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The Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, as it is popularly known, is the widely used standardized assessment test to determine candidates’ eligibility for applying to grad school programs. Conducted over the course of the year, GMAT is not confined to any particular date. To assess the best time to book the GMAT test date, the student must start with planning their MBA application timeline. While the comparative consistency in format, in terms of the type of questions, scoring, and number of questions, makes it easier for the aspirants to prepare well for GMAT, the competition in the domain makes it difficult for the candidates to acquire the coveted 90th and 99th percentiles. Over the decade, a staggering number of students have been consistently taking the GMAT.
Year | Average GMAT Score | Tests Taken |
---|---|---|
2018 | 565 | 242714 |
2017 | 564 | 250884 |
2016 | 558 | 261248 |
2015 | 554 | 247432 |
2014 | 550 | 243529 |
2013 | 546 | 238356 |
2012 | 548 | 286529 |
2011 | 544 | 258192 |
2010 | 544 | 263979 |
2009 | 539 | 265613 |
Source: GMAC Profile of GMAT Testing: Citizenship
It may be safe to say that with the large-scale advent of many small to medium scale enterprises the need for competent industry leaders is at an all-time high. According to the GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey Report, 2018, almost 81% of companies plan to hire MBA graduates and US companies plan to offer a minimum starting remuneration of USD 105,000 to MBA graduates. Undoubtedly, MBA graduates dominate the global business dynamics. Competition to acquire the necessary learning has been ever on the increase, as is substantiated by the gradual increase in the average GMAT score requirement over the preceding decade. Thus, while the number of tests taken has mostly remained consistent, the average GMAT score has increased.
If you are an MBA aspirant, start with the basics – get the above average GMAT score to stand possible chances of securing an admit into one of the top-ranked B-schools and belong to a team of enriched professionals and inspiring industry leaders. Start with your GMAT prep in advance to be able to comfortably complete your MBA application formalities. Opt for our online GMAT prep program to capitalize upon time and the vast range of prep resources.
The average GMAT requirement, as stipulated by the top-25 schools in 2018, further, confirms the intense planning and preparation that a candidate must undertake in order to ensure that he/she acquires his/her desired scores.
School | Average GMAT Score |
---|---|
Stanford | 708 |
Harvard | 730 |
INSEAD | 700 |
Wharton | 732 |
CEIBS | 685 |
LBS | 707 |
Chicago Booth | 738 |
MIT: Sloan | 730 |
Columbia Business School | 732 |
Berkeley: Haas | 726 |
Yale | 724 |
IESE | 690 |
Oxford: Said | 690 |
Northwestern University | 732 |
Dartmouth | 722 |
Cambridge: Judge | 696 |
NUS | 662 |
HKUST | 680 |
HEC Paris | 690 |
Duke: Fuqua | 704 |
Esade | 660 |
IMD | 670 |
Darden | 718 |
ISB | 709 |
NYU: Stern | 716 |
The ideal strategy for any GMAT aspirant is to begin with planning the time they have until the first GMAT exam date. Interestingly, unlike the most other entrance exams, GMAT is conducted throughout the year. However, one must bear in mind the following crucial points prior to booking their GMAT test slot:
To be able to chalk out the perfect plan for preparing for GMAT and approach to GMAT preparation, the student should be properly apprised about GMAT. To determine the best GMAT test date for oneself, the student must closely observe the following steps:
1. Understand the Skills being Tested: GMAT is divided into four different sections that assess particular skill sets. Thus,
2. Understand the Pattern of the Test:
3. Assess your Competency: The GMAT prep process should actually begin with a diagnostic test. The student needs to understand his/her weak areas to be able to better chlk out the perfect GMAT study plans for themselves. Opt for our free GMAT mock test to understand your preparation needs for GMAT.
4. Plan your Applications: It is always advisable to apply in the first round of MBA applications. Thus,if a student is targeting the Round 1 deadline that usually falls in the months of September and October, he/she must book his GMAT slot in April.
Plan | Date |
---|---|
Round 1 Deadline | September – October |
Essays | August |
Possible Second Retake | July |
First Retake | June |
GMAT Date | April |
If you are targeting the Round 1 application cycle, September – October, you will have to complete your application prerogatives by the month of August. As the application process is extensive and requires an investment of your creativemental faculties in preparing the essays, you should allow proper time to accomplish this step. At the same time, you must keep buffer time for yourself to accommodate any unfortunate events such as getting below average GMAT scores. In that scenario, you will have to prepare and retake the test. Thus, for a candidate targeting Round 1 application cycle, the best time to take the GMAT is in April.
