GMAT 2023 Exam – Registration (Open), Dates, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, Result

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the entrance exam conducted by the  Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)  for MBA admissions in many countries around the world. The GMAT official website is www.mba.com/exams. The GMAT exam is computer-based and is a multiple-choice test. Students who wish to pursue MBA or PGDM abroad are required to take the GMAT exam whose scores are used for selection purposes. GMAT scores are the basis of MBA admissions in all the participating countries worldwide and many top institutions in India as well. The GMAT exam is designed to test the skills of candidates that are most important for a management program.

What is the GMAT exam?

Many B-Schools abroad use the GMAT scores for their MBA admissions. The GMAT exam is conducted throughout the year as well as on-demand in specific test centers around the world. GMAT is also offered online. The GMAT exam fees vary from country to country and students applying for the exam must check the fee applicable in their country.

The GMAT exam is designed to test the high-order reasoning capacities of every applicant. The test comprises 4 sections and requires basic English and math skills from the applicants.  The exam will assess your ability to think critically, analyze and infer information and solve problems. The GMAT syllabus includes topics that involve Integrated Reasoning, complex judgments and critical thinking, and analytical skills. GMAT exam 2023 will have four timed sections. Each is separately timed with two optional eight-minute breaks.

Fast facts about the GMAT exam:

GMAT exam 2023 - mode of exam

In view of COVID-19 pandemic, GMAC is offering the option of GMAT exam online or at a test center. The change is only in mode of exam while other details related to GMAT exam will remain the same. GMAT exam online is not available in Mainland China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan due to regulatory and local data privacy rules. 

GMAT is a computer adaptive test that is 3 hours and 30 minutes in duration. It comprises 4 sections for evaluation. The sections in GMAT exam are Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing. You are advised to go about your GMAT preparation accordingly.

• The Quantitative Reasoning section tests math skills and numerical literacy.

• The Verbal Reasoning section tests the reading comprehension skills and understanding of written arguments.

• The Integrated reasoning section tests the data analysis and interpretation skills.

• The Analytical Writing section measures critical thinking and communication skills.

GMAT 2023 will have a total of 80 scored questions. Questions asked in GMAT 2023 will be both objective and subjective in nature. GMAT scores are valid for a period of five years from the date of the examination and are available for reporting for up to 10 years.

GMAT Exam is conducted the world over by Graduate Management Aptitude Council (GMAC). There is no partiality based on nationality, religion, sex, background, history, etc. The GMAT eligibility criteria are based on the following: -

Valid Passport - Candidates must hold a valid passport at the time of the GMAT exam.

Age- A candidate must be 18 years and above to appear for the GMAT exam. If a candidate is under 18, he/she has to submit written proof from parents/guardians to appear for the GMAT exam. There is no upper age limit for the GMAT exam.

Qualification - A candidate with a bachelor's degree from a recognized institute can appear for the GMAT exam. Students in the final year of under graduation or working professionals can write the exam.

Language Requirements - The GMAT exam is conducted in English, so one must know English to understand the questions. However, it is not compulsory to have it as a medium of instruction in school/college studies.

Attempts - A candidate can give a maximum of five attempts in a year with a gap of 16 days between each attempt. In a lifetime, one can not take more than 8 attempts.

How many attempts are allowed for GMAT exam 2023?

Candidates are allowed to retake the GMAT exam a maximum of 5 times a year. The maximum number of attempts allowed for any candidate in a lifetime is 8 times. However, there must be a gap of 16 days before retaking the GMAT exam.

GMAT eligibility criteria- institute specific

It is important that candidates make the list of institutes they are interested in applying to and then check the GMAT eligibility criteria for each. Qualifying for the GMAT exam is just one step in the MBA admission process.

Mode of Application : Online

Mode of Payment : Net Banking | Credit Card | Debit Card | NEFT

Registrations for the GMAT exam 2023 are open. The GMAT exam is conducted throughout the year. GMAT registration can be done six months before the preferred date. 

