GMAT

GMAT

About the GMAT™ Online Exam

Learn About the GMAT™ Online Exam

The GMAT™ online exam is a remote proctored version of the of the test center-based GMAT™ exam designed to help you meet your application goals – from the comfort of your home.  You have the option to take the GMAT™ exam online or at a test center – or both – the choice is yours! Appointments are available around the clock and testing dates are available 6-months out on a rolling basis. The GMAT™ online exam can be taken on a Windows or Mac computer, and features:
  • 3 full exam sections: Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, and beginning April 8, 2021 the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section
  • Same time, scoring, and number of items as the test center-based exam
  • Flexibility to use a physical or an online whiteboard for scratch work
  • Disability accommodations
  • Accepted by over 7,000 global business programs
  • Scores valid for 5 years
  • Complimentary unlimited score report sending
Bring out your best where you test. You might feel more at ease at home with the online exam or prefer the structure of a test center. Both options will always be available to help you meet your application deadlines. The choice is yours. Today and every day. The GMAT Exam Before April 8 and on or After April 8

Which Delivery is Right For You?

Compare the test center based GMAT™ exam with the GMAT™ online exam to discover which GMAT™ exam delivery is right for you. Download this chart to see a side-by-side comparison.

Disability Accommodations

If you are planning to request disability accommodations for the GMAT™ online exam, do not schedule your appointment until your accommodation is approved. Please begin by following the process to register as a test taker with disabilities. Accommodations available include 50% and 100% extended time along with an extended break of 10 minutes (16-minute extended break beginning April 8, 2021. GMAT Online Testimonial

Before the Exam

During the Exam

  • Login at least 15 minutes before your exam time for check-in.
  • Remove mobile phones, headphones, watches, notes, scratch paper, and any other objects or electronic devices from your work area.
  • Touchscreens, graphics tablets, and use of a stylus is not permitted.

After the Exam

  • Official scores will be posted in your mba.com account within 7 business days of completing your exam and will not be included in test center-based score reporting.
    • Beginning April 8, 2021 you will also be able to view your unofficial score on screen immediately after your exam.
  • Complimentary unlimited score sending.
  • Score is valid for 5 years.
  • Online exam counts towards 12-month and lifetime limits.
  • One retake is available † 
verifiable technical issues will not count toward your retake limit, however, if you experience multiple technical issues, we may advise you to test at a test center. The GMAT™ online exam is available in all locations, with the exception of: Mainland China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan due to regulatory and local data privacy rules. Please note that currently, proctoring support for the GMAT™ online exam is only offered in English.

GMAT™ Online Exam Structure

GMAT Exam Structure

An Assessment of the Skills That Matter Most in Business

The GMAT Exam Has Four Sections:

  1. Analytical Writing Assessment—measures your ability to think critically and to communicate your ideas
  2. Integrated Reasoning—measures your ability to analyze data and evaluate information presented in multiple formats
  3. Quantitative Reasoning—measures your ability to analyze data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills
  4. Verbal Reasoning—measures your ability to read and understand written material, to evaluate arguments and to correct written material to conform to standard written English
In total the test takes just under 3 1/2  hours to complete, including two optional breaks.

Structure of the GMAT Exam

The GMAT Exam has four separately timed sections. You will have the opportunity to take two optional eight-minute breaks during the exam.
Test Section Time Limit / Number of Questions Question Types Score Range
Analytical Writing Assessment 30 minutes 1 question Analysis of an Argument 0-6 (in 0.5-point increments)
Integrated Reasoning 30 minutes 12 questions Graphics Interpretation, Table Analysis, Multi-source Reasoning, Two-part Analysis 1-8 (in 1-point increments)
Quantitative Reasoning 62 minutes 31 questions Data Sufficiency, Problem Solving 6-51 (in 1-point increments)
Verbal Reasoning 65 minutes 36 questions Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction 6-51 (in 1-point increments)
 

Control Your Test Taking Experience

When you arrive at your test center, you have the flexibility to choose from three options for your exam's section order:
  1. Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal
  2. Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
  3. Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
This choice simply gives you more control and flexibility to take the GMAT exam based on your strengths and testing preferences. Read more about selecting your exam’s section order.

