The GMAC released additional guidance this week about the timeline for the new GMAT™ Focus Edition exam.

It's still not very specific, but it provides at least a little more clarity that should help you as you're planning your GMAT prep and MBA application schedule.

Specifically, here's what they've announced in terms of official prep materials, registration, and appointment availability:

• Official prep guides available — Late Q2 2023
• Registration opens — Q3 2023
• Testing starts — Q4 2023

There will be a few months of overlap once the new GMAT™ Focus Edition launches where students will still have the option of taking the current GMAT. That's expected to remain available through Q1 2024.

If you're on pace to take the GMAT during that overlap period, let us know and we'll help you make the best decision about which version to go with. And of course once all of the final details about the new exam are available, we'll put the finishing touches on our...

The GMAT has long been the standardized test used by business schools to screen applicants for admission. Recently, however, a new entrance exam has come onto the scene: the Executive Assessment (EA). The EA is rapidly gaining traction as more and more business programs are accepting it in lieu of the GMAT, and applicants are increasingly attracted to the Executive Assessment for a variety of reasons.

Given that the Executive Assessment was created by the same organization (the Graduate Management Admission Council) that created and administers the GMAT, some students mistakenly think of the EA as a shorter and easier version of the GMAT, "GMAT Lite" if you will. But there are several key differences between the two exams -- and those differences could make all the difference for you when determining which exam to take when applying to business school.

We break down the differences between the GMAT and Executive Assessment in detail in Episode 55 of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast,...

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about the Executive Assessment (EA) recently, so we wanted to address them head-on.

If you're not familiar with the Executive Assessment, it's an entrance exam that is being accepted by more and more top business schools as an alternative to the GMAT / GRE in the admissions process. Many of the Top 20 MBA Programs worldwide now accept the Executive Assessment, and the list of partner schools is growing every month.

The Executive Assessment is similar to the GMAT in a lot of ways, but there are several important differences. We put together the following video to highlight some of those key differences and share insight that will help you determine which exam to take.

Watch it here:

As I mention at the beginning of this video, some schools still only accept the Executive Assessment for their Executive MBA (EMBA) or evening / part-time MBA programs. So Step 1 would be to double-check the application requirements of the school(s) you're...

You've invested time, effort, and money preparing for and taking your standardized test, and unfortunately the first attempt didn't quite go as planned. So, what now? Should you retake it? Or just apply with the score you have?

The answer to those questions isn't quite as straightforward as it may seem. Even if you were assured of improving the next time around, a higher score may not be necessary to get you accepted to your target program(s). There's a lot to consider when thinking about retaking your exam, and we break it all down for you in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast.

You can listen to the episode HERE:

Specifically, we run through the five (5) key questions you need to ask yourself to help decide whether taking the test again makes sense for you:

1. What's likely to change this time around?
2. Was there anything abnormal about your first testing experience?
3. How likely are you to actually improve your score (what do the statistics...

Test day is right around the corner.

What should you be doing in the final week leading up to the big day to maximize your preparation and ensure that you have the best possible result on your exam? We break it down for you day-by-day in episode 27 of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast, laying out for you exactly what you should be prioritizing each day starting "7 days out" to finish strong.

Listen to it HERE:

Download the accompanying "7 Days Out" checklist HERE:

If you have a week or less before test day, these last-minute tips will help you know where to focus and ensure that you've covered all your bases heading in to the exam. Even if you still have a while, much of what we discuss will help you with your preparation in general -- and then you can revisit it as your final week gets closer.

The end is in sight... finish strong!

A DOSE OF MOTIVATION

"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." -- Benjamin Franklin

As always, be sure to subscribe to the podcast...

Most standardized tests have an essay component, and in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast we cover the 10 most important things you should do when crafting your essay response to ensure that you get a high score on test day -- perhaps even a perfect one!

You can listen to it here:

We start by explaining what the graders are looking for. Once you know the components of a high-scoring essay, you can craft your strategy for writing an effective essay yourself. Knowing is half the battle, as they say.

Then we go through 10 tips for helping you get a perfect essay score and discuss:

• The importance of understanding the question prompt and answering all aspects of it (with examples);
• What you should do during the first 5 minutes before you start writing;
• The role of a clear thesis sentence and where it should appear in your essay;
• How to organize your essay for maximum effectiveness;
• Where you should pull your...

It has been said that while it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. If you want to get a feel for what business school is really like before embarking on the journey yourself, why not pick the brain of someone who has gone before you?

That's exactly what we did in Episode 22 of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast. We caught up with Sam Klein, a current second-year MBA candidate at the Duke Fuqua School of Business, and asked him everything from what he thinks helped him stand out during the admissions process to what has been the most impactful part of his business education, and everything in between.   

You can listen to our full conversation here: 

Specifically, Sam and I discuss:

• Why this aerospace engineer decided to switch careers and go back to business school
• Why Sam chose the GMAT over the GRE
• How to answer the "Why business school?" question on your application
• How the expected ROI factored...

In the immortal words of Bob Dylan, "The times, they are a-changin'."

Yesterday, the GMAT went online.

Several weeks ago, the GRE went online.

The LSAT will be rolling out its online version, LSAT Flex, next month.

Now, these at-home editions are temporary solutions to assist students trying to meet application deadlines while test centers are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. But who knows, maybe they'll stick around permanently if all goes well.

Regardless, many of you will end up taking your exam from the comfort of your own home in the coming weeks, and I want to help you optimize that experience.

Here are three prep tips specific to the at-home testing experience that I believe will put you in the right frame of mind to do as well as possible when taking your exam online:

In many ways, taking your test at home is a positive. It's your home, after all. It's familiar. It's comfortable.

But that increased comfort level can also work against you if you're not careful.

...

A new online version of the GMAT exam is scheduled to go live later this month to give students an alternative testing option in regions where test centers are closed because of COVID-19.

The GMAC is hosting a free webinar on Friday, April 17, 2020 at 12:00pm ET to tell you all about it.

Reserve your spot here:

Specifically, the webinar will cover:

• Alternative exam structure and scoring
• Test registration pricing and process
• Computer requirements and test security
• Test preparation requirements (don't worry, we've got you covered here at Dominate Test Prep!)

This is your chance to get all of your questions about the at-home GMAT directly from the makers of the exam.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT today!

As with most industries, the standardized test and college/graduate admissions industries continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With exams being postponed, test centers closing, and admissions deadlines being pushed back, test takers face a new level of uncertainty as they're preparing for test day and thinking about their futures.

In this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast, we address those challenges head-on, help you make sense of the current landscape, and empower you with practical next steps as you're preparing for your standardized test. You can listen to it here:

Specifically, we lay out a game plan for test-takers who fall into each of these four categories:

1. Category 1: Candidates who weren't scheduled to take their exam for a few months anyway
2. Category 2: Candidates who have had their test date pushed back because of cancellations or test center closures
3. Category 3: Candidates who are trying to decide whether to reschedule their...