GMAT Exam 2025: Dates, Registration, Eligibility, Pattern, Preparation, Result, Score

Do you also aspire to expand your knowledge in the business world while studying MBA abroad? If yes, then let us tell you that the GMAT Exam is a crucial step for individuals aspiring to pursue graduate management education abroad. Designed to assess analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills, the exam is vital in the admission process for various business and management programs worldwide. Without a good GMAT score, your dream of studying at a top B-school might remain incomplete.

Therefore, this blog will delve into key aspects of the GMAT, including exam dates, registration details, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, preparation strategies, result expectations, and score interpretation.

The GMAT is a standardised admission test designed to assess a person’s readiness for graduate-level study in business and management. The GMAT exam syllabus consists of four main sections: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, quantitative, and Verbal. These sections are similar to evaluate various skills essential for success in a graduate business program.

The Analytical Writing Assessment gauges the ability to analyse an argument and communicate ideas effectively in writing. Integrated Reasoning assesses the capacity to integrate information from multiple sources and solve complex problems. The Quantitative and Verbal sections measure quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning skills, respectively.

The Graduate Management Admission Test, abbreviated as GMAT, is required for MBA and other postgraduate business-level admissions abroad. GMAC administers GMAT in around 100 countries for individuals pursuing PG business courses. Applicants can register for the GMAT all year and take it whenever they want, depending on the availability of the GMAT exam centre.

GMAC specifies no set GMAT qualifying criteria for taking the GMAT exam. However, one should always meet the eligibility criteria specified by the university/college one wishes to attend for the GMAT exam. Below are some basic eligibility criteria that are required for GMAT.

• The candidate must be above 18 years of age. However, if they are between 13 to 17 years old, they should get written permission from their parents or legal guardians. 

• Candidates planning to appear for GMAT and apply for an MBA programme must have a graduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university.

• Few MBA universities abroad may require work experience in a chosen field of at least 2 years or more, along with a GMAT score. 

The GMAT exam fee in India is USD 300 for the online format and USD 275 for the in-person exam. Furthermore, if applicants want to reschedule or cancel their GMAT 2024 exam, they will be charged an extra fee. Candidates who fail to appear for the exam will be charged the entire GMAT exam fee if they wish to appear for it again. Below is the estimated breakdown of the fees required for the GMAT exam for indian students.

If you cancel your GMAT exam scheduled at a GMAT test centre between 1 to 14 days before the test date, you will be charged USD 220 for a test centre GMAT and USD 240 for an online GMAT. If you cancel the exam 15 to 60 days before the appointment, you will be charged USD 195 for a test centre GMAT and USD 210 for an online GMAT. If you cancel the exam more than 60 days before the appointment, you will be charged USD 165 for a test centre GMAT and USD 180 for an online GMAT.

Furthermore, the test appointment cannot be changed or cancelled within 24 hours of the planned test time. The GMAT exam cancellation cost for the test centre GMAT exam 2024 and the online GMAT exam is shown in the table below:

You must pay USD165 for the test centre GMAT exam and USD 180 for the online GMAT exam if you reschedule the GMAT exam that was scheduled at a GMAT test centre 1 to 14 days before the test date.

In addition, if you reschedule the exam 15 to 60 days before the appointment, you will be charged USD 110 for the test centre GMAT exam and $120 for the online GMAT exam. If you reschedule the exam more than 60 days before the scheduled date, you will be charged $55 for the test centre GMAT and $60 for the online GMAT. The table below contains information about the GMAT rescheduling fee for the test centre GMAT exam.

B-schools typically provide scholarships and awards to students pursuing a professional programme such as an MBA. The scholarships might be need-based or merit-based, but in 2024, There are no clear guidelines for providing a GMAT scholarship because each school's admissions process determines it; the candidate should always check with the school directly to obtain a scholarship.

Apart from this, there are also two types of scholarships: full and partial. A full scholarship covers the entire programme cost, whereas a partial scholarship just covers a portion of the course costs.

According to GMAC, applicants can register for the GMAT Focus Edition 6 months before the GMAT Test date or up to 24 hours before the GMAT exam date; however, it is recommended that students prepare ahead of time for their GMAT exam 2024 and schedule their slots. You can easily register for GMAT either online or through postal mail.