The GMAT Exam is Computer Adaptive. What Does That Mean?

The Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections of the GMAT are computer-adaptive, meaning the difficulty of the test tailors itself in real-time to your ability level. This feature allows the exam to assess your potential with a higher degree of precision and deliver scores that business schools trust. Here’s how it works: The first question you receive in either the Verbal or Quantitative sections will be of medium difficulty. As you answer each question, the computer scores your answer and uses it as well as your responses to any preceding question to select the next question. If you answer the first question correctly, the computer will usually give you a harder question. If you answer the first question incorrectly, your next question will be easier.  This process continues until you complete the section, using responses to all previously answered questions, at which point the computer will have an accurate assessment of your ability in that subject. You will not be able to skip, return to, or change your answers to questions. This is because the computer uses your response to each question to select the next one.

GMAT™ Online Exam Structure

The GMAT™ online exam measures the verbal, quantitative, integrated reasoning, and critical thinking skills that are most relevant for graduate business education.
  • Integrated Reasoning—measures your ability to analyze data and evaluate information presented in multiple formats
  • Quantitative Reasoning—measures your ability to analyze data and draw conclusions using reasoning skills
  • Verbal Reasoning—measures your ability to read and understand written material, to evaluate arguments and to correct written material to conform to standard written English
  • Analytical Writing Assessment—measures your ability to think critically and to communicate your ideas (Beginning April 8, 2021)
The GMAT™ online exam includes the Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning and beginning April 8, 2021 the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section. Each section contains the same number of questions and time per section as the current test center-based GMAT exam. The sections are as follows:
  • 31 Quantitative Reasoning/ 62 minutes
  • 36 Verbal Reasoning/ 65 minutes
  • 12 Integrated Reasoning/ 30 minutes
  • 1 Analytical Writing Assessment/ 30 minutes (Beginning April 8, 2021)
The Section Order for the GMAT™ online exam:
  • Exams before April 8, 2021: Section Order is fixed Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning.
  • Exams on or after April 8, 2021: You will have the flexibility to choose from three options for your exam's section order:
    • Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal
    • Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
    • Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
  • This choice simply gives you more control and flexibility to take the GMAT exam based on your strengths and testing preferences. Read more about selecting your exam’s section order.
Total Exam Time Before April 8, 2021 – The total exam time is approximately 2 hours 40 minutes and you will be allowed one, plus one optional 5-minute break before you begin the Integrated Reasoning section. On and after April 8, 2021 – The total exam time is approximately 3 hours and 7 minutes, plus two optional 8-minute breaks. Online check in – Please allow 15 minutes to check into the online proctored system. (Note that check-in times may be up to 30 minutes during peak periods.)

Scores and Score Sending

The GMAT™ online exam uses the same scoring algorithm and score scale for the Section Scores and Total Score as the test center-based version. This ensures scores are compatible and comparable across the online and test center-based versions.
  • Official scores will be available in your mba.com account within 7 business days of completing your exam
    • Beginning April 8, 2021 your unofficial score will be presented to you on screen immediately after completing your exam and official score available within your mba.com account within 7 business days. 
  • Choice and control over which Online exam appointment scores you want to send to Schools
  • Complimentary unlimited score sending
  • Scores are not included in the score reports sent for exams taken at test centers
  • Scores are valid for 5 years
Candidates may take the GMAT™ online exam up to two times. Note: Scores for the GMAT™ online exam are not included in the score reports sent for exams taken at test centers

Whiteboards

You have the option and flexibility to use both a physical whiteboard and an online whiteboard for your scratch work and/or take notes. Learn more about whiteboard options and requirements.

