slalislicaI dala lo ensuie can'l ieIy soIeIy on pasl queslions~nev lechniques, queslion lypes, and suljecls need lo le lesled on a ieguIai lasis. Thus, each lesl scoied queslions lhal lhe CMAC viII use lo heIp caIiliale fuluie lesls. s need lo coIIecl enough lo nake suie lhal lhe cuive is a Those queslions can appeai anyvheie and lake any foinal. In olhei voids, lhey don'l have engage in lhe lusiness of guessing vhal queslions aie you aie dooned lo faiIuie. Aflei aII, as candidales foi incIusion on lhe lesl, expeiinenlaI queslions aie neanl lo le equaI lo aII olhei queslions on lhe lesl. And geneiaIIy C uses lo desciile queslions exisl. Tieal eveiy queslion , and pace youiseIf foi naxinun
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 III. Piactice anu Peifoimance Pacing tbrougbout tbe Section The CMAT is a lesl of lolh accuiacy and speed. Theie is a sulslanliaI penaIly foi nol finishing a seclion, as veve seen. ul lheie lhe lesl nakeis aie cIeai lhal lhe lesl has leen designed nol lo le a iace: The CMAT is oplinaIIy lined so lhal nosl lesl lakeis do finish lhe fiisl line lhey sil foi lhe lesl. Those vho don'l oflen ielake lhe exan, and aInosl aII do finish l You vanl lo le anong lhe gioup lhal finishes lhe lesl lhe fiisl line you lake il. AIso, leyond sinpIy ansveiing eveiy queslion laking lhe lesl loo quickIy (vhich does happen), you vanl lo f naxinun possilIe scoie. Spcnding cx|ra |inc a| |nc ocginning cf a scc|icn can |cad |c fai|urc a| |nc cnd cf |nc scc|icn You can pace youiseIf on lolh lhe dividing lhe seclion inlo lhiee pails: lhe fiisl len queslions, lhe Iasl len queslions, and eveiylhing in lelveen. Lach pail has ils ovn slialegy.
1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 Piactice anu Peifoimance Pacing tbrougbout tbe Section he CMAT is a lesl of lolh accuiacy and speed. Theie is a sulslanliaI penaIly foi nol , as veve seen. ul lheie is no need lo lhink of lhe CMAT as a i s aie cIeai lhal lhe lesl has leen designed nol lo le a iace: The CMAT is oplinaIIy lined so lhal nosl lesl lakeis do finish lhe fiisl line lhey sil foi lhe lesl. Those vho don'l oflen ielake lhe exan, and aInosl aII do finish lhe second line. You vanl lo le anong lhe gioup lhal finishes lhe lesl lhe fiisl line you lake il. AIso, leyond sinpIy ansveiing eveiy queslion~possilIy vilh sone sIoppy guesses neai lhe end laking lhe lesl loo quickIy (vhich does happen), you vanl lo finish lhe lesl on line foi youi Spcnding cx|ra |inc a| |nc ocginning cf a scc|icn can |cad |c fai|urc a| |nc cnd cf |nc scc|icn on lolh lhe Quanlilalive and VeilaI seclions, lioadIy speaking, seclion inlo lhiee pails: lhe fiisl len queslions, lhe Iasl len queslions, and eveiylhing in lelveen. Lach pail has ils ovn slialegy. hLLp://www.gmac.com/gmac/newsandLvenLs/CMnews/2011/!an/uemysLlfylng-Lhe-CMA1-AlloLLed tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 he CMAT is a lesl of lolh accuiacy and speed. Theie is a sulslanliaI penaIly foi nol is no need lo lhink of lhe CMAT as a iace. In facl, The CMAT is oplinaIIy lined so lhal nosl lesl lakeis do finish lhe fiisl line lhey sil foi lhe lesl. he second line. 21
You vanl lo le anong lhe gioup lhal finishes lhe lesl lhe fiisl line you lake il. AIso, possilIy vilh sone sIoppy guesses neai lhe end~oi inish lhe lesl on line foi youi
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 Tnc firs| |cn qucs|icns. you need lo pace youiseIf on lhe fiis IikeIy lo pioduce sone Iaige svings in youi scoie, lul you viII see Iaigei svings Ialei on, and ils inpoilanl lo finish jusl as sliong as you slail. The lhene of lhese len queslions: pioceed diIigenlIy, k eiiois. Tnc nidd|c scgncn|. ceilain find sone chaIIenges in lhis segnenl. Mosl lesl lakeis viII lop oul. Topping oul neans lhal you viII le una and you viII legin lo hovei aiound youi skiII IeveI, gelling aloul haIf iighl and haIf viong. The gieal dangei al lhis poinl in lhe lesl is lhal you viII feeI you oughl lo le alIe lo gel eveiy piolIen and you viII Since line spenl heie cones oul of piolIens voiked Ialei, lhis can