Can you use scratch paper on the GMAT? What does it look like, and how do you use it? Questions about the GMAT scratch pad are common for students preparing for the exam.

In this article, I’ll go over the details of the GMAT scratch paper, how to use your GMAT noteboard effectively, and how to simulate the official notepad at home as you prepare to take the test.

GMAT Scratch Paper: The Logistics

First off, the good news: Yes, you are given a notepad and marker to take notes on during the GMAT. It’s specifically created for use by GMAT test takers.

The GMAT scratch paper is a laminated scratch pad with five yellow grid double-sided pages. The pages are about the size of those on a legal pad (that is, significantly bigger than a typical sheet of paper). It looks like a cross between a dry erase board and a flip pad or sketchbook.

Here’s what it looks like:

^Source

The surface of the GMAT scratch pad is plastic, which will feel different from writing with pen on paper:

The GMAT notepad is accompanied by a non-permanent wet erase marker, not a pen. The marker is around the size and shape of a regular Sharpie or a thin dry erase marker. While the GMAT noteboard looks a lot like a dry erase board, you cannot erase anything on it. So use your space wisely.

However, if you do start running out of room, that’s ok. If you need more scratch paper during the test, raise your hand and a proctor will replace it for you. There are no limitations on how much scratch paper you can use during the GMAT. Taking notes can take up precious time, however, so make sure that what you do write is directly useful to you.

Try to plan ahead so you don’t run out of room on the scratch pad before a section of the GMAT ends. The best time to ask the proctor for a new scratch pad is between sections, so you don’t have to interrupt your thought process or waste time during a section.

How to Use Your GMAT Noteboard Effectively

Remember, you can’t bring your own scratch paper or writing utensils to the GMAT. In fact, no personal items are allowed in the room except for pre-approved ‘comfort items’ like cough drops or a jacket. So you’ll want to learn how to use this specific tool comfortably so you won’t feel blindsided by it on exam day. Let’s go over some ways that you can make the GMAT scratch paper work most effectively for you.

General Tips for Using the GMAT Scratch Paper

Here are some general tips to help you use your GMAT notepad to your best advantage:

• Divide each page up into sections. Before you start each section, some students find it helpful to divide a scratch pad page (or two, or three) into squares corresponding to the number of questions. For example, the Integrated Reasoning section consists of 12 questions, so you’d divide a notepad page into 12 squares and label them 1-12. You’d write your notes or calculations for each question in its corresponding square. This can help you stay organized and focused during the test, or go back to a previous difficult question.

• If you have it, use extra time in another section to set up the next set of scratch pad pages. If you finish your Analytical Writing Assessment early, for example, you can use that extra time to set up your squares for the Integrated Reasoning section. You can also use a few minutes of your break time or a few minutes at the beginning of the allotted section time to ‘customize’ your scratch paper.

• Some students also find it helpful to keep track of their time using the scratch pad, especially if they struggle with timing. In each square, you can write the approximate time you should use for that question in a ‘countdown’ format. For example, you have around two minutes for each question in the Quant section and 62 minutes to finish the section. So your first question square would read “:62” at the top, and the second would read “:60,” and so on. This helps some students stay on top of things and confuses others, so don’t worry about it if this wouldn’t work for you.

• Don’t overuse your GMAT scratch paper. As much as you can, practice doing calculations and picking out main ideas from readings in your head at home. Using the GMAT scratch pad can be very helpful, but it can also take up time and energy that you’ll need for the test.

• Practice writing small at home when you take notes. Taking up too much space for each problem will make things more difficult and visually confusing.

• Some students prefer using the GMAT scratch pad horizontally rather than vertically. Try it at home and see what works for you. Experiment with various ways of setting up the pages. Remember, this is your space!

Quant Section Tips

• The GMAT scratch pad is especially important for the Quant section because the Quant section doesn’t have an onscreen calculator. Any calculations you do will have to be by hand on the laminated scratch pad.

• It can be helpful to jot down the ‘given’ information for each problem and clearly mark it as ‘given’ (with a line next to it or a circle around it, for example) before you start your calculations for that problem.

