Comments on: Standardized Test Costs: GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, GRE http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2009/11/19/gmat-expensive-standardized-tests/ Savvy Living Through Personal Finance Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:06:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Anon http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2009/11/19/gmat-expensive-standardized-tests/comment-page-1/#comment-9277 Anon Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:39:34 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=3115#comment-9277 I do not envy you having to oay big bucks for these tests, but another thing to consider. It takes MANY millions of dollars to develop these tests to make sure that they really do what school's want them to do. Part of why tests may cost more or less probably has to do with how much they cost to develop and how many people take the test (more people = lower cost). But really, I think trying to compare these tests is apples and oranges...they're similar, but too different to really compare side by side. I do not envy you having to oay big bucks for these tests, but another thing to consider. It takes MANY millions of dollars to develop these tests to make sure that they really do what school's want them to do. Part of why tests may cost more or less probably has to do with how much they cost to develop and how many people take the test (more people = lower cost). But really, I think trying to compare these tests is apples and oranges…they're similar, but too different to really compare side by side.

]]> By: @amarantac http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2009/11/19/gmat-expensive-standardized-tests/comment-page-1/#comment-8856 @amarantac Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:37:25 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=3115#comment-8856 The MCAT is now about 5 hours long (with breaks), it switched from being 8 hours when it went from paper format to computer in 2007. The MCAT is now about 5 hours long (with breaks), it switched from being 8 hours when it went from paper format to computer in 2007.

]]> By: WellHeeled http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2009/11/19/gmat-expensive-standardized-tests/comment-page-1/#comment-8778 WellHeeled Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:45:44 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=3115#comment-8778 I took the GMAT. Like you said, the GRE is still a newcomer on the bschool admissions front, and I didn't want to take a risk with a test that might not be viewed in the same light. I took the GMAT. Like you said, the GRE is still a newcomer on the bschool admissions front, and I didn't want to take a risk with a test that might not be viewed in the same light.

]]> By: debt ninja http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2009/11/19/gmat-expensive-standardized-tests/comment-page-1/#comment-8771 debt ninja Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:57:30 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=3115#comment-8771 true story, I took the MCAT. It was my least favorite way to spend $200 ever. .-= debt ninja´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PunchDebtInTheFace/~3/V8TiOSPxvbQ/good-debt-dumb-people.html" rel="nofollow">“Good debt” is for dumb people</a> =-. true story, I took the MCAT. It was my least favorite way to spend $200 ever.
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]]> By: Investing Newbie http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2009/11/19/gmat-expensive-standardized-tests/comment-page-1/#comment-8767 Investing Newbie Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:05:23 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=3115#comment-8767 I actually just found out that number 1 choice for B-School accepts the GRE. I almost did a double take when I saw the $100 discount. However, my fear is that they will be weighed differently. I had a part-time position in my school's admission's office and I know for a fact that the ACTs and the SAT's aren't weighed the same. A low score on the ACT counts for more against you than a lower score on the SATs. Given that the GMAT was designed to test how a student will fare in Business School (and I don't doubt it, that test is ridic) and the GRE wasn't, I could imagine that a similar thing will happen - an average score on the GMAT will probably not hurt as much as an average score on the GRE. What have you decided to do? I'm playing it safe and taking the GMATs. I actually just found out that number 1 choice for B-School accepts the GRE. I almost did a double take when I saw the $100 discount. However, my fear is that they will be weighed differently.

I had a part-time position in my school's admission's office and I know for a fact that the ACTs and the SAT's aren't weighed the same. A low score on the ACT counts for more against you than a lower score on the SATs. Given that the GMAT was designed to test how a student will fare in Business School (and I don't doubt it, that test is ridic) and the GRE wasn't, I could imagine that a similar thing will happen – an average score on the GMAT will probably not hurt as much as an average score on the GRE.

What have you decided to do? I'm playing it safe and taking the GMATs.

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