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Last Updated on May 12, 2023
The GMAT is administered year-round — and round-the-clock, now that the online GMAT is available — so picking a GMAT exam date can seem like a daunting task. However, if you’ve been asking, When do you take the GMAT?, there are 5 practical steps you can take to choose a GMAT test date that allows you to meet your deadlines AND gives you the best chance of hitting your goal score.
- Know your deadlines.
- Know your score goal.
- Get your baseline score.
- Set a realistic study timeline.
- Plan for retakes.
So, let’s take a closer look at each of these 5 steps. By the time we finish step 5, you’ll know exactly how to pick the GMAT test date that is right for you!
Step 1: Know your deadlines.
MBA programs typically accept applications in three rounds, although some schools have four or more rounds for applications, and others — Harvard Business School, for instance — may have only two. So, as soon as you have a list of programs to which you plan to apply, look on the program websites for their application deadlines and decide which round you’re shooting for. In general, applying to business school during Round 3 is not recommended because your chances of being accepted to the program or receiving any scholarship funds greatly decrease after Round 2.
Luckily, business schools tend to adhere to similar schedules for their application deadlines:
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 |
|---|---|---|
| September – mid-October | December – January | March – mid-April |
Keep in mind that these dates are rough guidelines, so you shouldn’t assume that just because your friend’s applications were due in September, yours will be too. Remember also to factor in any time you’ll want to devote to other aspects of your applications. Ideally, you’ll be able to plan your timeline so that you’re not studying for the GMAT and, for instance, writing application essays at the same time.
TTP PRO TIP:
As soon as you have a list of programs to which you plan to apply, look on the program websites for their application deadlines and decide which round you’re shooting for.
So, the first step in determining when to take GMAT exams is determining your application deadlines. Once you’ve decided in which round you want to apply, it’s time to strategize how to give yourself the best possible shot at being accepted to your desired programs. That brings us to step 2.
Step 2: Know your score goal.
Students starting their GMAT prep often ask what a “good” GMAT score is, but the truth is, “good” is relative. Every school has its own standard for what is considered a good (or great) GMAT score, so you have to do a little research to determine what your score goal should be. Why is it important to know this information before you decide on an exam date and dive into your prep? Well, a student shooting for a 720 score may need significantly more time to prep for her exam than a student shooting for 660 needs.
In addition to having a target for your GMAT Total Score, you’ll want to set score goals for the individual GMAT test sections: Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning. Some of the top MBA programs are unapologetically quant-driven, so if you plan to apply to a top-ranked school, you should probably plan to earn a top Quant score. Knowing whether your desired programs emphasize certain sections of the GMAT will help you determine how much time you’ll need to study for your exam.
Most programs note on their websites the average GMAT scores of accepted students, but if you have any trouble finding the information you need online, give the folks in admissions a call. Just don’t make the mistake of arbitrarily setting a GMAT score goal based on what other test-takers are doing — or even worse, choosing a test date without determining your target score. Do your research and set your goals before you lock in a test date.
TTP PRO TIP:
Determine your score goal before you decide when to take GMAT exams, so you can create a realistic study timeline for earning a competitive score for your desired programs.
Step 3: Get your baseline score.
There is no question that taking practice tests is an essential component of GMAT prep. However, many students don’t realize that taking an official GMAT practice exam before they start their GMAT prep is a crucial aspect of planning a smart strategy for GMAT success. After all, if you don’t know where you’re starting from, how can you possibly determine how long it will take to reach your destination?
So, before you dive into your GMAT studies, take an official, full-length GMAT practice exam from mba.com, the website of GMAC, the makers of the GMAT. The results of your initial practice exam will give you a baseline score, which will tell you how far you are from your score goal, thus helping you determine how much time you’ll need to prepare before you’re ready to sit for your actual GMAT.
Since the objective of this practice test is to help you better understand your starting level of GMAT preparedness, only minimal preparation is necessary. There is no sense in spending weeks studying for a diagnostic exam. Simply familiarize yourself with the structure and sections of the GMAT and the types of questions you’ll see, and complete a few practice questions of the various types (you can find those on mba.com as well). Then, take the GMAT Official Practice Exam 1.