• For the Data Sufficiency questions, using the process of elimination and physically crossing out incorrect answers on your scratch pad can be especially helpful.

Analytical Writing Assessment Tips

Since you’ll write your essay for the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) in an onscreen text editor, you can keep your notes there if you want to save your GMAT scratch pad for other sections.

However, I recommend using the scratch pad to create an outline before actually writing your essay. Having a plan will make writing go faster, and it will be much easier to refer back to on your notepad.

Verbal Section Tips

Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to take notes on for the Verbal section. Your scratch pad can be used in two ways here:

• You can pull out major points, such as main ideas, evidence, and counterarguments, from each reading and jot them down for each reading. This is especially helpful for the longer Reading Comprehension passages, which are accompanied by several questions each. If you don’t find taking notes helpful, though, don’t feel like you have to.

• For all Verbal GMAT questions, you can use the notepad for process of elimination. You can write down “ABCDE” in each question square and cross out the answer choices you know are incorrect as you read.

Integrated Reasoning (IR) Tips

You’ll have a calculator onscreen for the IR section, but you can use your GMAT notepad and marker to keep track of your calculations or to eliminate answer choices. For example, many IR questions have several parts (I, II, and III, for example) and ask you to determine whether I is “True,” II is “False,” III cannot be determined, or any combination thereof. You can also use this space to create a visual diagram of those choices and keep track of them as you go along.

How to Simulate the GMAT Noteboard

In preparation for the GMAT, it’s helpful to simulate as many aspects of the test as possible. This will help you feel confident, do your best, and avoid wasting time and energy on exam day. There are two ways you can simulate the experience of using the GMAT scratch paper at home in preparation for the test:

Manhattan Prep has created a GMAT test simulation booklet that is nearly identical to the one you’ll receive at the GMAT. It also includes a corresponding marker. You can purchase the simulation booklet here. This will give you the most realistic experience and writing feel.

To create a DIY version of the GMAT notepad, just purchase a yellow grid legal pad and a slender Sharpie-sized marker. It won’t be exactly the same, but you’ll get the feel for the size and shape of the scratch paper.

It will be most effective to use your simulated GMAT scratch pad alongside the free GMAT prep software at MBA.com. This will help you simulate as many aspects of test day as possible.

What’s Next?

For a more detailed breakdown of each GMAT question type, check out our article on the GMAT format.

For practice questions to use alongside your simulated test booklet, check out our complete collection of GMAT sample questions.

If you’re ready to register for the GMAT,  our guide to GMAT registration will walk you through the process.

The post GMAT Scratch Paper: 13 Expert Tips to Use It Effectively appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

You’ve studied for weeks! You know your math formulas backwards and forwards! You can spot an idiom from miles away! You get all the way to the test center and it hits you… you’ve forgotten your valid photo ID.

Arriving at the test center on the day of your GMAT exam without something you need would certainly be a big bummer, but don’t worry! In this guide, I’ll walk you through what to bring to GMAT test day. First, I’ll go over the necessary items you have to bring to the test center. Next, I’ll talk about some things that would be nice to have at the test center. I’ll also give you a GMAT exam day checklist that you can use to make sure you’ve got all you need for test day. Finally, I’ll talk briefly about the items you shouldn’t bring to test day.

What to Bring to GMAT Test Day

GMAC has strict rules and regulations for test-takers, so it’s important to know what to bring to the GMAT test center so that you can take your test at your scheduled time. It’s also important to be prepared so you avoid any unnecessary fees from having to reschedule your exam or pay to send test scores later.

What to Bring to the GMAT: 4 Necessary Items

You don’t need to bring much to take the GMAT, but there are a number of items you must have in order to be allowed to take the test. You should make sure to bring each of the following items with you to your appointment.

#1: A Valid, GMAT Approved Photo ID

You must bring a valid, GMAT approved photo ID to be admitted your exam. If you forget to bring a photo ID, or if it doesn’t fit the qualifications discussed below, you won’t be allowed to take the GMAT. GMAC has strict rules and regulations about what constitutes a valid, approved photo ID. A valid photo ID must have:

• Your name using the Roman alphabet (an important note for test-takers in countries that don’t use the Roman alphabet) that is spelled exactly the same way you provided it when you registered.
• Date of birth that exactly matches the birth date you registered with.
• A recent, recognizable photograph.
• Your signature.

