GMAT Registration

GMAT Registration Procedure

Students may register for the GMAT by phone, standard mail, fax, or online. Phone registration is completed by calling the appropriate regional GMAT Customer Service number. Students wishing to register by standard mail or fax should download, complete, and send the registration form, available on the official GMAT website at www.mba.com. Online registration involves creating an account on the mba.com website and following the included links. GMAT registration begins six months before any specific test date, and phone or online registration is available until 24 hours before the test. Students should ensure that the name they give for registration is exactly the same as it appears on the identification they plan to use for admission to the test center. Registration is verified with a confirmation letter that includes the student's name, the test location, and the test date. Students are advised to carefully review this letter and ensure that all information is correct.

Available Dates and Test Centers

Testing is available on the majority of days during the year, typically Monday through Saturday (Sunday administrations are uncommon). Specific dates vary by test center, but registration at least three months in advance will yield the largest number of available dates at any given location. Major metropolitan areas in the United States house dozens of test centers, and for most American students it is not difficult to find a convenient location in close proximity to home, work, or school. Overseas test centers are less numerous, but they can be found in 114 countries, usually in or near major cities. The official GMAT website allows students to search for test centers and available dates by city or zip code. Test dates are shown for a six months period in advance of the search date.

Registration Fees

The standard GMAT registration fee (which GMAC refers to as a "scheduling fee") is $250, which includes five official score reports. Phone registration may carry an additional charge of $10. Test-takers who wish to reschedule their GMAT test date will be charged an extra $50, and additional score reports cost $28. Some countries apply taxes to GMAT registration, which are not covered by the $250 base fee (students are responsible for any applicable taxes, and should add these to their registration payment). Online registration fee payment is done by credit or debit card, and hard-copy registration (standard mail or fax) should be accompanied by cashier's check, money order, or personal check (all funds in U.S. dollars). Test-takers who pay their fees by check or money order should allow 10 additional days for processing. Students who cancel their registration seven or more days before the test will receive a partial refund of $80. Students who, for any reason, miss their test date or cancel less than seven days in advance are ineligible for refunds.

GMAC Privacy Policies for Registration Data

GMAC states that they compile registration data for a narrow set of reasons: "We use the information we collect to provide you the services you request, to customize and improve those services, and for research and development purposes." Information sharing associated with research is generally transmitted in aggregate form, with no identifiable individual student data included. Data may also be shared with any necessary service providers, or to comply with court orders. GMAC does not otherwise disclose information to third parties without the consent of the student.

Policies for California Test-Takers

Students taking the GMAT in the state of California who cannot obtain government-issued identification may request an exemption from the GMAT identification requirements. These requests must be submitted at least three days before the test's administration. California is one of the few states with any sort of regulation of testing entities. Under these regulations, California students taking the GMAT must be provided with a statement that informs test-takers of their right to keep their personal data private. The statement affirms, in plain English, that GMAC will not share personal data with other businesses for direct marketing purposes without the explicit consent of the student. If a student does choose to allow sharing of information, he or she has a right to know how that information will be used, and he or she may rescind consent at any time.

Overseas GMAT Administration

Overseas GMAT registration policies and student rights are specific to individual countries. All students taking the GMAT outside their country of citizenship must use their passport for admission to the test center, but identification requirements for non-U.S. citizens undergoing GMAT administrations in their home countries can vary considerably. The official GMAT website lists these policies, and also informs students of any additional rights or responsibilities they may have. For example, European Union countries have stronger protections for personal data than the United States, including the right to access and correct that data.