Plan | Date |
---|---|
Round 2 Deadline | December – January |
Essays | November |
Possible Second Retake | October |
First Retake | September |
GMAT Date | August |
If you are targeting the Round 2 application cycle, December – January, you will have to complete your application prerogatives by the month of November. As the application process is extensive and requires an investment of your creativemental faculties in preparing the essays, you should allow proper time to accomplish this step. At the same time, you must keep buffer time for yourself to accommodate any unfortunate events such as getting below average GMAT scores. In that scenario, you will have to prepare and retake the test. Thus, for a candidate targeting Round 2 application cycle, the best time to take the GMAT is in August.
Plan | Date |
---|---|
Round 3 Deadline | March |
Essays | February |
Possible Second Retake | January |
First Retake | December |
GMAT Date | November |
If you are targeting the Round 3 application cycle, March, you will have to complete your application prerogatives by the month of February. As the application process is extensive and requires an investment of your creativemental faculties, in preparing the essays you should allow proper time to accomplish this step. At the same time, you must keep buffer time for yourself to accommodate any unfortunate events such as getting below average GMAT scores. In that scenario, you will have to prepare and retake the test. Thus, for a candidate targeting Round 3 application cycle, the best time to take the GMAT is in November.
Ideally, a gap of 3 months must be maintained between the GMAT test date and the MBA application deadline.
Normally, the application process of every school requires the following:
As the essays form an important part of the application process, it is advisable that the student invest adequate time and resource in ensuring that he/she delivers the most compelling MBA applications essays. Thus, the student must allow a month to duly complete the application requirements. Next, considering that the student is unable to score his/her desired score in the first attempt, he/she may want to retake the test; no one can retake GMAT before 16 days from the first test. In retaking the test too, the student will have to undertake rigorous planning and preparation to ascertain competent scores in the next re-take. Thus, ideally, GMAT test dates must be so planned that it allows atleast 3 months time between preparing and retaking the exam, if necessary, and properly completing the entire application process.
Besides, to be able to properly understand your preparation needs and thereby plan your GMAT exam date, refer our GMAT Practice Tests. This exhaustive set of 15 full-length GMAT practice tests will assure that you are sufficiently prepared before you decide to take the final GMAT.
Do not wait for the last minute to book your GMAT exam slot; book it as early as possible. Ideally, if you are already 2 months into your GMAT prep process and plan to take the test in another 2 months, you should book your GMAT exam slot by the end of the third month; i.e. book your GMAT exam slot and centre at least 2 months in advance from the GMAT test date. Although GMAT is conducted through over 500 test centres, worldwide, and through 50+ test centres spread across 30+ cities in India, it is advisable that you conduct thorough research on your nearest and convenient test centre and book your test slot, accordingly.