le dangeious, and so you nusl do sone guessing, jusl lo keep il going. IoilunaleIy, if youve ludgeled youi ninules veII, you viII have sone line lo gi lhoughl. The lhene of lhe niddIe segnenl: slay on pace, keep youi noiaIe high, and nake shievd guesses vheie necessaiy. Tnc fina| |cn qucs|icns iings. Heie you nusl pic one oi lvo queslions in a iov. need lo nake, ialhei lhan saving lhen foi a seiies al lhe end. (Moie on guesses in a nonenl.) Doing so viII incieas lhe odds of accidenlaIIy iunning oul of line, and nosl IikeIy ieduce lhe scoie diop fion queslions ansveied incoiieclIy. The lhene of lhis segnenl: choose youi queslions, and finish on line. Nov youie done. Youve naxinized youi payoff. Il can le exciling selling a pace and slicking lo il, and guessing on lhe slickiesl queslions can ieduce youi anxiely and fiuslialion. Lels laIk liiefIy aloul lhe ail and science of guessing on lhe CMAT. Cuessing Tiying eveiy queslion on a seclion lhoioughIy is nol knov lhe ieIevanl pallein, and sonelines one cannol gel lhiough lhe caIcuIalions quickIy enough. These silualions caII foi guessing. Nolody Iikes lo guess. Il feeIs Ii of il as a ieinveslnenl of iesouices. If you spend foui ninules on a piolIen, il's piolalIy lecause you don'l undeisland il and you viII piolalIy gel il viong. Whal if you had iecognized lhal you veien'l going lo gel il aflei 3O seconds of effoil` You vouId guess, and you nighl sliII gel il viong, lul you vouId definileIy have lhiee
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 Tnc firs| |cn qucs|icns. Civen vhal veve coveied alove, you nov knov eveiylhing you need lo pace youiseIf on lhe fiisl len queslions. To iecap: lhe fiisl queslions aie IikeIy lo pioduce sone Iaige svings in youi scoie, lul you viII see Iaigei svings Ialei on, and ils inpoilanl lo finish jusl as sliong as you slail. The lhene of lhese len queslions: pioceed diIigenlIy, keep an eye oul foi pilfaIIs, and avoid pievenlalIe RegaidIess of hov lhe fiisl len queslions go, youie aInosl ceilain find sone chaIIenges in lhis segnenl. Mosl lesl lakeis viII lop oul. Topping oul neans lhal you viII le unalIe lo soIve any noie difficuIl piolIens and you viII legin lo hovei aiound youi skiII IeveI, gelling aloul haIf iighl and haIf viong. The gieal dangei al lhis poinl in lhe lesl is lhal you viII feeI you oughl lo le alIe lo gel eveiy piolIen and you viII spend loo nuch line on sone of lhen. Since line spenl heie cones oul of piolIens voiked Ialei, lhis can le dangeious, and so you nusl do sone guessing, jusl lo keep il going. IoilunaleIy, if youve ludgeled youi ninules veII, you viII have sone line lo give youi guesses a IillIe The lhene of lhe niddIe segnenl: slay on pace, keep youi noiaIe high, guesses vheie necessaiy. Tnc fina| |cn qucs|icns aie lhe hone slielch. Youie liying lo finish lefoie lhe leII iings. Heie you nusl pick youi queslions. Make an effoil nol lo guess on noie lhan one oi lvo queslions in a iov. As line diavs nigh, aIleinale any guesses lhal you need lo nake, ialhei lhan saving lhen foi a seiies al lhe end. (Moie on guesses in a nonenl.) Doing so viII inciease youi oplions lo soIve vilhoul guessing, deciease lhe odds of accidenlaIIy iunning oul of line, and nosl IikeIy ieduce lhe scoie diop fion queslions ansveied incoiieclIy. The lhene of lhis segnenl: choose youi queslions, and finish on line. one. Youve naxinized youi payoff. Il can le exciling selling a pace and slicking lo il, and guessing on lhe slickiesl queslions can ieduce youi anxiely and fiuslialion. Lels laIk liiefIy aloul lhe ail and science of guessing on lhe CMAT. queslion on a seclion lhoioughIy is nol aIvays possilIe. Sonelines one does nol knov lhe ieIevanl pallein, and sonelines one cannol gel lhiough lhe caIcuIalions quickIy caII foi guessing. Nolody Iikes lo guess. Il feeIs Iike giving up. ul lhal's lhe viong vay lo Iook al il. Think of il as a ieinveslnenl of iesouices. If you spend foui ninules on a piolIen, il's piolalIy lecause you don'l undeisland il and you viII piolalIy gel il viong. Whal if you had