If your photo ID doesn’t have one of the above qualifications, you won’t be admitted to take the GMAT. If your photo ID has all of the above qualifications but is expired, you won’t be admitted to take the GMAT. Make sure your ID fulfills all the requirements well before test day, because it can often take a while to replace a driver’s license or passport.

Speaking of driver’s licenses and passports, they are two of the acceptable forms of photo identification. The four acceptable forms of ID for the GMAT are: international passport, government-issued driver’s license, government-issued national/state/province identity card, and military ID card. Note, you must bring a passport if you’re taking the GMAT in a country outside of your country of citizenship. So, if you’re from the United States and are taking the GMAT in India, you need to bring your US passport in order to take the GMAT.

Remember, you’ll be turned away at the door if you don’t have a valid photo ID!

#2: Names of the Five MBA Programs Where You Want to Send Your Scores

As part of your GMAT test day appointment, you’ll be able to select up to five programs to send your GMAT scores to. Your GMAT exam fee includes the cost of sending your scores to these five schools. You’ll only be able to send your free scores once, immediately before your exam. If you don’t select any schools to send your scores to, you can do it later, but it’ll cost $28 per school.

It’s a good idea to bring a list of the MBA programs you want to send your scores to your test so that you aren’t flustered with trying to make a decision on test day and so that you don’t spend unnecessary money sending your scores at a later date.

#3: Appointment Confirmation Letter or Email

Bring your appointment confirmation letter or email to your testing center in case there’s any discrepancy with your test date and time. By bringing your confirmation letter, you’ll be able to address any discrepancy (such as a confusion about your test date) and smooth out your check in process.

#4: Directions to the Test Center

Having printed directions to the test center or the address already pre-loaded onto your phone will save you time and stress as you’re driving to your appointment. Having printed directions can help if your phone unexpectedly dies or fails, while having the address pre-loaded onto your phone can help you search for alternate routes in case of traffic.

What to Bring to the GMAT: 3 Nice-to-Have Items

The GMAT is a long test and you’ll have the option of taking two breaks to refresh yourself during the exam. The following items aren’t required of test day, but may be nice to have if you’re concerned about being comfortable through the length of the exam.

#1: Water

Bringing water is a great way to refresh yourself during your break. You can’t bring it into the exam room, but you can retrieve it and drink it during the breaks. I’d recommend bringing water over soda or other sugary drinks, so you don’t experience a sugar crash.

#2: Snacks

Just like water, you can’t bring your snacks into the exam room, but you can get them during your breaks. A healthy snack like a piece of fruit, protein bar, or handful of trail mix can help boost your energy levels during the long test.

#3: Extra Layers

Sometimes, the test center you’re working in may be very cold or very hot. Bringing an extra layer, like a sweatshirt, or wearing layers that you can easily remove will help you be comfortable as you work in the test center for over three hours.

GMAT Exam Day Checklist

Worried that you’ll forget something important on your way to the GMAT? Don’t be! With our handy, downloadable GMAT exam day checklist, you’ll be able to remember exactly what to bring to GMAT test day.

Click here to download PrepScholar’s GMAT Exam Day Checklist.

3 Things Not to Bring to the GMAT

GMAC is very strict about what you can bring into the testing room. Leave these items at home or in your car on test day – you won’t be able to use them anyways.

#1: Electronics

You can’t bring a calculator to the GMAT, so don’t even bother packing it into your car on test day. You also won’t be able to use your phone, tablet, pager, laptop, watch, radio, or any other electronic item during the test, besides the computer station provided to you at the test center. You’ll be asked to lock up your electronics, so be prepared to put them into a locker or leave them in your car or at home during the test.