The following table provides the address and the contact details of some of the GMAT test centres in India:
Sr. No. | State/ UT | City | GMAT Test centre | Address | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Punjab | Amritsar | Pearson Professional centres-Amritsar PUN | No.2 Upper Ground Floor, SRK Mall Passport office building, 14 Mall Road, Amritsar, Punjab Amritsar Punjab 143001 India | (+91)183-5016100 |
2 | Punjab | Jalandhar | Pearson Professional centres-Jalandhar PUN | 3rd Floor, Unit-8, Eminent Mall Complex Guru Nanak Mission Chowk, Lajpat Nagar Jalandhar, Punjab Jalandhar Punjab 144001 India | (+91)181-4670666 |
3 | Punjab | Patiala | Thapar University | Distance Education Building Bhadson Road Patiala Punjab 147004 India | (+91)175 2393351 |
4 | Punjab | Mohali | Winsoft Computer Centre | SCF – 13, Second Floor, Phase 2 Mohali Punjab 160055 India | (+91)172-4660664 |
5 | Punjab | Chandigarh | Pearson Professional centres-Chandigarh PUN | A-401, 4th floor, Elante Offices Block Industrial Area, Phase 1, Chandigarh Punjab Chandigarh Punjab 160002 India | (+91)172-4085028 |
6 | Rajasthan | Pilani | BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus | Vidya Vihar Campus Pilani Rajasthan 333031 India | (+91)159-6515298 |
7 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun | DIT University | Faculty of Arcitecture (Vastu Building) Mussoorie Diversion Road, Makkawala, Dehradun Uttarakhand 248009 India | (+91)135-3001575 |
8 | Haryana | Gurugram | Pearson Professional centres-Gurugram HAR | Second floor, Unit No. 214, Times Tower M G Road, Gurgaon Haryana Gurugram Haryana 122002 India | (+91)124-4058536 |
9 | Haryana | Gurugram | Ansal University | Golf Course Road, Sector – 55 Gurugram Haryana 122003 India | (+91)124-4750400 |
10 | Uttar Pradesh | Noida | Pearson Professional centres-Noida | Ground floor, 1A/1, S.B. Towers, Sector 16A, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301 India | (+91)120-4152465 |
11 | Rajasthan | Jaipur | Sakar Edutech Pvt. Ltd. | 602/603 , 6th Floor, Arcade Mall , C – Scheme Malviya Marg, Opposite Airtel Office, Jaipur Rajasthan 302001 India | (+91)141-4032899 |
12 | Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | Ansal Technical Campus | Sec – C, Pocket 9 Sushant Golf City Lucknow Uttar Pradesh 226030 India | (+91)7379777730 |
13 | Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | UPTEC Computer Consultancy Ltd | 2nd Floor, Lekhraj Gold, Near Munsi Pulia, Indira Nagar. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226016 | (+91)522-2717445, 2715716 E-mail : uptec.ind@gmail.com |
14 | Rajasthan | Jaipur | SKIT Employees Welfare Society | Swami Keshvanand Institute of Technology Ramnagaria, Jagatpura Jaipur Rajasthan 302 017 India | (+91)141-5160400 |
15 | Delhi | New Delhi | Pearson Professional centres-New Delhi | 4th Floor, Building No.18, Ramnath House Yusuf Sarai Community Centre, Above HDFC Bank, New Delhi Delhi 110049 India | (+91)11-41841472 |
16 | Delhi | New Delhi | EduProB96 | Office Space Number 332, 3rd Floor, Vardhman Plus City Mall, Sector-23, DWARKA, Delhi 110075, India | (+91)11-40110610F96 |
Sr. No. | State/ UT | City | GMAT Test Centre | Address | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gujarat | Ahmedabad | A1 Professional Assessment Centre | A/709, Titanium City Centre B/h IOC Petrol pump, 100 feet road Near Shyamal Cross roads, Satellite Ahmedabad Gujarat 380015 India | (+91)7940326573 |
2 | Gujarat | Ahmedabad | Pearson Professional Centres-Ahmedabad GUJ | 301, 3rd Floor, Block A, WESTGATE Near YMCA Club, S.G.Road, Ahmedabad Gujarat Ahmedabad Gujarat 380054 India | (+91)79-40009055 |
3 | Gujarat | Surat | Pearson Professional Centres-Surat GUJ | 703, 7th Floor, Swastik House Nandi Park Society, Piplod, Surat Gujarat Surat Gujarat 395007 India | (+91)261-4898911 |
4 | Gujarat | Surat | AURO University | Earthspace , Hazira Road Opp ONGC , Next to Toyota, Bhatpore Surat Gujarat 394510 India | (+91)261 – 4088100 |
5 | Maharashtra | Nagpur | Unisoft Technologies | Unisoft Technologies 2nd Floor, Parnanda Building, Above Anand Bhandar And Khadims West High Court Road, Dharampeth Nagpur Maharashtra 440010 India | (+91)712-6606375/61 |
