GMAT Test Dates, Locations, Structure, and Scoring

GMAT Test Dates

The GMAT is offered most days of the year. This type of schedule allows you to complete your GMAT review at your own pace and take the exam when you determine that you're ready.

GMAT Test Locations

Each GMAT testing center has its own schedule. Go to www.mba.com to register, or fill out and mail in the registration forms from the "GMAT Bulletin," available from ETS or the career placement office of most colleges.

GMAT Test Scoring

The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test, or CAT. This means that unlike a paper-and-pencil test, the next question is always determined on the spot, pulled from a large bank of questions inside the computer. Based on your answers, you will either see more or less difficult questions, which will have an impact on your score. Be sure to take this test format into account during your GMAT prep.

Overall scores on the test range between 200 and 800. The final score is determined by your performance on the verbal and quantitative sections, and is accompanied by a percentile rank. The average score is 500. Preparing for the exam may help you increase your score, so try to get some GMAT practice in before you take the test.

An Analytical Writing Assessment score is provided separately. Either two independent readers, or one reader and computerized essay-scoring software will score each essay. A third reader is used if the first two are too far apart. Each essay is assigned a score between 0 and 6, with 6 being "Outstanding", and 0 being "Unscorable". You will also receive a verbal subscore, ranging from 0 to 60.

GMAT Test Structure

A key part of GMAT preparation is understanding the structure of the exam so you won't be surprised on test day. Here's how the test is organized.