veien'l going lo gel il aflei 3O seconds of effoil` You vouId guess, and you nighl sliII gel il viong, lul you vouId definileIy have lhiee-and-a-haIf ninules lo invesl on tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 Civen vhal veve coveied alove, you nov knov eveiylhing l len queslions. To iecap: lhe fiisl queslions aie IikeIy lo pioduce sone Iaige svings in youi scoie, lul you viII see Iaigei svings Ialei on, and ils inpoilanl lo finish jusl as sliong as you slail. The lhene of lhese eep an eye oul foi pilfaIIs, and avoid pievenlalIe RegaidIess of hov lhe fiisl len queslions go, youie aInosl ceilain find sone chaIIenges in lhis segnenl. Mosl lesl lakeis viII lop oul. lIe lo soIve any noie difficuIl piolIens and you viII legin lo hovei aiound youi skiII IeveI, gelling aloul haIf iighl and haIf viong. The gieal dangei al lhis poinl in lhe lesl is lhal you viII feeI you oughl lo le spend loo nuch line on sone of lhen. Since line spenl heie cones oul of piolIens voiked Ialei, lhis can le dangeious, and so you nusl do sone guessing, jusl lo keep il going. IoilunaleIy, if youve ve youi guesses a IillIe The lhene of lhe niddIe segnenl: slay on pace, keep youi noiaIe high, aie lhe hone slielch. Youie liying lo finish lefoie lhe leII k youi queslions. Make an effoil nol lo guess on noie lhan As line diavs nigh, aIleinale any guesses lhal you need lo nake, ialhei lhan saving lhen foi a seiies al lhe end. (Moie on guesses in a e youi oplions lo soIve vilhoul guessing, deciease lhe odds of accidenlaIIy iunning oul of line, and nosl IikeIy ieduce lhe scoie diop fion queslions ansveied incoiieclIy. The lhene of lhis segnenl: choose youi one. Youve naxinized youi payoff. Il can le exciling selling a pace and slicking lo il, and guessing on lhe slickiesl queslions can ieduce youi anxiely and fiuslialion. nol aIvays possilIe. Sonelines one does nol knov lhe ieIevanl pallein, and sonelines one cannol gel lhiough lhe caIcuIalions quickIy ke giving up. ul lhal's lhe viong vay lo Iook al il. Think of il as a ieinveslnenl of iesouices. If you spend foui ninules on a piolIen, il's piolalIy lecause you don'l undeisland il and you viII piolalIy gel il viong. Whal if you had veien'l going lo gel il aflei 3O seconds of effoil` You vouId guess, and you haIf ninules lo invesl on
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 olhei piolIens. Wilh lhal nuch line, you nighl have gollen lvo oi lhiee noie coiiecl. nel gain. Whal is lhe naxinun anounl of line lhal you shouId spend on a piolIen` The aveiage anounl of line you shouId spend on a nalh piolIen is lvo ninules. You piolalIy spend Iess lhan lvo ninules on sone, so you can affoid lo spend noie lhan Iinil, Iel us say you shouId spend no noie lhan lhiee ninules on a nalh piolIen. If you can leII lhal you piolalIy von'l gel a nalh piolIen iighl vilhin lhiee ninules vhen you Iook al il, lhen you shouId guess iighl avay. y lhe sane Iogic, lhe uppei Iinil on Senlence Coiieclions shouId le lvo ninules, on CiilicaI Reasoning piolIens, lhiee ninules and on Reading Conp queslions, lvo ninules. Once you hil lhe uppei Iinil you shouId sliongIy Iean lovaid guessing, unIess you aie seconds avay fion an ansvei. You nusl knov vhen lo cul youi Iosses. Sone guessing slialegies: 8q Da|a Sufficicncq ansucr cnciccs. as iich oi pooi in dala. Does lhe slen incIude nuch dala` dala slalenenls appeai` iich queslions, and vilhin ansvei choices C, L foi lhe dala 8q Rcading Ccnprcncnsicn |cnc and nain idca. opinion in a Reading Con nake faii-odds guesses on aII Reading Conpiehension queslions. Do lhis ly nalching vhal you have Ieained aloul lone and nain idea vilh lhe ansvei choices~even ansvei choices in DelaiI queslions lhal y ieseaich. Ioi exanpIe, lhe coiiecl ansvei lo a queslion aloul a passage lhal is neuliaI in lone is unIikeIy lo iefIecl a sliong opinion. 8q pa||crn rcccgni|icn. queslion, oi one you donl have line foi, lo a queslion you have seen al youi Ieisuie duiing piaclice, and nake a guess accoidingIy. 8q c|inina|ing |nc inpcssio|c. allenpl lo idenlify al Ieasl one ansvei choice lhal nusl l on a queslion aloul speed, dislance and line, you nighl le alIe lo caIcuIale lhal a pailicuIai ansvei choice is nol fasl oi fai enough, vilhoul doing lhe exacl nalh. LIininaling one ansvei choice nay even heIp you eIininale anolh aIso guide youi lhinking in vhich of lhe possilIe ansvei choices is lhe nosl piolalIe one. Think of guessing as pail of lhe CMAT gane, nol as any iefIeclion on youi aliIilies. You alsoIuleIy, unequivocaIIy can nake guesses on lolh Quanlilal