#2: Books and Other Print Aids

You can’t bring any books or print aids to the GMAT, including dictionaries, thesauruses, idiom dictionaries, math formula sheets, etc. Make sure you don’t accidentally have a sheet folded up in your pocket or on your person as you enter into the test center. Your test will be automatically voided if you’re found with any print aids in the testing room.

#3: Weapons

It should go without saying, but the only weapon you need to bring to the GMAT is your finely tuned brain that you’ve trained for weeks to conquer the test. Leave all weapons or items that could be considered a weapon (including pocket knives, nail clippers, and razors) at home.

Review: What to Bring to GMAT Test Day (and What Not To)

It’s important to know what to bring to the GMAT so you don’t have any trouble taking your test during your scheduled appointment. If you’re worried about forgetting something, print out our GMAT exam day checklist to make sure you’re all ready to go.

What’s Next

Wondering what to expect at your GMAT test center? A big part of feeling prepared for test day is knowing what you’ll encounter when you arrive to take your test. Check out our guide to GMAT test centers to make sure you’re well-prepared and ready to go.

If you’re concerned about sending your GMAT scores to schools, check out our complete guide to sending GMAT scores. The guide will help you learn how and when to send GMAT scores, as well as how to correctly time ordering score reports so your scores will arrive to admissions programs in time.

Searching for some last-minute GMAT tips? If your GMAT is just around the corner, our guide to last-minute GMAT tips will help you feel more prepared and ready for the exam, whether you just decided to take it recently or you’ve been studying for months.

The post GMAT Exam Day Checklist: What to Bring to the Test Center appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

Are you taking the GMAT soon or have you recently taken it? If so, you might be wondering, how long does it take to get GMAT scores? It’s important to know when you’ll get your GMAT scores so that you can plan how early you’ll need to take the test in order to get your scores sent in time for school application deadlines.

In this guide, I’ll be explaining how long it will take to get your GMAT scores, when schools school receive your GMAT score reports, and how to use this information to plan for your GMAT test.

How Long Does It Take to Get GMAT Scores?

Your GMAT score consists of five parts: verbal, quantitative, total score, integrated reasoning, and analytical writing. You will receive your integrated reasoning, verbal, quantitative, and total scores on your unofficial score report. You will receive all five of your scores when you receive your official score report.

For more information about GMAT scores, check our our guide to the GMAT score range.

Unofficial GMAT Score Reporting

As soon as you finish the GMAT, you will receive your GMAT unofficial score. After you complete your test, the computer screen will show your unofficial verbal, unofficial quantitative, and unofficial integrated reasoning scores, as well as your unofficial total score. You will also see your unofficial percentile ranking for each section. Check out this sample unofficial score report from MBA.com.

Source: MBA.com

As you can see, on your unofficial score report, you receive your scaled scores for four sections, including the total score, which is scored according to your quantitative and verbal scores. Your analytical writing section will be scored by human graders, so it’s not included in your official score.

What is an unofficial score? Well, every student who takes the GMAT takes a slightly different version of the test, depending on where and when they take it. Your GMAT score and percentile for each section is compared with other students who are taking the same test. Sometimes, you may take a slightly more difficult or slightly easier version of the test. The unofficial score gives a snapshot of how you performed based to other test takers.

However, the unofficial score doesn’t take into account whether your version of the test was slightly easier or more difficult than a different version. Your official scores are double-checked against other test takers to ensure that every test is weighted according to its difficulty. It’s very rare, however, for there to be a difference between unofficial and official scores. If there’s any difference, it’s usually only a few points.

You have the option to cancel your GMAT score if you’re not happy with your performance. After viewing your unofficial score, you should decide whether or not you want to keep your scores. If you keep your scores, they will be sent to the schools you chose on your GMAT registration. If you decide to cancel, your scores will not be sent to any schools. Only you will know if you cancel your scores. You can cancel your score right after the exam at the test center for free, or within 72 hours of taking the exam (for $25).

Source: MBA.com

Official GMAT Score Reporting

Your official GMAT score report will be available within 20 days of taking your exam. Once your scores are available, you will receive an email from Pearson VUE with a unique link to view your scores. You can also view, download, and print your scores by visiting MBA.com.

