GMAT Administration

General GMAT Administration Policies

The GMAT is administered by Pearson VUE (Virtual University Enterprises) on behalf of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Students taking the GMAT must be at least 18 years old (those between the ages of 13 and 17 may take the test with the permission of a parent or guardian). Though the GMAT is intended for prospective graduate students, there is no official policy that requires test-takers to hold a bachelor's degree. Registration for the GMAT is by phone, fax, postal mail, or online, and may be completed up to six months prior to the test date. Registration by phone or online is available up to 24 hours before the test. Registered students will receive a letter confirming the location and date of the test. GMAC recommends a test date that is at least three weeks ahead of any business school application deadlines.

Test Center Policies

In order to be admitted to the test center, students must present an officially accepted type of photo identification (driver's license, passport, government-issued ID, or military ID). For international students taking the GMAT outside of their countries of citizenship, a passport is the only acceptable form of identification. Test-takers will be required to agree to all test center policies, formally known as the GMAT Examination Testing Rules & Agreement, and will also be expected to electronically confirm acceptance of the GMAT Non-Disclosure Agreement and General Terms of Use. Eating and drinking are not allowed in the test room, but food and drink may be consumed during breaks. Smoking is prohibited during the entire test period, including breaks. Students will be asked to complete a demographic survey (which includes questions about graduate school plans, academic background, and willingness to receive further solicitation from GMAC) after they finish the test.

Policies on Academic Honesty

While taking the GMAT, test-takers are prohibiting from using anything characterized by the test's administrators as "testing aids," which "include but are not limited to beepers, pagers, pens, calculators, watch calculators, books, pamphlets, notes, blank sheets of paper, rulers, stereos or radios, telephones or cellular (mobile) phones, stopwatches, watch alarms, dictionaries, translators, thesauri, personal data assistants (PDAs), and any other electronic or photographic devices or potential aids of any kind." Scratch paper (referred to as "noteboards") is provided by test proctors and must be returned at the end of the test. Test-takers are not allowed to communicate with each other during the test period. Possible sanctions for violations of these policies include dismissal from the test center, cancellation of scores, a ban on future testing, and (if appropriate) criminal prosecution.

Test Security

A number of on-site measures are taken to ensure the integrity and security of the GMAT assessment process. Upon arrival at the test center, students are photographed, their signatures are taken digitally, and in some cases their palm vein patterns are recorded. The test center is subject to audio and video recording for the entire test period. Test-takers are not allowed to remove any materials associated with the test from the test center, and the non-disclosure agreement prohibits discussion of test content before, during, or after the administration of the GMAT. Students must agree to all of these measures, or they will not be allowed to take the test. Test security helps prevent instances of fraud, such as taking the GMAT on behalf of someone else.

Accommodations for Disabled Students

Students with disabilities that affect their ability to take the GMAT may qualify for certain testing accommodations. In order to be eligible for accommodations, test-takers must document a condition that impairs a major life activity, explain how this disability prevents them from taking the GMAT under normal conditions, and justify the need for assistance while taking the test. All documentation must be current, and evidence of past accommodations is not in itself sufficient. Examples of disabilities that meet these criteria include Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, learning and cognitive disorders, physical and psychological disabilities, and sensory impairment (vision or hearing). Among the typical accommodations available are additional exam time, additional or extended breaks, questions read aloud by proctors, and audio recording of test answers. Accommodations should be requested at the time of registration and must include the GMAT Test Accommodation Request Form, which is submitted to the GMAT Disability Services office. Requests for accommodations can only be considered if the student has paid the registration fee in full.