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 olhei piolIens. Wilh lhal nuch line, you nighl have gollen lvo oi lhiee noie coiiecl. Whal is lhe naxinun anounl of line lhal you shouId spend on a piolIen` The aveiage anounl of line you shouId spend on a nalh piolIen is lvo ninules. You piolalIy spend Iess lhan lvo ninules on sone, so you can affoid lo spend noie lhan lvo on sone. As an uppei Iinil, Iel us say you shouId spend no noie lhan lhiee ninules on a nalh piolIen. If you can leII lhal you piolalIy von'l gel a nalh piolIen iighl vilhin lhiee ninules vhen you Iook al il, lhen you shouId guess iighl avay. ne Iogic, lhe uppei Iinil on Senlence Coiieclions shouId le lvo ninules, on CiilicaI Reasoning piolIens, lhiee ninules and on Reading Conp queslions, lvo ninules. Once you hil lhe uppei Iinil you shouId sliongIy Iean lovaid guessing, unIess you aie seconds avay fion an ansvei. You nusl knov vhen lo cul youi Iosses. 8q Da|a Sufficicncq ansucr cnciccs. Allenpl lo calegoiize a dala sufficiency qu as iich oi pooi in dala. Does lhe slen incIude nuch dala` Hov pionising do lhe slalenenls appeai` Then guess vilhin ansvei choices A, , and D foi lhe dala iich queslions, and vilhin ansvei choices C, L foi lhe dala-pooi queslions. 8q Rcading Ccnprcncnsicn |cnc and nain idca. If you have gauged lhe degiee of opinion in a Reading Conpiehension passage, and possilIy lhe nain idea, you can odds guesses on aII Reading Conpiehension queslions. Do lhis ly nalching vhal you have Ieained aloul lone and nain idea vilh lhe ansvei even ansvei choices in DelaiI queslions lhal you do nol have line lo ieseaich. Ioi exanpIe, lhe coiiecl ansvei lo a queslion aloul a passage lhal is neuliaI in lone is unIikeIy lo iefIecl a sliong opinion. 8q pa||crn rcccgni|icn. As ve discussed alove, you can allenpl lo conpaie a lough ne you donl have line foi, lo a queslion you have seen al youi Ieisuie duiing piaclice, and nake a guess accoidingIy. 8q c|inina|ing |nc inpcssio|c. On a liicky oi iushed IiolIen SoIving queslion, allenpl lo idenlify al Ieasl one ansvei choice lhal nusl le inpossilIe. Ioi exanpIe, on a queslion aloul speed, dislance and line, you nighl le alIe lo caIcuIale lhal a pailicuIai ansvei choice is nol fasl oi fai enough, vilhoul doing lhe exacl nalh. LIininaling one ansvei choice nay even heIp you eIininale anolh aIso guide youi lhinking in vhich of lhe possilIe ansvei choices is lhe nosl Think of guessing as pail of lhe CMAT gane, nol as any iefIeclion on youi aliIilies. You alsoIuleIy, unequivocaIIy can nake guesses on lolh Quanlilalive and VeilaI seclions and tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 olhei piolIens. Wilh lhal nuch line, you nighl have gollen lvo oi lhiee noie coiiecl. Thals a Whal is lhe naxinun anounl of line lhal you shouId spend on a piolIen` The aveiage anounl of line you shouId spend on a nalh piolIen is lvo ninules. You piolalIy spend Iess lvo on sone. As an uppei Iinil, Iel us say you shouId spend no noie lhan lhiee ninules on a nalh piolIen. If you can leII lhal you piolalIy von'l gel a nalh piolIen iighl vilhin lhiee ninules vhen you Iook al il, ne Iogic, lhe uppei Iinil on Senlence Coiieclions shouId le lvo ninules, on CiilicaI Reasoning piolIens, lhiee ninules and on Reading Conp queslions, lvo ninules. Once you hil lhe uppei Iinil you shouId sliongIy Iean lovaid guessing, unIess you aie seconds Allenpl lo calegoiize a dala sufficiency queslion Hov pionising do lhe guess vilhin ansvei choices A, , and D foi lhe dala- pooi queslions. If you have gauged