IQA - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 10, 1997
LOCAL/STATE
GMAT test to hit computer
screens this October'
By Christine Palk
For the Daily
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-tak-
ers," Mitchell said.
The GMAT will be the first standard-
ized test to be offered solely by com-
puter. There are, however, other tests
that are currently offering both paper
and computer versions, including the
Graduate Record Exam.
"The conversion to computer deliv-
ery 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 leader-
ship and listening skills."
Test-takers will be presented with
one question at a time, each individual-
ized to that particular student. The
answer to a question then determines
the next question's level of difficulty.
Questions also have different point val-
ues, 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 free-
dom to chose whatever day is most con-
venient for them.
"You will be able to call an 800 num-
ber 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 dif-
ferent 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 dif-
fer.
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 objec-
tive 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 GM AT-
CAT)," Troyer said. "It would be much
more convenient. It sounds like a good
idea."
Kevin Gonzales, a spokesperson at
Educational Testing Service headquar-
ters in Princeton, N.J., also said that
other exams may soon change to a com-
puter-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://wwwgmat.org.
Engler
won't rule
out tax
increase
LANSING (AP) - Saying "I hate
raising taxes," Gov. John Engler again
yesterday called for more federal funds
and other moves to provide money for
Michigan's battered roads.
Still, he refused to rule out a gaso-
line tax increase, if it proves to be
needed. That brought his positio
quick endorsement from the head 5
an association of Michigan cities and
villages.
In a speech and comments to the
Michigan Municipal League's legisla=
tive conference, Engler urged
increased lobbying of Washington for
a bigger share of federal road money,
as well as further savings under the
current road funding system and from
the state Department *
Transportation.
"We're looking at all the options and
we'll continue to do that," he said.
He also called for stopping expen-
sive highway lawsuits and eliminat-
ing the "outdated spillage
allowance."
"I hate raising taxes. (But) I never said
I'm opposed to raising the fuel tax. We
have to fix the leaks in the bucket first.
"At the end of the day, if there is
enough money, you have to look whe
we've traditionally looked," he said,
referring to Michigan's 15-cents-a-gal-
lon tax on gasoline.
"It's my intention to avoid a gas tax
increase forever if I can," he told
reporters after, his speech. But he said
state lawmakers can be counted on to
boost taxes if needed.
"When the time is near, people will
make the tough choices," he said.
Dearborn Mayor Michael Gui,
president of the Municipal League, said
he supports Engler's position although
Guido has called for a gas-tax increase.
"We were pleased he didn't say 'no
gas tax increase,"' Guido said. "He's
willing to look at it."
But Guido said "I think there's a
legitimate need" for more road money.
In a newspaper column last week,
Guido said the "most fair and equita
way to raise that money is to pass a"s
nificant increase in the state motor
fuels tax."
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.
AIDS
Continued from Page 1A
six parents in a community of 16,000
raised concerns (about his infection)
and ruined his young life."
A utopia of sorts for children with
HIV/AIDS, the camp has served for the
past four years as a forum for victims to
share stories and seek advice from oth-
ers in a similar situation.
"To me, Camp Heartland is another
home for me," said camper Berren Jones.
"You can basically do anything you want."
Many of the students who attended
the forum were moved by the personal
nature of the discussion.
"Bringing the kids who have AIDS
here was more powerful than reading
about it in newspapers or seeing it on
TV," said LSA sophomore Sara
Hirshon. "It makes it real."
The camp also boasts a staff that is
very dedicated to helping infected chil-
dren and is empathic to their situation.
Camp Medical Director Debbie
Heartway lost her son Adam to AIDS,
and many of her best friends and co-
workers share similar backgrounds.
"I promised (Adam) that I would con-
tinue his fight and help children who have
contracted AIDS,' Heartway said. "To my
dying day, I will keep that promise."
Some campers spoke about direct
ways to prevent contracting the disease.
"All of you have a choice," saidl4-
year-old camper Robert Jones. "We all
know what a condom is - there is no
excuse not to wear one."
Counselor Andre Lumumba added
that if people don't heed the warnings
and advice available about AIDS preven-
tion, they may pay the consequences.
"If you get AIDS, AIDS will kick
your ass, and if it doesn't, the medica-
tion will," Lumumba said. "Believe me,
I speak from experience."