Your official score report includes your final, official scores and percentile ranking for the verbal, quantitative and integrated reasoning sections. You will also see your final, official total score and your final, official analytical writing score. Remember, this is the first time you’ll be seeing your analytical writing score.

Source: MBA.com

How Long Does It Take Schools to Get GMAT Scores?

While you’re the only one who sees your unofficial scores, you’re not the only one who will get to see your GMAT official scores. You have the option of sending your official scores to schools before or after the exam.

Your GMAT exam fee includes sending your official GMAT score report to up to five schools. You need to select these schools at the test center before you start your exam. It’s a good idea to have a list of schools in mind that you want to send your scores to so that you can take advantage of this reporting on the date of your test. You don’t have to send any scores when you take the test, but it won’t be free if you send your scores at a later date. It costs $28 to send additional score reports.

Remember, if you cancel your scores, the schools you select won’t receive your score report.

The schools you select at the test center will receive your official score report within 20 calendar days of your exam (the same as you). It’s important to consider application deadlines when planning when to take your exam. Since it takes about three weeks to send your scores, you want to make sure you schedule your exam with plenty of time for your scores to arrive before the deadline.

If you choose to send additional schools your scores, or to send your score reports at a later time, a $28 fee per school will apply. You can’t do this until after you receive your official scores, so you’ll need to wait at least 20 days to send additional score reports.

Additional score reports will be sent about five business days after you place an order.

Your GMAT score is valid for five years and you can pay to send additional score reports for as long as your scores are valid. If you cancel your scores at the test center, but wish to reinstate them at a later date, a $50 fee applies. After it’s reinstated, your official score report will be sent to the school you selected at the test center for no additional fees. All additional score reports will still cost $28 per report.

GMAT Score Reporting: What Does It Mean For You?

It’s important to know when and how schools will receive your official score report. This will help you decide when to take the GMAT so that you meet all your application deadlines. For instance, if you want to apply to a school that has a deadline of December 1, you’ll want to take the GMAT at least 20 days before this so that the school will receive your scores on time.

If you’re unhappy with your scores or decide to cancel them, know that you have to wait at least 16 days to take the GMAT again. However, you’ll likely need more time to study if you want to improve your score so seriously consider whether you have enough time to fit in a test retake before your application deadline.

If you do decide to retake the exam, check out PrepScholar GMAT’s comprehensive online course. It’s the only online course that offers a 60 point score improvement guarantee!

Summary: How Long Does It Take to Get GMAT Scores?

You’ll get your unofficial verbal, quantitative, integrated reasoning, and total scores immediately after finishing the GMAT. You can decided whether you want to keep or cancel these scores.

Your official GMAT score report will be available within 20 calendar days after you take the test. The schools you chose at the test center will also receive your scores at this time. You can order additional score reports after you receive your official scores.

What’s Next?

Wondering how long you should study for the GMAT? Check out our step-by-step guide to planning your GMAT prep.

Still not sure when to take the exam? Learn more about choosing the best GMAT test date for you.

Trying to figure out how important the GMAT total score is? Learn all about it in our GMAT total score guide.

The post How Long Does It Take to Get GMAT Scores? appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

With everything going on in your busy life, when should you schedule the GMAT? Should you take the test months before your application deadlines or give yourself as much time to study as possible? Would you do better bright and early in the morning, or should you opt for an appointment in the afternoon?

Selecting the right date and time for your GMAT is an important step along the path to business school. To help you choose, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about GMAT test dates, how to pick one, and when to register.

First, when is the GMAT administered?

When Is the GMAT Administered?

The GMAT is administered on an on-demand basis most days of the year. There are no set GMAT test dates. Instead, you can pick out almost any date and time that works for you. Many GMAT test centers offer the test nearly every day of the year.

Some test centers aren’t open on Sundays or holidays, so you’ll have to check with test centers in your area to see their exact GMAT schedule. University-based test centers, for instance, might be closed for extended periods around holidays or other campus breaks.

Wherever you are in the world, most test centers offer morning, midday, and evening appointments. Appointment times vary by test center. At one of the Pearson VUE centers in Boston, to give one example, the GMAT is administered Monday through Saturday at 8 AM, 12 PM, and 4:30 PM.