There is no set official GMAT exam date in 2024; you can choose any date that is convenient for you. If you need to repeat the GMAT exam, you have 16 calendar days to do so. The GMAT exam can be taken or retaken in any of the 16 calendar days. You can take the exam up to 5 times yearly and 8 times in your lifetime. It is recommended that candidates register two to three months before the exam date. If you register online or via phone, you can register up to 24 hours before the GMAT exam date.

The GMAT exam consists of four sections, which are mentioned below.

Except for the AWA Score, students receive practically the complete GMAT Score Report immediately after completing the GMAT test. It will be up to the applicant to accept or reject it. If the candidate accepts the result, the candidate and the institutes of choice can view it; however, if the candidate declines the result, none of the parties can read the GMAT result. After the exam, students can access their unofficial GMAT scores. Finally, candidates receive the full GMAT Score Report, including the AWA Score, within 20 days of taking the test.

Each of your five GMAT scores, consisting of the overall and four individual section scores, is reported on a predefined scale. These are your official GMAT scores, as shown on your GMAT Score Report. These scores are delivered to your chosen recipients. Always remember that the GMAT Total Score Report only considers the Verbal and Quantitative sections. Here are the following  things that are included in your GMAT Score Report:

• Your Quantitative Score (0 – 60), with percentile

• Your Verbal Score (0 – 60), with percentile

• Your Total GMAT Score (200 – 800), with percentile

• AWA Score (half-integers from 0 to 6), with percentile

• Integrated Reasoning score (integer from 1 to 8)

Candidates should know that GMAT scores for the previous version and the GMAT Focus Edition are valid for 5 years. Candidates can, therefore, examine the application deadlines of various universities and plan their GMAT exams accordingly. To avoid any last-minute complications, students must conduct research for various study abroad intakes and MBA application deadlines.

GMAT 2024 exam and application paperwork must be arranged ahead of time. To view your GMAT score report, go to:

• GMAC sends candidates an email with a link to their registered email address.

• Candidates can access their official GMAT Score Report by following the instructions in the email.

If you are ready to take the exam in the next 2-3 months, it is best to choose your test centre, as reservations must be made in advance. Selecting the city closest to you is recommended so you do not have to drive far before the exam. Once you've decided on a state/city, you can check a date's availability at your nearest GMAT exam centre.

GMAT candidates can apply to over 7700 programmes worldwide at about 2400 business schools. Prominent business schools around the world accept GMAT scores above 720. Furthermore, management institutions should award students a degree to recognise GMAT results.

GMAT scores are one of the most crucial variables in the application process for admission to top B-schools worldwide. GMAT is recognised in over 110 countries worldwide. Aside from that, students applying to institutions that accept GRE scores and GMAT scores may need to know GRE to GMAT Score Conversion to convert their scores.

Below is a list of some of the best B-schools in the world that accept GMAT scores to enrol students for the MBA program.

• Harvard Business School, US

• London Business School, UK

• Stanford Business School, US

• MIT Sloan School of Management, USA

• Emlyon Business School, France

• Booth school of business, USA

• Kellogg School of Management, USA

• HKUST Business School, UK

• Coventry University, UK

• University of California at Berkeley, USA

1: What is a good GMAT score?

A good GMAT score is between 700 and 740, while a score of 740 or more is considered outstanding. To achieve a GMAT score of 700 or above, you must be among the top 13% of test takers, while a score of 750 places you in the top 2% of exam takers, outperforming 98%.

2: How significant is the GMAT score in the context of the overall application?

The GMAT is vital in gaining admission to the top institutions worldwide. If a student achieves a score of 550 or higher, they will be easily admitted to the leading universities in the world for an MBA programme.

3: What is the difference between GMAT and CAT?

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and the Common Admission Test (CAT) are the two most widely accepted management entrance tests, with scores accepted by all major B-schools, including the IIMs. The primary distinction between the two is that, whilst CAT is a national-level entrance exam for students seeking admission to Top Business Schools in India, GMAT is a global exam that assists students in gaining admission to top B-Schools worldwide. GMAT scores are accepted by NRI/Foreign students who desire to study in India and are administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council.