GMAT Online Exam appointments extended indefinitely

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), owner and administrator of the GMAT Exam, has announced that appointments for the GMAT Online Exam will be extended through 2021.

The GMAT Online Exam was initially launched as a temporary solution to support candidates applying to business school during the coronavirus outbreak, which forced the closure of GMAT test centers.

Now, with coronavirus seemingly here to stay and the world shifting to life online, the online GMAT will continue to serve candidates looking to enroll in MBA and master’s programs.

The GMAT Online Exam has now been updated to include the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), the GMAT essay section, previously only part of the traditional test center GMAT. Additional enhancements have also been made to align the online GMAT with the test center version.*

The Executive Assessment Online, a GMAT-style test for Executive MBA candidates, will also be available to take through 2021.

GMAT Online Exam vs. Test Center GMAT:
Although GMAT test centers have re-opened in some countries, many elsewhere remain closed or with limited capacity. It’s also trickier for candidates to plan ahead or travel to test centers with the ongoing threat from COVID-19.

In terms of content, there is no difference between the new online GMAT and the test center version. The online GMAT has the same structure, number of items, and duration as the test center exam. It also uses the same scoring algorithm and score scale for the Section Scores and Total Score.

Candidates were initially unhappy that they weren’t permitted to take physical notes during the GMAT Online Exam, but GMAC was quick to address this and test-takers are now able to use a physical whiteboard as well as the online whiteboard tool.

The test is available in impacted markets globally, excluding markets limited by regulatory restrictions: Mainland China, Iran, Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea.

The GMAT Online Exam costs $250 globally and is hosted on mba.com, where you can also register for the test.


Note: The GMAT Online Exam now allows a physical whiteboard option.

GMAT Online Exam | A permanent solution:
The GMAT Online Exam is set to stay. GMAC says it has seen widespread acceptance of the GMAT Online Exam from business schools. Both GMAT and GMAT Online scores are valid for five years.

“Since April, candidates representing 124 countries have sent scores to more than 2,000 business school programs around the world,” said a GMAC spokesperson contacted by BusinessBecause.

“Schools globally have been very comfortable and confident utilizing the GMAT Online exam to evaluate their applicant pools.

“The purpose, construct and scoring structure of the online assessment is comparable to the exam delivered in test centers and GMAC has observed scoring outcomes comparable to exams delivered in test centers.”

Applying To Business School During COVID-19?

*Note: The launch of the enhanced GMAT Online exam, originally planned for April 8, 2021, has been postponed as GMAC completes additional testing to ensure the best possible experience for candidates.

There will be no disruption to the permanent availability of online testing and the current GMAT Online Exam is available to all test-takers. If you booked a GMAT Online exam appointment for between April and mid-May, you’ll be automatically registered for the current online GMAT. If you wish to reschedule you can do at no extra cost.