lhe degiee of and possilIy lhe nain idea, you can odds guesses on aII Reading Conpiehension queslions. Do lhis ly nalching vhal you have Ieained aloul lone and nain idea vilh lhe ansvei ou do nol have line lo ieseaich. Ioi exanpIe, lhe coiiecl ansvei lo a queslion aloul a passage lhal is As ve discussed alove, you can allenpl lo conpaie a lough ne you donl have line foi, lo a queslion you have seen al youi Ieisuie On a liicky oi iushed IiolIen SoIving queslion, e inpossilIe. Ioi exanpIe, on a queslion aloul speed, dislance and line, you nighl le alIe lo caIcuIale lhal a pailicuIai ansvei choice is nol fasl oi fai enough, vilhoul doing lhe exacl nalh. LIininaling one ansvei choice nay even heIp you eIininale anolhei one, and nay aIso guide youi lhinking in vhich of lhe possilIe ansvei choices is lhe nosl Think of guessing as pail of lhe CMAT gane, nol as any iefIeclion on youi aliIilies. You ive and VeilaI seclions and
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 eneige vilh a 76O oi highei on lhe CMAT. iesuIls. Practice Tests Iiaclice lesls aie a cenliaI pail of any successfuI lesl enduiance and pacing, and ensuie lhal you face a lesl no piaclice lesl is peifecl~il's inpoilanl lo undeisland hov youi lesls aie lesl lhey aien'l, so you can piepaie foi lhe ieaI lhing. Theie aie lhiee nain souices of piaclice 1. GMATPrcp. The lesl nakei nla.con. 22 These lesls piolIens aie viillen ly lhe acluaI adaplive aIgoiilhn as lhe ieaI lesl. ul levaie: lhese lesls don'l have any expIanalions foi lheii piolIens. Make suie lhal you don'l lake lhese piaclice exans unliI you have a soIid enough undeislanding of CMAT conl you can seIf-coiiecl vhen you'ie done. 2. Kap|an GMAT CATs lhal is pailiaIIy adaplive, and sonelines a snaII queslion sel lhal is fixed, lul lhe najoiily of lhe lesl adapls al lhe queslion IeveI. lul fion a piaclice peispeclive il funclions jusl you'ie ievaided vilh a ciack al high on youi KapIan CAT aie aII viillen ly conlenl, difficuIly, and lone of CMAT naleiiaI lesl naleiiaI. You shouIdn'l vhal you see on Tesl Day. lhe lesls aie diffeiences in peiceplion onIy. 3. Tnc Officia| Tcs| Daq |xpcricncc you if you aie iegisleied in a KapIan CMAT piogian. Ils lhe oppoilunily lo lake any of youi KapIan CMAT CAT condilions. A key diffeience YouII lake lhe CMAT of piaclice and piep on lhe Iine. Ioi sone sludenls lhis piessuie enalIes lhen lo shine, lul olheis sliuggIe. lhe sliess head-on and ieduces poinls Iefl on lhe lalIe on Tesl Day due lo execulion faclois.
1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 eneige vilh a 76O oi highei on lhe CMAT. Lnliace guessing, nake il youis, and ieap lhe Iiaclice lesls aie a cenliaI pail of any successfuI lesl piep slialegy. They piepaie youi nsuie lhal you face a lesl-Iike vaiiely of suljecl nallei. Hovevei, il's inpoilanl lo undeisland hov youi lesls aie lesl lhey aien'l, so you can piepaie foi lhe ieaI lhing. Theie aie lhiee nain souices of piaclice lesls lo highIighl: lesl nakeis piovide lvo fiee piaclice lesls, caIIed CMATIiep, on These lesls conlain lhe conlenl nosl Iike lhal on lhe ieaI lesl. The piolIens aie viillen ly lhe acluaI lesl nakeis, and lhe scoies use lhe sane aplive aIgoiilhn as lhe ieaI lesl. ul levaie: lhese lesls don'l have any expIanalions foi lheii piolIens. Make suie lhal you don'l lake lhese piaclice exans unliI you have a soIid enough undeislanding of CMAT conlenl and slialegy lhal vhen you'ie done. voik a IillIe diffeienlIy. On oui CATs, lheie is a snaII seIeclion lhal is pailiaIIy adaplive, and sonelines a snaII queslion sel lhal is fixed, lul lhe najoiily of lhe lesl adapls al lhe queslion IeveI. The scoiing isn'l quile as piecise, lul fion a piaclice peispeclive il funclions jusl as lhe ieaI lesl: peifoin veII and you'ie ievaided vilh a ciack al high-difficuIly high-vaIue queslions. on youi KapIan CAT aie aII viillen ly KapIan, lul ve aie caiefuI lo conlenl, difficuIly, and lone of CMAT naleiiaI, vhiIe laking caie nol lo copy officiaI ou shouIdn'l le alIe lo leII lhe diffeience lelveen KapIan CAT vhal you see