6 | Maharashtra | Pune | GATS | Office 1 Symphony ‘C’, Ashok Nagar, Range Hills Rd,Off PuneUniversity Rd Pune Maharashtra 411020 India | (+91)20-25560971/0479 |
7 | Maharashtra | Pune | Pearson Professional Centres-Pune MAH | 517, Fifth Floor, Tower 2 World Trade Centre, Kharadi, Pune Maharashta Pune Maharashtra 411014 India | (+91)9850504416 |
8 | Maharashtra | Mumbai | Pearson Professional Centres-Mumbai | Building No.9, 1st Floor Solitaire Corporate Park,167 Andheri J B Nagar Link Rd,Chakala,Andheri(East) Mumbai Maharashtra 400093 India | (+91)22-40056787 |
9 | Maharashtra | Mumbai | K.P.B Hinduja college of commerce | 315, New Charni Rd, Opera House, Girgaon , Mumbai , Maharashtra 400004 India | (+91)22-40989000 |
Sr. No. | State | City | GMAT Test centre | Address | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Andhra Pradesh | Visakhapatnam | Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering | Gayatri Engineering College(Autonomous) Madhurawada Kommadi Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh 530048 India | (+91)9550331221 |
2 | Andhra Pradesh | Vijaywada | KL University | Green Fields, Vaddeswaram Guntur Vijaywada Andhra Pradesh 522502 India | (+91)8142727007 |
3 | Telangana | Hyderabad | Edu- Kinect | # 47, 2nd Floor, Silicon Valley, Image Garden Lane,Near HDFC Bank, Madhapur Hyderabad, 500081, Telangana | (+91)9030090998 |
4 | Telangana | Hyderabad | Pearson Professional centres-Hyderabad | 1-10-72/A/.2, Pochampalli House 3rd floor, (Above Nike Show room) S P Road, Begumpet Hyderabad Telangana 500016 India | (+91)40-42400470 |
5 | Telangana | Hyderabad | Pearson Professional centres-Hyderabad | 2 TS Manjeera Trinity Corporate, 612, 6th Flr eSeva Lane, Phase III, Hitec City Road Kukatpally, Hyderabad Hyderabad Telangana 500072 India | (+91)40-66612299 |
6 | Karnataka | Bangalore | Pearson Professional centres-Bangalore | # 45, 3rd Floor,Trade centre Dickenson Road Next to Manipal Centre Bangalore Karnataka 560042 India | (+91)80-41134165 |
7 | Karnataka | Bangalore | Pearson Professional centres-Bangalore 2 KAR | Prestige Atrium, Unit 101, Ground Floor Central Street, Shivajinagar, Bangalore Karnataka Bangalore Karnataka 560001 India | (+91)80-43740083 |
8 | Karnataka | Bangalore | M.S. ENGINEERING COLLEGE | M.S. ENGINEERING COLLEGE Navarathna Agrahara,Sadahalli Post, Off. International Airport Road Bangalore Karnataka 562110 India | (+91)80-41215454 |
9 | Karnataka | Mysore | MYRA School of Business | Near Infosys, Opp. Power Grid, Yelwal Mysore Karnataka 571130 India | (+91)821-2404511 |
10 | Karnataka | Bangalore | ThinkEducation Advisory Services LLP | 146, KHB Colony, 5th Cross,60 Feet Road 5th Cross Rd, Koramangala Bangalore, Karnataka 560096, India | (+91)9987169599 |
11 | Karnataka | Manipal | Dr. T. M. A. Pai Polytechnic, Manipal Campus | M. I. T. Campus, Eshwar Nagar, Udupi Manipal, Karnataka 576104 | (+91)820-2570021 |
12 | Tamil Nadu | Chennai | Pearson Professional centres-Chennai | 6th Floor, Nelson Chambers, E, Block, 115, Nelson Manickam Road, Aminijikarai, Chennai Tamil Nadu 600029 India | (+91)44-43021101 |
13 | Tamil Nadu | Vellore | Vellore Institute of Technology | VIT University Centre for Technical Support Thiruvalam Road, Katpadi Vellore Tamil Nadu 632014 India | (+91)416-2202185 |
14 | Tamil Nadu | Chennai | ITM Business School | 11/D14, SIPCOT IT PARK Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) Siruseri Pudupakkam Post, Chennai Tamil Nadu 603103 India | (+91)44-27470134 |
15 | Tamil Nadu | Tiruchirappalli | National Inst. Of Technology, Tiruchirappalli | National Institute Of Technology,Tiruchirappalli, Computer Support Group (CSG), Octagon Computer centre ,First Floor NIT Tanjore Main Road (Near BHEL Trichy) Tiruchirappalli Tamil Nadu 620015 India | (+91)4312503803 |
16 | Tamil Nadu | Coimbatore | Indra Institute Of Education | # 65/1, Tatabad 7th Street S.S.Complex II 100 Feet Road, Near BEA Coimbatore Tamil Nadu 641012 India | (+91)422-4391773 |