You can look for GMAT exam dates and availability online at MBA.com. At MBA.com, you can explore test locations, GMAT dates, and times before committing to one. When I look up the Pearson VUE Test Center in Boston, for instance, I see three available time slots on February 18 —

You’ll see a similar feature when you explore test dates. GMAT test dates with availability show up in green, while dates that are all filled up appear in gray. A date will be green as long as it has at least one open time slot.

Once you’ve taken some time to explore your options, when should you choose a GMAT exam date and time and officially register?

When Should You Register for the GMAT?

You can register for the GMAT online or by phone (for $10 extra) anywhere from six months to 24 hours before a test date. If you decide to register by mail, then your request must arrive at least 10 days before your preferred test date.

Hundreds of thousands of students across the world take the GMAT every year, and spots at testing centers can fill up fast. To make sure you get your preferred test date and time, a good rule of thumb is to register at least two to three months in advance.

You may want to register even earlier if you’re looking for an appointment during peak times. The months right before application deadlines are popular, like August, November, and February, as are Saturday GMAT test dates.

It’s also been my experience that afternoon time slots fill up faster than morning ones. If you’re looking to take the GMAT on a Saturday afternoon in November, then you should make sure to complete your registration well in advance.

That being said, what if you’re reading this article and panicking that you waited too long to sign up. Can you still register for the GMAT at the last minute?

Can You Register for the GMAT Last Minute?

As mentioned above, you can technically register for the GMAT online or over the phone up to 24 hours in advance of a test date, assuming that date is available. If you wait until just 24 hours before, though, you may find there are no available dates left, especially if you’ve only got one or two test centers in your area.

The Graduate Management Admission Council and Pearson VUE state their commitment to ensuring that you can find a testing appointment within 30 days, wherever you are in the world. Try your best not to wait any longer than 30 days before a test date, especially if your application deadline is just around the corner.

Whenever you decide to register, how can you zero in on the GMAT exam date and time that will work best for you? You should start by asking yourself five key questions.

How to Choose the Best GMAT Test Date: 5 Key Questions

Just as you should be strategic about how you take the GMAT, you should also be strategic about choosing your GMAT exam date and time. First and foremost, you need to make sure you take the test in time for your application deadlines.

Beyond deadlines, you also want to think about ways to optimize your performance. If you choose a date in the midst of a big work project or right around a holiday, then you might find yourself distracted. If you choose an 8 AM time slot but are useless before your late morning latte, then you won’t be able to give it your all.

The right exam date and time for your GMAT vary by individual. To do some digging into your personal preferences, you should ask yourself these five questions.

#1: When Are My Business School Application Deadlines?

No matter how much you enjoy strictly-timed, computer-adaptive exams, you’re probably not taking the GMAT just for fun. People take the GMAT to get into business school, and they need to make sure that schools receive their scores before an application deadline.

Most business schools have three rounds of admissions deadlines. Round one deadlines tend to land in September or October, round two is in early January, and round three is in March or April. A general rule of thumb for applying to business school is to apply as early as you can as long as you can send off the strongest application possible.

Ideally, you can apply by a round one deadline when the largest number of spots are open. If you’re frantically rushing to meet this deadline, though, then you might wait for a later round or plan instead for the following year.

Official score reports are sent to schools about 20 days after you take the GMAT. You should schedule your test at least a month before your first deadline, or even further out if you think you might retake the test. So for example, if you’re applying to Harvard Business School by its 2017 deadline, September 7, then you should take the GMAT by August 7 at the latest.

You also need to consider all of the other work you have to do on your graduate school application, like writing essays and gathering letters of recommendation from former professors and managers. Taking the GMAT in time for your application deadlines is just one piece of the puzzle. You should also think about your other commitments and application requirements.

#2: Is There a Possibility I’ll Retake the GMAT?

When you finish up the last section of the GMAT, you’ll get a preview of your scores. This unofficial score report will tell you how you did on the Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal scores, plus you’ll get to see your total scores. The only score you won’t see yet is your Analytical Writing Assessment, or essay, since it needs to be assessed by two graders.