Heartway asked that those in atten-
dance look at her son's situation in a
manner slightly different from the com-
mon interpretation.
"Don't feel bad for Adam because he
died per se, but remember that these kids
had no choice," Heartway said. "We can
end this disease - we all have choices."
Although Willenson has suffered the
loss of 20 campers to the virus in Camp
Heartland's four-year history, he said he
has gained joy from his time helping
sick children.
"That's the balance," Willenson said.
"Seeing children die, seeing children
grow up."
Know ~ofNTews? Call the Daily
XX'763-2459
GRADE-IN
Continued from Page1A
undergraduate students
romance languages and the
teach them.
studying
GSIs who
BOOK & SUPPLY
STIO RE HOURS: '
Mon.-Fri. 900 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday 12 nxn - 5:00 pm)
J()STENS
REWARD YOUR ACHIEVEMENT
'::}.,
f
Want to earn credit
this summer without
stepping foot on
campus?
Summer Honors
Reading Program
Open to Honors
students or students
with at least 3.0 GPA
Enrollment deadline:
May 9
Independent Study
Correspondence
Program
Open to ALL Students
No enrollment deadline
"Many undergraduate students have a
common concern that we are over-.
worked;" Pettersen said. "If our load is,
reduced, it would improve their situation.'
Faculty members agreed that the cur-
rent system causes problems for under-
graduate romance language students.
"This is not
only a workload ( -
issue but also an This I
academic issue,".
said Jarrod Hayes, a worklc
a romance lan-
guage associate but also
professor. "It is
impossible to acauemi
have a proper for-
eign language
education when Romance Lal
the GSIs are over-
worked-"
AHCTL has
been in correspondence with the dean's
office since the beginning of the semes-
ter, seeking answers to the problem of
teaching multiple sections of romance
language classes in a single term.
The group met formally with Cross
to discuss their concerns in December
and requested a response by Jan. 8, to
a document titled "A Case for
Reducing Teaching Load in Romance
/S
4
Languages."
When 11o response was given,
AHCTL sent the results of an external
review on reducing GSI workload to
the dean's office in February. In protest
of the office's continued lack
response, the grade-ins were organiz.
When questioned about the delay,
Cross responded that he was currently
in the process of finalizing a formal
written response to the suggestions.
"It would have been finished yester-
day if not for all the hectic things gomg
on in this office," Cross said.
The current
only system forces
not only most GSIs to
work m
d ssue than the allot-
ted 16 hours a
an week for each
section they
iSSues teach,
-- JarrOd Hayes Pettersen said.
r "I'm teach-
guage associate ing Spanish
professor 231, which has
four examsj
grade plus
final exam," Pettersen said.
"The students also write three jour-
nal entries a week, for which I write
extensive comments, and two formal
compositions, for which I make com-
ments on the draft and then grade the
final copy," she said. "In addition to
that, I have to grade class participa-
tion, workbooks, oral exams and hold
extra office hours each week."
'ee...... ...................---------- ------- ------------
. "
CGroduatmnq this sprinq p :
"
Before you go, be sure to:
Close out your UMCE computing account at the ITD
Accounts Office.;
Copy all the files in your IFS space (like your per-
sonal web page) to a disk, because once you're gone,
it's gone. *
Remove the campus access software, Netscape and ;
other U-M provided software from your hard drive-
only enrolled students are licensed to use them.
Update your computer memory, buy a modem, get
new software at the Computer Showcase. Last chance
to buy is April 22!
Update your X.500 directory listing with your new
e-mail address, so your friends can find you next
month.
Clean out your e-mailbox. Copy any messages you ;
want to save to a disk. You don't want to lose them. :
0
" -
!p "
.
s Kopn U+ Onnmirhaccount.ddess
..* 6a n arae*
Call Academic
Outreach at
764-5300 or
email aocourses@
umich.edu
Room 1210 Buhr
INo
WANTED
Volunteers for Sleep Research Studies
r i
Men and Women
F(ages 18-45)}
Who Have:
No Difficulty In Sleeping
Men and Women
(ages 21-55)
Who Do Have:
Difficulty I Sleeping
Volunteers needed for a study of the
common cold on sleep.
(You do not need to have a
cold in order to participate)
Wanted: Men and Women