17 | Kerala | Kochi | Rajagiri College Of Social Sciences | Rajagiri School of Management Rajagiri Valley P.O Kakkanad, Kochi Cochin, Kochi Kerala 682039 India | (+91)484-2426554 |
18 | Kerala | Trivandrum | Indra Institute of Education (Trivandrum) | Indra Institute of Education TC 82/2871 “Amutham” First Floor Statue General Hospital Road Near Variety Mall Trivandrum Kerala 695001 India | (+91)471-4014129 |
Sr. No. | State/ UT | City | GMAT Test Centre | Address | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | West Bengal | Kolkata | BRAINWARE UNIVERSITY | 398 Ramkrishnapur Road, Barasat, Near Jagadighata Market Kolkata West Bengal 700125 India | (+91)33-7144 5577 |
2 | West Bengal | Kolkata | Agile Technologies And Solutions | Agile Technologies And Solutions 1, Iswar Ganguli Street VASUDEVA BUILDING; Top Floor Kalighat Kolkata West Bengal 700026 India | (+91)33-46011839 |
3 | Jharkhand | Ranchi | Infinity Academy | Amravati Complex, Circular Road Lalpur Ranchi Jharkhand 834001 India | (+91)7549155507 |
4 | Bihar | Patna | GENCOR LEARNING SOLUTIONS PVT LTD. | GENCOR LEARNING SOLUTIONS PVT LTD. East of Dinkar Chowk, Stadium Road, Opp ASG EYE Hospital, Rajendra Nagar Patna Bihar 800016 India | (+91)93043-02624 |
5 | Odisha | Bhubaneswar | KIIT University | ICT Cell, KIIT Convention Centre Campus-6,KIIT University, Patia Bhubaneswar Odisha 751024 India | (+91)8114382207 |
Sr. No. | State | City | GMAT Test centre | Address | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Madhya Pradesh | Indore | Lord Krishna College of Technology | Rau-Pithampur By-Pass near IIM indore Opp.STI(I) Ltd. Indore Madhya Pradesh 452003 India | (+91)8989689768 |
2 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | Lakshmi Narain College of Technology Excellence | LNCT Campus Kalchuri Nagar, Raisen Road, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh 462021 India | (+91)755-3985300 |
3 | Chhattisgarh | Chhattisgarh | ITM University ITM University | ,Uparwara New Raipur Raipur Chhattisgarh 493661 India | (+91)771-6640400 |
Sr. No. | State | City | GMAT Test Centre | Address | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Assam | Guwahati | Assam Don Bosco University | Airport Road Azara Nowapara Guwahati Assam 781017 India | (+91)9435545754 |
To register for a GMAT centre and date, consider the following steps:
Further, it is not enough to select your GMAT test centre by virtue of proximity and availability alone. To book a GMAT test centre, you must consider:
Conduct thorough research and make an informed decision. You definitely want to avoid any uncalled for stress on your exam day, and this is an important step in assuring the same.
GMAT scores remain valid for only 5 years. If you have taken GMAT more than once in 5 years, only the score you accept is sent to the school. You may, however, request for your GMAT score card from more than 10 years ago, for a fee; although the score will not be valid for acceptance by school. Moreover, a student may decide to cancel the score immediately after the exam or even within 72 hours of the next exam, free of cost. Should anyone wish to recall a canceled score, a fee of USD 50 will have to be submitted.
Planning to retake your GMAT exam can be tricky. That you are retaking your exam implies that you are not satisfied with the scores earned. In that scenario, it is imperative to plan. You need to understand your weak areas and factor in adequate time to be able to improve on the same before you decide to proceed with your applications. On the other hand, you are allowed only 5 retakes in a year and 8 retakes in a lifetime. Thus, it is always advisable to start with a diagnostic test and proceed with a study plan. For the same, you may either go for a competent online GMAT prep program or even a GMAT classroom prep program.
Few concerns regarding retaking GMAT:
If you plan to reschedule or cancel your GMAT date, log in to your account on mba.com. The charges and norms for rescheduling GMAT are as follows:
Plan, Prepare, and Perform!
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All the Best!