At this point, you’ll be asked whether you want to keep or cancel your scores. If you fall short of your target scores, then you may choose to cancel the scores completely. They won’t be sent to any schools, and it will be like you never took the GMAT — except that your bank account will be $250 lighter.

If you’re not satisfied with your scores, you can retake the GMAT after waiting a couple of weeks. You can schedule a retake up to five times per year, but your next test date must be at least 16 days after the first one.

Ideally, you’ll be satisfied with your scores and won’t have to take the test again or pay another registration fee. If you want to leave yourself the option, though, then you should register for your first test at least two months before your application deadline. That way, you will have time to retake the test and make sure your retake scores arrive at schools before the deadlines.

#3: How Much Time Do I Have to Study?

According to GMAC, students who scored above a 700 on the GMAT studied for an average of 121 hours. The GMAT is a challenging test, and many test takers prepare for months. When you choose a date, you should leave yourself plenty of time to prepare.

Let’s say you set aside ten hours a week to get ready for the GMAT. After 12 weeks, you’d have accumulated 120 hours of studying. If this sounds like a study plan that would work for you, then you should choose a test date that’s at least three months from the time you start preparing.

Of course, you can start preparing even before you register so that you have a sense of your current scoring level and how much you need to study. Setting a date in stone, though, can help you get motivated. You’re more likely to commit to studying if you know your test date is swiftly approaching.

#4: What Else Is Going On in My Schedule?

Changing your GMAT registration can incur some pretty hefty fees, so you want to make sure you don’t have any competing commitments before you pick a date. Check your schedule for upcoming work events, social obligations, vacations, or holidays.

You may want to get the exam done before a holiday break so you’re not studying while, say, everyone else is eating Thanksgiving turkey. Perhaps you’d do better taking the test on a Monday or Tuesday, rather than waiting until Thursday or Friday when you’re tired from the work week or thinking about a professional project.

If it were me, I’d prefer to take off a Tuesday for the GMAT after a three-day weekend, so I had a full three days beforehand to get ready and focus entirely on taking the exam. If you can’t take any time off work, then you may have to search for the best weekend date.

When you start thinking about a GMAT date, consider any competing commitments and the day of the week that would optimize your testing performance.

#5: Am I a Morning or Afternoon Person?

Just as you should be thoughtful about the day of the week you choose — I would be useless on a Friday afternoon, for instance — you should also think carefully about the best time of day. As long as you register early, you should have choices for taking the exam in the morning or the afternoon.

At this point in your educational and professional career, you probably know when you’re most alert, in the morning or the afternoon. If you heavily favor one time of day over the other, then the time slot you choose for the GMAT could have a big effect on how you do. Choose the time when you’ll be most focused and motivated to take on a three and a half-hour test.

Finalizing Your GMAT Schedule

Taken together, all of these questions prompt you to think about the date and time that would optimize your testing performance and chances of getting into business school. On the practical side, you need to leave yourself time to meet application deadlines and log some serious studying hours.

On the personal level, you should consider whether you’re most productive in the morning or afternoon, in the beginning of the week or at the end. By registering several months in advance, you can ensure that you have plenty of choices when it comes to taking the GMAT.

Let’s say you’re applying for a round one admission deadline in early September. You’d like to log about 100 hours of studying in total and can commit 10 hours a week to GMAT prep. As a peppy sunrise jogger, you’re at your peak energy in the morning and prefer to take the test early in the work week.

You also want to leave yourself one extra chance to take the GMAT, just in case you’re not satisfied with your scores. When should you register?

In the ideal scenario, you’re asking yourself this question in May. You schedule your GMAT in early July, leaving yourself three months to study. If you’re not satisfied with your scores, then you could take the GMAT again in August. Since you’re such a morning person, you opt to take the test on a Monday at 8 AM.

By considering your deadlines, study time, and personal preferences, you registered early for the GMAT and found your ideal testing time. Well done!

While everything’s looking rosy at this point, what if an emergency arises that forces you to change your GMAT date? Despite all your careful planning, what do you do if you need to reschedule your test?