Steps for the registration of the GMAT exam

1. Create a GMAT Profile.
2. Enter Personal Information, Profile Details and verify your profile.
3. Schedule Your GMAT exam (select test date and centre). 
4. Confirm GMAT exam 2023 details.
5. Pay GMAT exam fees.
6. A confirmation is received via email after completion of GMAT registration.

7. Verify that name, date of birth, location of citizenship, and gender match the details in the identification proof presented on the GMAT exam day.

8. The next step is to select the schools receiving the GMAT scores (max 5 programmes).

9. Review the confirmation letter for the GMAT exam to check whether the details are correct.

Note: Candidates can do registration for the GMAT exam online/ by phone/ postal mail, or by fax and pay by credit card or debit card, check, or money order. 

GMAT registration through phone: To register by phone, candidates need to call the GMAT customer service in their region. There will be an additional service fee of US$10.

India Phone- 0120 4397830 (Monday to Friday- 9 am to 6 pm)

Steps for GMAT registration by post

• Complete the application form on the mba.com
• Download and mail the application form along with the fee payment information.
• For doing the postal registration, candidates need to pay the fee by cheque or money order.

GMAT exam registration fees 2023

• Online GMAT exam fee payable is US$ 275.
• GMAT registration via phone: US$ 275 + US$10 for customer service charges.
• GMAT exam postal registration fee to be paid via cheque or money order.

How to reschedule the registration of the GMAT exam?

Candidates can reschedule the exam online or by phone. 

• To reschedule the registration of the GMAT exam 2023, candidates should log in to the GMAT website and click on “Reschedule your GMAT Exam”.  
• If the candidate reschedules the exam over the phone, there will be an additional service fee of US$10.
• If the new date is more than 7 days ahead of the initial picked date then they need to pay US$50 as a rescheduling fee.

How to cancel the GMAT test?

• Canceling the GMAT exam can be done online or by phone. GMAT exam cancellation fee: US$150. 
• If GMAT exam cancellation is to be done online, candidates should log in to the main website and click on “Cancel GMAT Exam”.
• If the candidate cancels the exam over the phone, there will be an additional service fee of US$10.

GMAT exam registration - key points

• To get the preferred exam date, candidates need to start the process of GMAT exam registration well in advance.
• The candidate should decide on the GMAT exam date as per the application deadlines of the institutes he/she plans to be admitted.
• The candidate must have all the required information, credit/debit card, and identification details while filling out the application form.
• After completing the registration for the GMAT exam, they must also verify all details to ensure that the details mentioned in the GMAT account are correct.

To achieve the desired score in the GMAT exam, devising the right GMAT preparation strategy is very crucial. The correct GMAT preparation strategy will help a student achieve his/her goals. Some of the preparation tips that one must follow are

1. Understand the GMAT exam structure

GMAT is a ‘computer adaptive test’ that adapts to the candidate’s ability in real-time by selecting questions based on the responses provided by them. Therefore, it is important to understand the exam pattern, syllabus, marking system, topic-wise weightage, and types of questions in the paper. Candidates must read them in detail to build a proper exam strategy. 

2. Refer to the GMAT syllabus

Topics to cover and study come from the syllabus of GMAT. Hence its important to refer to the prescribed syllabus and understand what to study. 

3. Collect the best resources

Gather GMAT preparation material that is in sync with the GMAT previous year's question papers to understand important topics. The sample question papers you collect should cover all levels like easy, moderate, and difficult. 

4. Targeted study

Keep time targets in terms of course completion, revision, and practice of questions. It will improve performance, overall speed, and accuracy. If a section is allotted 30 minutes, try to cover it five minutes early. 

5. Practice regularly

GMAT preparation requires a lot of practice to improve the time speed, accuracy, and score range. Practicing topics, especially weak ones, will give the candidate confidence in the exam hall and save him/her from the anxiety of exam pressure. Practice questions section-wise, topic wise, and try to give full-length question papers at regular intervals.