on Tesl Day. In oui expeiience, nosl peiceived diffeiences le lhe lesls aie diffeiences in peiceplion onIy. Tnc Officia| Tcs| Daq |xpcricncc (hllp://lil.Iy/CMATLxpeiience) is an oplion foi you if you aie iegisleied in a KapIan CMAT piogian. Ils lhe oppoilunily lo lake KapIan CMAT CATs al an acluaI lesling cenlei undei lesling diffeience lelveen piaclice lesls and lhe ieaI lhing is piessuie. YouII lake lhe CMAT undei lhe valchfuI eye of pioclois and caneias p on lhe Iine. Ioi sone sludenls lhis piessuie enalIes lhen lo sliuggIe. The ieaIisn of lhe OfficiaI Tesl Day Lxpeiience addiesses on and ieduces poinls Iefl on lhe lalIe on Tesl Day due lo execulion hLLp://www.mba.com/mba/1heCMA1/uownloadlree1esLreparaLlonSofLware/ tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 Lnliace guessing, nake il youis, and ieap lhe piep slialegy. They piepaie youi Iike vaiiely of suljecl nallei. Hovevei, il's inpoilanl lo undeisland hov youi lesls aie lesl-Iike, and hov fiee piaclice lesls, caIIed CMATIiep, on conlain lhe conlenl nosl Iike lhal on lhe ieaI lesl. The s, and lhe scoies use lhe sane aplive aIgoiilhn as lhe ieaI lesl. ul levaie: lhese lesls don'l have any expIanalions foi lheii piolIens. Make suie lhal you don'l lake lhese piaclice exans nl and slialegy lhal On oui CATs, lheie is a snaII seIeclion lhal is pailiaIIy adaplive, and sonelines a snaII queslion sel lhal is fixed, lul lhe l quile as piecise, lhe ieaI lesl: peifoin veII and vaIue queslions. The queslions , lul ve aie caiefuI lo ninic lhe , vhiIe laking caie nol lo copy officiaI le alIe lo leII lhe diffeience lelveen KapIan CATs and expeiience, nosl peiceived diffeiences lelveen ) is an oplion foi you if you aie iegisleied in a KapIan CMAT piogian. Ils lhe oppoilunily lo lake al an acluaI lesling cenlei undei lesling and lhe ieaI lhing is piessuie. undei lhe valchfuI eye of pioclois and caneias, vilh nonlhs p on lhe Iine. Ioi sone sludenls lhis piessuie enalIes lhen lo The ieaIisn of lhe OfficiaI Tesl Day Lxpeiience addiesses on and ieduces poinls Iefl on lhe lalIe on Tesl Day due lo execulion
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 Staying Motivated We laIked alove, in Iail II, aloul hov lo evaIuale youi CMAT scoie againsl lhe conpelilion foi a specific schooI. Undeislanding youi piogiess aIong lhe vay of piogiess~is an enliieIy diffeienl chaIIenge. Sonelines youi scoie on a piac haid. You feIl good duiing lhe lesl. Why did you gel no scoie inciease, oi even a deciease` If youi scoie isnl as high as you vouId Iike, ils inpoilanl lo pul il in conlexl. KapIan has Iong noled lhal on lhe second piaclice lesl (vilh lhe diagnoslic leing lhe fiisl), peopIe oflen see a scoie deciease. Thal is lecause KapIan is fiIIing lheii heads vilh nev nelhods and peopIe havenl gollen used lo lhen. y anaIogy, louch efficienl lhan hunl-and-peck, lul vhen youie Ieaining lo louch agonizingIy lhoughl oul, and lhe hunl foi a coupIe of lesls. Olhei possilIe expIanalions: Tesl condilions aie vhal nosl peopIe lhink of fiisl. day of voik` Did you check youi enaiI duiing lhe lesl` Such faclois couId cause you lo scoie undei youi liue peifoinance ialhei lhan lIane youi scoi line foi a noie ieaIislic piaclice lesl (lhe OfficiaI Tesl Day Lxpeiience can le heIpfuI foi lhe enaiI-checkeis) Nol finishing lhe seclions is shouId ieviev vhen you open up a lesl. Considei vhelhei you spenl loo nuch line on any pailicuIai queslions, and vhelhei you foIIoved lhiough on youi line nanagenenl slialegy as oulIined alove. One fiequenl cause necessaiy slep lo CMAT success. Use Refeience. If you decide lo Ieain lhe foinuIas, you viII. If you have lo, nake fIash caids. On lhe veilaI side, lhe connon cuIpii Reading Conp and CiilicaI Reasoning. IeopIe do lhis eilhei lecause lheyie loo scaied lo lhink oi lecause lheyie voiiied lhal lhe nelhods viII lake loo nuch line. IaiadoxicaIIy, invesling lhe line inlo execuling savings of line lecause you spend fevei seconds delaling lhe neiils of lhe ansveis vilh youiseIf: You jusl Iook foi a nalch lo youi piediclion. An exanpIe on lhe Iasl poinl lo us lecause she had gollen a disappoinling scoie of 48O. I voiked vilh hei avhiIe and discoveied she had panicked and diopped aII lhe nelhods. I ievieved lhen vilh hei and
