Format of the GMAT Exam
Return on Investment
In a GMAT context, return on investment, or ROI, is also a useful guideline for studying. For example, most GMAT courses in the world do not sufficiently differentiate their product offering. They do offer group classes and tutoring, which is a kind of product differentiation. But they do not create separate classes for MBA and Masters tracks. And this choice has an effect on the ROI of those courses. For the course-provider, the ROI is elevated, because they can sell the same product to more customers. For the student, however, the effect on ROI is negative, since they have to spend time listening to subjects with less personal relevance.
How to maximize ROI in a GMAT context? That's a question that cuts to the heart of the test-prep industry. From the student's point of view, we argue that it's good to focus on your weakest subject first. This is not merely our personal preference. The GMAT is an adaptive test. For example, it will test all topics and all skills at the 600 level, before delivering any questions drawn from the 700 level. That's just the process which computer adaptive tests follow. And it means you need to design your study program around your weak spots, because the test will not upgrade you until you clear the difficulty level you're in.