Availability of the GMAT™ Online Exam

The GMAT™ online exam is here to stay with appointments currently available on a rolling basisAppointments are available around the clock and you can schedule an exam appointment up to 24 hours before an available testing slot. Disability accommodations – If you are planning to request disability accommodation for the GMAT™ online exam, do not schedule your appointment until your accommodation is approved. Please begin by following the process to register as a test taker with disabilities. Accommodations available include 50% and 100% extended time along with an extended break of 10 minutes.

Compare the GMAT™ Online Exam with the Test-center Based GMAT™ Exam

Which GMAT™ exam delivery is right for you? Use this chart to compare the GMAT™ online exam to the GMAT™ The GMAT™ online exam is available in all locations, with the exception of: Mainland China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan due to regulatory and local data privacy rules. Please note that currently, proctoring support for the GMAT™ online exam is only offered in English.

GMAT™ Online Exam Registration and Fees

Take the GMAT™ online exam in the comfort of your home. Appointments are available around the clock providing you additional convenience and flexibility.

Register for your GMAT™ Online Exam

The GMAT™ online exam offers the convenience of taking your exam around the clock.  To register for your GMAT™ online exam:
  1. Create or Log In to your mba.com account
  2. Click the “Register for the GMAT Online Exam” button, select the GMAT™ Online exam, find your preferred appointment date and time, and finalize your registration.*
*Disability accommodations – If you are planning to request a disability accommodation for the GMAT™ online exam, do not schedule your appointment until your accommodation is approved. Please begin by following the process to register as a test taker with disabilities. Accommodations available include 50% and 100% extra time along with an extended break of 10 minutes. (16-minute extended break beginning April 8, 2021)

Registration Costs and Fees

GMAT™ online exam registration is US $250 and includes complimentary unlimited score report sending. Select the date range based on when you intend to schedule your appointment below to learn more about reschedule and cancellation fees.

Fees for Exams Before April 8, 2021 

Fees for Exams on or After April 8, 2021

*In India, price is inclusive of GST. Log into your mba.com account and click the "Reschedule" or “Cancel” links next to your appointment details to reschedule or cancel your appointment.

Payment Information

You may pay for your GMAT™ Online exam with any of the forms of credit card or debit card listed below, please consider the following:
  • We accept: VISA, Mastercard, and American Express.
  • Charges on your credit card statement will most likely appear as “VUE*GRAD MGMT TEST”\. For exams on or after April 8, 2021 the statement charge will appear as EXAMITY LLC
  • If your credit or debit card is declined, your appointment will be automatically canceled. You are responsible for scheduling another test appointment with a valid payment.
  • If you use a stolen or fraudulent credit or debit card, your registration will be canceled, any of your previous GMAT scores may be canceled, and Graduate Management Admission Council may notify both schools and law enforcement authorities.
  • If you wrongfully challenge or dispute the fee with your credit card company, you may be blocked from taking further exams or from requesting additional score reports.
In India, some banks will not allow debit cards to be used on the internet unless the merchant participates in Verified by Visa or MasterCard Secure Code. This requires that the customer enter a pin number. We do not participate in this program. Please contact your bank for assistance. Some banks may be willing to issue their customers a special one-time-use card or lift the pin restriction, so you can use it on our website.

Identification Requirements

You are required to present an original (not a photocopy) ID that is valid (unexpired) and government-issued. All IDs must include the candidate's name and a recent, recognizable photo. All IDs must have a first and last name that matches the first and last name the candidate used to register for the exam. Acceptable forms of identification include:
  • Passport
  • Driver’s license
  • Military ID (including spouse and dependents)
  • Identification card (national or local)
  • Registration card (such as green card, permanent resident, visa)‡ 
  • Aadhaar card for residents of India - Beginning April 8, 2021Learn more about the Aadhaar card identification requirements
‡ We know under the current COVID-19 pandemic some services and access has been interrupted. As a result, IDs with an expiration date between January 01, 2020, and the date of the exam will be accepted.