GMAT Administration

General GMAT Administration Policies

The GMAT can be completed in testing centers or online. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE (Virtual University Enterprises) on behalf of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) in testing centers across the US, Canada, and around the world. The GMAT can also be taken online from the comfort of your home. Regardless of where you complete the exam, the registration and administration policies are generally the same, and test-takers would do well to spend time familiarizing themselves with the details of taking the exam in the location of their choice.

Students taking the GMAT must be at least 18 years old (those between ages 13 and 17 may take the test with permission from a parent or legal guardian). Though the GMAT is intended for prospective graduate students, there's no official policy that requires test-takers to have a bachelor's degree. GMAT registration can be completed by phone, fax, postal mail, or online, and may be completed up to six months before the test date. Registration by phone or online is available up to 24 hours before the test. Registered students will receive a letter and/or email confirming the location and date of the test. The GMAC recommends a test date that is at least three weeks ahead of any business school application deadlines, and most test prep experts suggest registering for the exam two to three months before your first business school deadline.

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 and food and beverages should not be brought to a testing center. 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 at a testing center, test-takers are allowed to bring the following items with them, however they must be stored in a locker during the exam and cannot be brought into the testing room: cell phones, watches, electronic aids, writing utensils, a thesaurus, radios, ear plugs, lip balm, pagers, stereos, pamphlets, dictionaries, calculators, scratch paper, rulers, translators, and communication devices. Test-takers may not bring food, drinks, candy, or weapons to a testing center. 

Scratch paper (referred to as "whiteboards") is provided by test proctors and must be returned at the end of the exam. 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.

The policies for academic honesty and integrity when taking the GMAT online are very similar to the policies involved in taking it at a testing center. Eating, smoking, and chewing gum during the exam are prohibited. Items not allowed on your desk or in your line of sight during the exam include: cell phones, headphones or headsets (wired or Bluetooth), handheld computers or other electronic devices, pagers, watches, wallets, purses, hats or other head coverings, bags, coats, books, notes, paper, pens, pencils, chalkboards, or other non-approved writing tablets.

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 exam period. Test-takers are not allowed to remove any materials associated with the exam 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 exam. Test security helps prevent fraud, such as taking the GMAT for someone else.

When taking the GMAT online at home, you will be required to answer the security questions you set up when you registered for the exam. You will be asked to type your first name and your last name. The online exam proctor will verify your ID, which must match the ID photo you uploaded when you registered for the test. The proctor will ask you to hold up your laptop or webcam so they can conduct a 360-degree view of the workspace where you will be completing the exam. The proctor will confirm all external monitors and other electronic devices are unplugged, confirm there are no items or objects within your reach, confirm there is no food or drink in the vicinity except for water in a clear container, and inspect all items on your walls. 

The online GMAT is administered via a secure, locked-down browser, meaning once the exam has been launched, all applications other than the test-taking software will be shut down and disabled. During the exam, you will be monitored by the exam proctor through your computer’s webcam and microphone.

Accommodations for Disabled Students

Students with disabilities that affect their ability to take the GMAT may qualify for certain testing accommodations. These 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.

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 neurodevelopmental disorders (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, learning and cognitive disorders), physical and systemic disabilities (mobility impairment, cancer, Spina Bifida, diabetes), depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, and sensory disabilities (e.g., blind/low-vision, deaf/hard-of-hearing). Typical accommodations that are available include:

• Additional testing time
• Additional rest break
• Allowance of a medical device in the testing room
• A reader/recorder who can read the test items to the test-taker and record test-taker responses
• Enlarged font
• Adjustable contrast
• A sign language interpreter

Test-takers who anticipate needing accommodations should closely read and thoroughly familiarize themselves with the necessary documents required, as the GMAC is very specific when it comes to the types of documents that will be accepted related to a disability. Those in need of additional information can always contact the GMAC with questions. Given that obtaining accommodations can be a lengthy undertaking, test-takers seeking them are encouraged to treat it as the highest priority and give themselves additional time when gathering/submitting disability-related documentation.