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 We laIked alove, in Iail II, aloul hov lo evaIuale youi CMAT scoie againsl lhe conpelilion foi a specific schooI. Undeislanding youi piogiess aIong lhe vay~ is an enliieIy diffeienl chaIIenge. Sonelines youi scoie on a piaclice lesl jusl doesnl nake sense. Youve leen sludying haid. You feIl good duiing lhe lesl. Why did you gel no scoie inciease, oi even a deciease` If youi scoie isnl as high as you vouId Iike, ils inpoilanl lo pul il in conlexl. Iong noled lhal on lhe second piaclice lesl (vilh lhe diagnoslic leing lhe fiisl), peopIe oflen see a scoie deciease. Thal is lecause KapIan is fiIIing lheii heads vilh nev nelhods and peopIe havenl gollen used lo lhen. y anaIogy, louch-lyping is nuch n peck, lul vhen youie Ieaining lo louch-lype, eveiy nove is agonizingIy lhoughl oul, and lhe hunl-and-peckei is (lenpoiaiiIy) faslei. This piolIen can Iasl Olhei possilIe expIanalions: vhal nosl peopIe lhink of fiisl. Did you lake lhe lesl aflei a Iong Did you check youi enaiI duiing lhe lesl` Such faclois couId cause you lo scoie undei youi liue peifoinance. ul an inpoilanl caveal is in oidei: ialhei lhan lIane youi scoie on youi Iackleiiy, you shouId liy lo lIock oul lhe line foi a noie ieaIislic piaclice lesl (lhe OfficiaI Tesl Day Lxpeiience can le heIpfuI checkeis) and gel a noie ieIialIe dala poinl. ol finishing lhe seclions is a connon piolIen. Thal is one of lhe fiisl lhings you ieviev vhen you open up a lesl. Considei vhelhei you spenl loo nuch line on any pailicuIai queslions, and vhelhei you foIIoved lhiough on youi line nanagenenl slialegy as oulIined alove. One fiequenl cause on lhe Quanl side is nol Ieaining lhe foinuIas. This is a saiy slep lo CMAT success. Use lhe foinuIas/nelhods sheel. Use lhe Iockel Refeience. If you decide lo Ieain lhe foinuIas, you viII. If you have lo, nake fIash On lhe veilaI side, lhe connon cuIpiils aie diopping lhe nelhods, especiaIIy in Reading Conp and CiilicaI Reasoning. IeopIe do lhis eilhei lecause lheyie loo scaied lo lhink oi lecause lheyie voiiied lhal lhe nelhods viII lake loo nuch line. IaiadoxicaIIy, invesling lhe line inlo execuling lhe nelhod iesuIls in a nel savings of line lecause you spend fevei seconds delaling lhe neiils of lhe ansveis vilh youiseIf: You jusl Iook foi a nalch lo youi piediclion. on lhe Iasl poinl fion one of oui facuIly: I once had a sludenl vho cane lo us lecause she had gollen a disappoinling scoie of 48O. I voiked vilh hei avhiIe and discoveied she had panicked and diopped aII lhe nelhods. I ievieved lhen vilh hei and tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 We laIked alove, in Iail II, aloul hov lo evaIuale youi CMAT scoie againsl lhe ~oi seening Iack lice lesl jusl doesnl nake sense. Youve leen sludying haid. You feIl good duiing lhe lesl. Why did you gel no scoie inciease, oi even a deciease` If youi scoie isnl as high as you vouId Iike, ils inpoilanl lo pul il in conlexl. Ioi exanpIe, Iong noled lhal on lhe second piaclice lesl (vilh lhe diagnoslic leing lhe fiisl), peopIe oflen see a scoie deciease. Thal is lecause KapIan is fiIIing lheii heads vilh nev lyping is nuch noie lype, eveiy nove is peckei is (lenpoiaiiIy) faslei. This piolIen can Iasl Did you lake lhe lesl aflei a Iong Did you check youi enaiI duiing lhe lesl` Such faclois couId cause ul an inpoilanl caveal is in oidei: e on youi Iackleiiy, you shouId liy lo lIock oul lhe line foi a noie ieaIislic piaclice lesl (lhe OfficiaI Tesl Day Lxpeiience can le heIpfuI is one of lhe fiisl lhings you ieviev vhen you open up a lesl. Considei vhelhei you spenl loo nuch line on any pailicuIai queslions, and vhelhei you foIIoved lhiough on youi line is nol Ieaining lhe foinuIas. This is a lhe foinuIas/nelhods sheel. Use lhe Iockel Refeience. If you decide lo Ieain lhe foinuIas, you viII. If you have lo, nake fIash ls aie diopping lhe nelhods, especiaIIy in Reading Conp and CiilicaI Reasoning. IeopIe do lhis eilhei lecause lheyie loo scaied lo lhink oi lecause lheyie voiiied lhal lhe nelhods viII lake loo nuch lhe nelhod iesuIls in a nel savings of line lecause you spend fevei seconds delaling lhe neiils of lhe ansveis vilh youiseIf: You jusl Iook foi a nalch lo youi piediclion. I once had a sludenl vho cane lack lo us lecause she had gollen a disappoinling scoie of 48O. I voiked vilh hei avhiIe and discoveied she had panicked and diopped aII lhe nelhods. I ievieved lhen vilh hei and
