{"id":19549,"date":"2024-07-25T17:12:52","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T17:12:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/?p=19549"},"modified":"2024-07-26T00:04:37","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T00:04:37","slug":"gmat-online-whiteboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.manhattanprep.com\/gmat\/blog\/gmat-online-whiteboard\/","title":{"rendered":"The GMAT Focus Online: How to Make the Most of BOTH Whiteboard Tools"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"gmat-online-whiteboard-tool-stacey-koprince-manhattan-prep-strategy-blog-info-study-learn-teacher-expert-score\"<\/p>\n

The GMAT Online allows test-takers to use both a physical whiteboard and an<\/b>\u00a0online whiteboard\u2014and there are great reasons to use <\/b>both<\/i><\/b>, actually. Learn when to use which in this post!<\/b><\/p>\n

When you <\/span>take the GMAT Online<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019ll have access to both a physical whiteboard (that you\u2019ll buy yourself) and an online one. The key is knowing when to use which and practicing in advance so that everything goes smoothly on test day. This post has been updated for the new GMAT exam.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When you take an official practice test, you\u2019ll have access to the official online whiteboard. We\u2019ve replicated the official online whiteboard tool to allow you to practice under official test conditions in advance of the test, including the ability to resize the board and place it wherever you want on your test screen. If you have any type of syllabus with us, including our free <\/span>Starter Kit syllabus<\/span><\/a>, the online whiteboard is already waiting for you. (No MPrep syllabus? Get a free one\u2014just follow that link. You\u2019ll also get a free suite of foundational math study materials.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the <\/span>official requirements<\/span><\/a> for the physical whiteboard that you buy yourself for the GMAT Online. (If you\u2019re taking it in the testing center, they\u2019ll provide the scratch paper for you. It\u2019ll <\/span>look like this<\/span><\/a>.) You\u2019ll want to take at least a couple of practice tests using your physical whiteboard to figure out exactly how you want to use it, so buy it soon.<\/span><\/p>\n

One more thing. Be prepared to take the exam either online or in a testing center. Give yourself full flexibility, just in case.<\/span><\/p>\n

Requirements for the physical whiteboard<\/h3>\n

The maximum dimensions of the whiteboard are 12 by 20 inches or 30 by 50 centimeters. It does need to be a dry-erase board and it does have to have a plain white background (no colors or grid lines). Also: Buy a double-sided whiteboard\u2014it\u2019s explicitly allowed and you’ll have double the \u201creal estate\u201d on which to write! (*If you have our <\/span>Yellow Pad<\/span><\/a>, you can\u2019t use this for the GMAT Online. The Yellow Pad is still used for your scratch paper in the testing center, though, so it\u2019s good practice for that format.)<\/span><\/p>\n

For the GMAT Online, you can have one eraser and up to two dry erase markers\u2014definitely have two markers on hand for your test and make sure they\u2019re new or almost-new.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a <\/span>partial list<\/span><\/a> of what GMAC has said <\/span>cannot<\/span><\/i> be used\u2014but they reserve the right to deny other things. So look for the largest whiteboard that fits the max size limits, but go super simple after that\u2014white, boring, basic.<\/span><\/p>\n

How the online whiteboard works<\/h3>\n

This table lays out how to use each tool, in order as they appear on the screen:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Tool<\/b><\/td>\nHow to Use<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nPencil \/ Pen. Write or draw anything you want. Choose one of the smaller thickness settings. The whiteboard will remember your choice.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nEraser. Choose the greatest setting for thickness. The whiteboard will remember your choice.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nLine. Draw perfectly straight lines, dashed lines, and arrows. Probably won’t need to use much.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nRectangle. Use when you want to make a box or grid. Probably won’t use much.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nCircle. Probably won’t use much.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nText. Take notes on longer verbal- or logic-based problem types.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nIgnore. Polygon or Free Shape.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nPan. Use to move to new white\/blank space.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nIgnore. Eyedropper.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nChange the color of your drawing or writing. Probably ignore.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nFill a shape with a certain color. Probably ignore.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nChange the background color of the whiteboard. Choose your desired color at the beginning. Ignore after that.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nUndo a change or redo. If you accidentally delete something, bring it back. If you make a mistake, undo it.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nIgnore. Zoom in and out. Just use the Pan tool (above) if you need more white space.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0\"\"<\/td>\nIgnore. Clear everything. Just use the Pan tool (above) if you need more white space.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Top Tips for getting the most out of the online whiteboard<\/h3>\n

The online whiteboard is great for several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n