A GMAT preparation class at MBA Arabia. (SG photo by Aamer Trambu)The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a computer-adaptive standardized test in mathematics and English for measuring aptitude to succeed academically in graduate business studies. It usually lasts about three and a half hours. Business schools commonly use the test as one of many selection criteria for admission into graduate business administration programs (e.g. MBA, Master of Accountancy, etc.) principally in the United States, but also in other English-speaking countries. Other selection criteria include scores at the high-school and undergraduate level (bachelor's degree), work experience, extra-curricular activities and background of leadership work. The GMAT is delivered via computer at various locations around the world. MBA Arabia currently offers classes in Jeddah and Dubai. These classes are taken quarterly and conducted by Mark Juszczak, an American professor from Columbia University in New York. Starting in June 2010 in Jeddah, MBA Arabia now partners with schools like Dar Al-Hekma college and provides GMAT training to students. “We had 12 students in our first batch at DAH,” said Ayman Mansi, co-founder of MBA Arabia. “We also help students with their essays for MBA admission.” Everything comes at a cost and MBA Arabia has priced the GMAT course preparation at $1,300 or SR4,960 per person, which is an exorbitant price, given the fact that the exam fee comes to just about SR940. Help with essays for applicants to the prestigious Harvard Business School is set at $2,600. “We are benchmarking our prices against the top trainers in the US. If any student in KSA has to take a full professional course in the US for the GMAT he would have to dish out about $5,000. In addition, the instructor is from the well-known Columbia University. In order to sustain the initiative, we would have to offer two classes a day or increase the cost, unless we can increase the number of students,” stated Mansi. “Our entire management team and teaching staff has graduated from ivy league institutions and we've helped an applicant score 650 on the exam.” The exams is marked out of 800 points so 650 gives MBA Arabia a benchmark of about 81 percent. The institute plans on taking its initiative to Kuwait and Manama soon. “Our short-term vision is to conduct these GMAT Training classes in collaboration with other universities in Riyadh and the eastern province,” Mansi added. “We provide students a seven-week detailed plan which students are required to follow. They are finally tested at the end of the last week. The professor uses the ‘mental mapping' approach, increasing students' speed and ability to reach the solution in less than 30 seconds.We are a one-stop-shop for all MBA applicants to the US and UK.” Each class lasts three hours so the entire course consists of 21 hours of teaching. Students who wish to register can visit www.mbaarabia.com. The cost of the GMAT exam is $250. For more information on GMAT and to Register for the test visit www.mba.com – Saudi Gazette Mark Juszczak is a top trainer and consultant in knowledge and innovation management. For the past decade he has conducted strategy sessions and workshops with a wide range of corporate audiences. He has worked with numerous government agencies and Fortune 100 companies, including US Gypsum, Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Federal Reserve Bank of the United States and government agencies in Kuwait. One of the most prominent aspects of his approach to innovation is the emphasis on cross-domain linking as a method for solving novel problems. He is the author of several articles on knowledge management and innovation and is currently completing his doctoral thesis in knowledge creation management at Teachers College, Columbia University on the kinds of questions that executives need to ask to foster a culture of innovation and corporate agility. He also holds two advanced degrees in International Politics and Sanskrit studies. In addition to his work in knowledge creation management, he has pioneered a successful method for exploiting flaws in current intelligence assessment instruments. __