kap|anGMA1.com 1-800-kA-1LS1 encouiaged hei lo slick vilh lhen. In a nonlh she look lhe lesl again and ie 64O. In hei case, jusl foIIoving lhe nelhods vas voilh 16O poinls. Many lines, lhe cuie is noie piaclice. The nagic nunlei heie is 1OO houis, lhe aveiage IeveI of piepaialion (incIuding cIass line) foi aII 6OO+ and 7OO+ scoieis on lhe CM lo a suivey ly lhe lesl nakeis. If youi scoie inpiovenenl is faIIing shoil, lul youi lolaI piaclice line is sulslanliaIIy undei 1OO houis, you piolalIy need lo pul in noie quaIily piaclice. On lhe olhei hand, if youi lolaI piep line has ieach scoie inpiovenenl and youie liying lo appIy lhe nelhods youve Ieained, you shouId considei voiking vilh a luloi. A luloi vho is lolh a CMAT expeil and vho has voiked vilh nany sludenls nay heIp you uncovei a ieIaliveIy shoil oidei. Uncoveiing and addiessing such a peifoinance lIock can yieId sudden scoie incieases as lhe houis of piaclice lhal you pul in pieviousIy gel an oppoilunily lo nanifesl lhenseIves. Renenlei, you aie nevei aIone in youi piaclice. Youve aIvays gol youi leachei oi luloi and anyone can ask queslions on Iacelook Tvillei (hllp://vvv.lvillei.con/KapIanCMATIiep
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1LS1 tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 encouiaged hei lo slick vilh lhen. In a nonlh she look lhe lesl again and ieceived a scoie of 64O. In hei case, jusl foIIoving lhe nelhods vas voilh 16O poinls. Many lines, lhe cuie is noie piaclice. The nagic nunlei heie is 1OO houis, lhe aveiage IeveI of piepaialion (incIuding cIass line) foi aII 6OO+ and 7OO+ scoieis on lhe CM s. If youi scoie inpiovenenl is faIIing shoil, lul youi lolaI piaclice line is sulslanliaIIy undei 1OO houis, you piolalIy need lo pul in noie quaIily piaclice. On lhe olhei hand, if youi lolaI piep line has ieached oi exceeded 12O houis and youie nol seeing youie liying lo appIy lhe nelhods youve Ieained, you shouId considei voiking vilh a luloi. A luloi vho is lolh a CMAT expeil and vho has voiked vilh nany sludenls nay heIp you uncovei a syslenalic peifoinance lIock, such as pooi scialchvoik, in ieIaliveIy shoil oidei. Uncoveiing and addiessing such a peifoinance lIock can yieId sudden scoie incieases as lhe houis of piaclice lhal you pul in pieviousIy gel an oppoilunily lo Renenlei, you aie nevei aIone in youi piaclice. Youve aIvays gol youi leachei oi luloi and anyone can ask queslions on Iacelook (hllp://vvv.facelook.con/KapIanCMAT hllp://vvv.lvillei.con/KapIanCMATIiep). tw|tter.com]kap|anGMA1rep facebook.com]kap|anGMA1 ceived a scoie of Many lines, lhe cuie is noie piaclice. The nagic nunlei heie is 1OO houis, lhe aveiage IeveI of piepaialion (incIuding cIass line) foi aII 6OO+ and 7OO+ scoieis on lhe CMAT, accoiding s. If youi scoie inpiovenenl is faIIing shoil, lul youi lolaI piaclice line is sulslanliaIIy undei 1OO houis, you piolalIy need lo pul in noie quaIily piaclice. On lhe youie nol seeing youie liying lo appIy lhe nelhods youve Ieained, you shouId considei voiking vilh a luloi. A luloi vho is lolh a CMAT expeil and vho has voiked vilh nany syslenalic peifoinance lIock, such as pooi scialchvoik, in ieIaliveIy shoil oidei. Uncoveiing and addiessing such a peifoinance lIock can yieId sudden scoie incieases as lhe houis of piaclice lhal you pul in pieviousIy gel an oppoilunily lo Renenlei, you aie nevei aIone in youi piaclice. Youve aIvays gol youi leachei oi luloi hllp://vvv.facelook.con/KapIanCMAT) oi