Does anyone have any knowledge or input as to how the new
test will affect the test takers?

In what way?

The new test will drop one essay and replace it with a new section called Integrated Reasoning. So you will have to study for this new section.

The Quant and Verbal sections are not changing at all. If you are not well-prepared for Integrated Reasoning, or if you find essay-writing easier than answering test questions, though, then you might find yourself more tired on the Q and V sections, since Integrated Reasoning comes first.

In terms of scores, IR is scored on a completely separate scale; the Q and V scores (and the overall 3-digit score) as you know them will not change. Nobody knows yet how the business schools will use the IR scores, but the general consensus is that it won't play a very important role in admissions for the first year. After that... well, ask me again in a year.

_________________
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director of Online Community
ManhattanGMAT