If you're studying for the GMAT using a book you bought at MacGrudy's or Books Plus, check out these FREE online adaptive GMAT practice tests to complement your studying. Since the GMAT is a computer adaptive test (CAT), these tests will give you practice to improve two important aspects of your test-taking: taking tests on the computer and working with a test that changes according to you.

* MBA.com GMAT Test Prep Software: 2 full-length CAT tests! Take one in the beginning to determine your baseline score and Take the other just before the GMAT to determine your score improvement.
* The Princeton Review full length practice test: Use this test midway through your study program to see how you are progressing. Be sure to do it in one sitting!
* Veritas Prep online practice test: Great for establishing your baseline score or getting some practice.
* Kaplan online practice test: Online practice test with a few freebies.
* Peterson's online practice test: Create a log-in and work just the verbal or math section as part of your practice.

The Dubai Tutor does not endorse any specific GMAT prep program. Use the tests available to help you increase your score or email the Dubai Tutor if you need guided preparation.

Want to take the SAT, TOEFL, or IELTS but afraid your English isn't good enough? Don't be sad...

Email the Dubai Tutor for help! I now offer foundational tuitions to help students build their English language abilities in:
* Reading
* Writing
* Listening
* Speaking
* Grammar
* Vocabulary

I can design a personalized study program for you at reasonable rates. Get a discount if you sign up with your husband/wife or school mates.

Email me and I will give you a FREE assessment to see what you would score on the actual test!

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What is the TOEFL?
TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It an American based test of English language proficiency and is the most widely used language test. If you want to go to university in the U.S., any "Western" country, or even in Dubai, you will probably have to take the TOEFL.

Who makes the TOEFL?
The TOEFL was developed by the same company that created the SAT, the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

What's on the TOEFL?
There are two commonly accepted versions of the TOEFL, the paper based test (PBT) and internet based test (iBT). The version you have to take depends on the requirements of the university you want to attend.

The TOEFL iBT is the latest version of the test and is taken on the computer. The test is designed to measure integrated skills that you will need in a university environment. It includes four sections: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. For the reading, you will have to read several passages and answer questions. For listening, you listen to campus conversations and academic lectures and answer questions. The speaking section requires you to talk into a microphone and respond to questions asked about yourself or about a listening assignment. There are two parts to the writing: one essay about a listening assignment and one essay about your opinion on a topic.

The TOEFL PBT is an older version of the test and is taken with pencil and paper. It includes three sections: reading, listening, and structure/written expression (grammar). An essay is not part of the TOEFL PBT but you may also be required to take the Test of Written English (TWE), which requires you to write you opinion about a topic.

How is it scored?
The TOEFL iBT is scored from 0 to 30 in each of the four sections for a maximum total score of 120. The TOEFL PBT is scored from 310 to 677. Don't worry if you have taken one test and your school requires the other; there is a conversion that compares the two tests. For example, if you earned a 500 on the PBT, that score converts to a 61 on the iBT.

What is a good score?
There is not really a pass or fail on the TOEFL. A good score is the score that gets you into the university you want to attend. While many universities in the U.S. require an 85 or 90 on the iBT, schools in Dubai usually ask for a 61 to 80.

If you are going to university in Dubai, be sure to check your college's admissions requirements. If classes are taught in the English language, you must score at least a 500 on the TOEFL or you will have to enroll in the universities' Intensive English Programs. Many universities will not let you take classes within your major (for example, science) until you have scored at least a 500.

What else do I need to know?
For more information about the TOEFL, go to www.ets.org/toefl. You can also register for the test at the ETS website.

How do I prepare for the TOEFL?
The TOEFL is designed for people that already have a strong English ability. If you can read and understand this blog, you probably speak English well enough to begin your TOEFL preparation. If your English ability is not as high, consider enrolling in English courses, reading books, and listening to English language programs until you are ready to take the TOEFL. If you email the Dubai Tutor, I can design a study program to help you improve your English or prepare for the TOEFL.

Ever wonder why Americans say something is "the greatest thing since sliced bread?" It's because the invention or discovery they are talking about revolutionized (good SAT word) an industry, just the way sliced bread did when it was introduced in the 1930s.

My latest "sliced bread" discovery is SparkNotes.com, and I guarantee it will revolutionize your test preparation. The SparkNotes test center features free online preparation guides and practice tests the SAT, SAT (II) Subject Tests, ACT, GRE, and LSAT. The best feature is that if you create a free account, you can practice with online tests, print a detailed score report, and save your results.

I have started using SparkNotes in my private tuitions and classes and I can see dramatic differences with students. My students can access their test results at any time and do a detailed review of their answers from practice tests, something we do not usually have time to do in class. The online test prep books are a great supplement to my teaching, their notes, and the books we use in class.

So how should you use SparkNotes in your study? Well, if you're working with the Dubai Tutor, we're already using it. If you're preparing on your own, the online practice tests can help you track your progress and let you know if it's time to email me for some extra support. While SparkNotes is not a replacement for the experienced help the Dubai Tutor can give, it will make you happy you turned your computer on that day.

BusinessWeek recently reported, quite plainly in fact, that business school is getting crowded. Enrollment at top business schools, including Harvard, Wharton, and INSEAD--three schools topping the MBA wish list for a lot of Dubai b-school hopefuls--is at record highs. Many schools have confirmed that the entering 2009 students are part of their largest classes ever.

For more details, read the entire BusinessWeek article.

So what does that mean for you? In a word, competition. The financial crisis has convinced many wannabe MBAs that business school is a good place to wait until the storm is over. More top business school applicants now have higher GMAT scores, higher grade point averages, and more interesting work experiences than ever before, increasing the competition to get into business school. With more students in business programs, there may be greater competition for resources and faculty attention.

If you want to stay competitive for business school application, you will need to do two things:

1. Step up your GMAT preparation to increase your score. If you are preparing alone, consider forming a study group with likeminded friends or seeking the services of the Dubai Tutor to complement your preparation.

2. Look beyond the Financial Times and US News top 10 business schools. Schools that are not in the top 10 have actually lost students to other programs, leaving them very interested in new applicants. Programs in the middle of rankings lists also have lost students to regional programs (state schools), which means they are worth considering.

In the future, it is likely that competition for top business schools will also increase, regardless of whether student enrollment numbers do. It's not Harvard if everyone can get in, right?