When to take the GMAT

When should I take the GMAT?

When determining an appropriate date to take the GMAT, it is important to research the admissions application deadlines for each of the schools to which you plan to apply, as deadline dates for MBA and other graduate schools vary widely.

Register Ahead of Time to Get the Closest GMAT Test Center

Although GMAT test takers may register for an appointment on a "last minute" basis up to a few days prior to taking the exam, each test center has a limited amount of scheduled GMAT appointments, and during some periods of the year in certain locations, all allotted GMAT appointments fill up far in advance. Therefore, test takers are encouraged to register for a GMAT appointment well in advance to ensure they may take the GMAT at the closest test center location and allow a wider selection of test days and times. GMAT test takers may register for an appointment to take the GMAT a maximum of six months in advance.

Schedule Your GMAT Appointment to Meet Application Requirements

GMAT Test takers receive an Unofficial Score Report at the test center immediately upon completing the GMAT; however, it can take up to 20 days for the test taker and any schools designated by the test taker to receive the Official Score Report. Many schools require simply that the GMAT be taken prior to the application deadline, in which case applicants self-report the GMAT score based on the Unofficial Score Report which is then confirmed upon arrival of the Official Score Report; however, some schools require the receipt of the Official Score Report prior to the application deadline. Therefore, it is important to understand the policy of each school to which you plan to apply to make absolutely sure that you fulfill all application requirements prior to the application deadline.