Be sure to replicate actual GMAT testing conditions as much as possible during this initial practice exam. Take the test in a quiet environment, completing all sections with no interruptions other than the allowed breaks, and do not use a calculator during the Quant section. If you don’t adhere closely to test-day conditions, your baseline score will not be accurate.
TTP PRO TIP:
Before you dive into your GMAT studies, take an official GMAT practice exam to get a baseline score, so you can see how far you are from your score goal and better determine when you’ll be ready to sit for your actual exam.
With your application deadlines, score goal, and baseline score in hand, you’ll be ready to map out your study timeline and determine your GMAT exam date.
Step 4: Set a realistic study timeline.
Some students need as many as 300+ hours to prepare for the GMAT; however, your ideal preparation time will depend on how far your baseline score is from your score goal, your learning style, and your other daily commitments. For instance, someone who is 50 points from her score goal likely will need far less time to prepare than someone striving for a 200-point increase.
Likewise, someone with a full-time job may have to spread his studies over a greater number of weeks than will someone who has those hours free. Don’t assume that you can follow another person’s study plan and achieve that person’s score. The question of when to take GMAT exams has a different answer for every person. Carefully evaluate what you need to do and when you can make time to do it.
Remember, you want to take the GMAT when you are truly ready to do so. If you choose a test date without objectively assessing how long you’ll need to reach your score goal, you could end up wasting precious time, racking up GMAT fees, and taking a hit to your confidence when test day doesn’t go as planned. So, if you need a 100-point increase to reach your score goal, and Round 1 deadlines are in one month, it’s probably time to face facts and consider applying at a later date.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you choose a test date without objectively assessing how long you’ll need to reach your score goal, you could end up wasting time, racking up GMAT fees, and taking a hit to your confidence.
For detailed strategies on how to calculate the amount of time you’ll need to prepare for the GMAT, this article is a must-read.
Step 5: Plan for Retakes
A great Plan A is always backed by a solid Plan B. If, for some reason, you receive a disappointing score on GMAT test day, you want to be in the position to take the test again — and take it a third time, if necessary. Of course, no one wants to have to sit for the GMAT more than once, but the fact is, many people do just that and end up hitting or even exceeding their score goals.
When choosing a GMAT exam date, if possible, give yourself enough of a time cushion between your exam and your application deadlines to allow for retakes. Keep in mind that the GMAT rules stipulate that you must wait at least 16 days between each exam, and you’ll want to give yourself sufficient time between exams to properly address remaining GMAT weaknesses.
Furthermore, it can take up 20 days for GMAC to transmit your official scores to your selected schools. So, for example, if you have a December 1 deadline to apply in Round 2, you might sit for the GMAT no later than October 1, in order to allow time to study for and complete one retake and to ensure that your scores get to schools on deadline. Of course, if you plan to work on your applications after you finish your GMAT, or if you want to leave time for more than one retake, you might schedule your GMAT for August or July.
Grab a calendar (or open your calendar app) and work backward from the date your first application is due, accounting for all of the factors mentioned above, and you’ll arrive at a sensible test date. If the date you arrive at is too soon for you to adequately prepare to hit your target GMAT score, you may want to reassess your timeline for applying to business schools.
Another thing to consider is that, if you don’t have to, there really is no reason to push your luck. Why wait to take the GMAT until two months before your applications are due if you can realistically be ready to take your exam six months before your deadlines? GMAT scores are valid for up to 5 years, so unless you need more time to study, taking the GMAT sooner rather than later isn’t going to hurt. There is something to be said for not having the GMAT hanging over your head as your application deadlines approach, and you certainly want to avoid a do-or-die situation in which you have only one shot at hitting your score goal before you apply.
TTP PRO TIP:
If possible, give yourself enough of a time cushion between your exam and your application deadlines to allow for at least one GMAT retake, if not two.
Now that you know how to choose GMAT test dates, check out our article about how and when to register for the GMAT.
