Scantron sheets and No.2 pencils will soon go the way of the dinosaur for aspiring business students taking the GMAT.
By October, the Graduate Management Admissions Test will be given only by computer and will be renamed the GMAT-CAT, or Computer Adaptive Testing. The last day the paper test will be administered is June 21.
Sandy Mitchell, director of customer services at the Graduate Management Admission Council, the owner of GMAT, said there are many benefits to the computer exam.
"The GMAT-CAT offers tremendous convenience and flexibility to test-takers," Mitchell said.
The GMAT will be the first standardized test to be offered solely by computer. There are, however, other tests that are currently offering both paper and computer versions, including the Graduate Record Exam.
"The conversion to computer delivery will make it possible over the longer term to introduce innovative question types," Mitchell said. "Questions that address cognitive areas, beyond just plain verbal and quantitative reasoning, as well as questions that assess leadership and listening skills."
Test-takers will be presented with one question at a time, each individualized to that particular student. The answer to a question then determines the next question's level of difficulty. Questions also have different point values, unlike the paper and pencil exam; where all the questions are worth the same amount.
Mitchell added that with no specific test dates, students will have the freedom to chose whatever day is most convenient for them.
"You will be able to call an 800 number and pick a day and time to take your test. It really is far more convenient," Mitchell said.
Tests also will be administered at many different locations in the United States.
"The test will be given at many different sites: Sylvan test centers around the world, ETS regional offices and other locations will be giving tests. There will be about 400 sites in North America and selected international sites," Mitchell said.
Jack Schieffer, director of research development for GMAT at Princeton Review headquarters in New York City, said that not only will students be able to take tests at authorized centers, but they will also be able to take them at home.
"We're going to have software on diskettes and also available over the Web, so that students can take the test at home or wherever," Schieffer said.
But while the times and dates will be more flexible, students will not be able to go at their own pace, nor will it be possible to skip around and return to a question already answered. Also, a copy of the CAT and its answers will not be provided after the exam has been taken, unlike the paper and pencil exams.
Student reaction to the changes differ.
Business senior John Decker said he plans to take the GMAT this summer.
"I like the flexibility of the test dates, but I don't think the individualized nature of the computer exams is objective enough. I would probably stick with the paper and pencil exams," Decker said.
Business junior Paul Troyer said the ability to choose a time is a benefit.
"I think I would take (the GMAT-CAT)," Troyer said. "It would be much more convenient. It sounds like a good idea."
Kevin Gonzales, a spokesperson at Educational Testing Service headquarters in Princeton, N.J., also said that other exams may soon change to a computer-based format.
"At this point, only the GMAT will be computerized in 1997. And we're looking at other tests. (Test of English as a Foreign Language) certainly before the year 2000," Gonzales said.
For further information regarding the GMAT-CAT, check the website at http://www.gmat.org.
ADDIE SMITH/Daily
Josh Friendly, a Princeton Review instructor, reviews study materials for the GMAT. Beginning this fall, the test will be available only on computers.