6. GMAT diagnostic tests

These are designed like actual GMAT exams. The questions asked are similar to the questions asked in the main exam. By giving these tests, a candidate will come to know where he/she stands in the preparation, what are the weaknesses and strengths areas. They will also help in expanding knowledge as they come with detailed solution analysis, different methods to solve the questions, and percentile evaluation.

For a candidate who is appearing for GMAT exam 2023, it is vital to know the GMAT exam pattern. GMAT exam is computer based with 80 questions across four sections. Candidates equipped to know what type of questions, marking scheme, duration and such factors can prepare better. The GMAT exam pattern 2023 is given below.

GMAT exam pattern 2023

Detailed GMAT 2023 exam pattern

Options for the GMAT exam's section order

Candidates are allowed the flexibility to choose the order of the sections they would attempt in the GMAT exam 2023. However, three pre-defined options candidates can choose from the GMAT exam pattern are:

1. Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal
2. Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
3. Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

Practice is very important to ace any exam, GMAT exam not being an exception. Candidates who are appearing for the exam will need to not just study but put it to practice. The best way to go about it is to use the official mock tests as well as the ones available on the internet.

GMAT Practice Exams

1. GMAC allows all students a free official starter kit along with 2 practice exams for GMAT 2023. The kit contains a sampler of 90 questions from past GMAT exams along with the practice tests. These tests are based on the actual format and help candidates match the difficulty levels and manage their pace just like in the actual GMAT 2023 exam.

Click here to avail the GMAT™ Official Starter Kit + Practice Exams 1 & 2 (Free).

Candidates who appear for GMAT exam 2023 can avail their scores immediately after completion of the test. The GMAT score is issued in the form of a report that includes the scores obtained in Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning and the total scores. 

Official GMAT score 2023 will be available to candidates within five to 20 days. In most cases, the GMAT score is released within five to seven days, but it may take up to 20 days to fully process any request, the same as if candidates accepted their scores on test day.

Candidates will be issued the official GMAT score report within 20 days from the GMAT exam day. GMAT scores are calculated on a 200-800 point scale with 10-point increments. The total GMAT exam score will comprise the cumulative scaled scores of the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections. The Integrated Reasoning and the Analytical Writing Assessment scores are calculated and reported separately on the GMAT score report 2023. The GMAT scores chart is given below.

GMAT score chart 2023

What after the GMAT exam 2023?

Candidates have the following options after they complete their GMAT exam.

1. Pick the unofficial GMAT score report 2023: Candidates who have accepted their GMAT scores may pick a printed copy of their unofficial GMAT score report at the exam centre. 

2. Cancel the GMAT score 2023: Candidates have the option to cancel their GMAT scores up to 72 hours after the completion of the GAMT exam 2023. This is for candidates who have accepted their GMAT scores 2023 at the test centre after completion of the test. The cancellation of the GMAT scores can be done online. Candidates are advised that the option to cancel the GAMT exam 2023 may take up to 24 hours to be visible depending on the location of the test centre. 

3. Reinstate GMAT score: This option is for students who have previously cancelled their GMAT scores. To reinstate the previously cancelled GMAT scores, candidates need to login, follow the instructions and pay the requisite fee.

GMAT rescoring

• Candidates can request rescoring service for their Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section in the GMAT exam. 
• Rescoring facility is not open for the Verbal, Quantitative, or IR Prep sections of the GMAT 2023 exam. 
• Candidates can also request rescoring of their AWA essay by an independent human reader for a specified fee.
• Requests for rescoring must be made within 6 months of the GMAT test date. 
• Candidates have to pay extra fees for this facility.

Sending GMAT score reports to B schools

Once the exam is complete, candidates may need to send their GMAT scores to the chosen BSchools. GMAT Score Reports (copies of essays and a digital photograph) are released to schools. This is at the specific request of the candidates. Scores are sent only if a designated graduate management program has elected to receive them. Candidates may instruct the same when they take the test. They may also request an Additional Score Report (ASR). 

GMAC can also share this information with their subsidiaries and third-party partners for research purposes, as well as others as provided in the Privacy Statement on mba.com.