What If You Need to Change Your GMAT Registration?

It is possible to make changes to your GMAT schedule. If you need to alter your test date, then you should try your best to do so more than seven days before your test date.

You can reschedule your test more than seven days in advance for a $50 fee. If you wait until the appointment is seven or fewer days away, then you won’t get any discount and will have to pay the entire $250 registration fee again.

If you need to cancel your GMAT, you can do so and get a refund of $80 if you cancel more than seven days prior to your test date. Again, if you wait until last minute, then you won’t get any money back.

If you’ve asked yourself the five questions above and thoughtfully chosen a GMAT test date, then you most likely won’t have to make any changes to your registration. If something unexpected does come up, though, then hopefully you can cancel or reschedule more than seven days in advance of your test date and get a bit of a financial break.

As we finish up this guide on choosing a date for your GMAT registration, let’s go over some key takeaways you should remember about when to take the test.

Choosing a GMAT Test Date: Final Thoughts

The GMAT is given continuously throughout the year, so you can take it on almost any day that works with your schedule and application deadlines. While you have a lot of choice of GMAT test dates, you should know that spots fill up fast. To make sure you get your preferred date and time, try your best to register two to three months in advance.

When you choose a test date, make sure to leave enough time for your official score report to reach business schools. Score reports usually arrive about 20 days after you take the test. If you want to leave yourself the option of retaking the GMAT, then you need at least an additional 16 days of buffer time.

You should also try to be strategic about taking the GMAT on a day and time when you can perform your best. That might mean signing up early in the week, like a Monday or Tuesday, before you’re tired from the work week. It might also mean choosing a morning or afternoon slot to take advantage of the time of day when you’re most energized and productive.

Once you’ve signed up for the GMAT, you’ll likely feel a boost in how motivated you are to study. Having that test date set in stone means you only have a limited amount of time to prepare and work toward your target scores. Register early so that you can score your preferred test date and start getting ready for this important business school exam.

What’s Next?

Once you’ve chosen your GMAT test date, how do you sign up? Check out this full guide on registering for the GMAT, step by step.

Did you know that the math and verbal sections of the GMAT are adaptive, or that the Integrated Reasoning section always presents the same four question types? Check out this guide on the GMAT exam pattern to learn all about the format, structure, and question types of the GMAT.

Are you ready to start preparing? This complete GMAT study guide (coming soon) will help you design your personalized study plan and achieve your target scores.

The post GMAT Test Dates: Full Guide to Choosing (2018, 2019) appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

Sometimes, as your GMAT test day quickly approaches, you may have to make the difficult decision to cancel your GMAT appointment. Maybe you’re sick and don’t feel well enough to take the test, or you’ve had a family emergency come up. Maybe you’ve decided you’re not prepared enough to do well. Maybe you’ve already gotten into business school and don’t need to take the GMAT again!

No matter what your reason for canceling a GMAT appointment, it’s important to understand the process for canceling so that you don’t lose a lot of money or get saddled with other unforeseen consequences. In this guide, I’ll talk about what cancelling your GMAT really means. I’ll discuss the GMAT cancellation policy, how to cancel a GMAT appointment, and how to decide whether or not you should cancel your GMAT appointment.

What Are My Options to Cancel GMAT Appointments?

GMAC has a strict GMAT cancellation policy. However, you do have several options if you need to cancel a GMAT appointment.

First, you can cancel your exam any time up to seven days before your test date to receive an $80 refund. When you cancel a GMAT appointment, you lose your test date and will have to pay the entire $250 registration fee if you decide to register for a different test date.

You can also cancel your exam between one to seven days before your GMAT appointment. If you cancel between one to seven days before your GMAT appointment, you won’t receive a refund.

You cannot cancel GMAT appointments within 24 hours of your test date. If you don’t show up to your scheduled GMAT appointment, and haven’t cancelled within 24 hours of your test date, your account history with GMAC will display a no-show. Your no-show status shows up on your own test history on your GMAC dashboard online. However, you won’t ever have a no-show appear on a score report, so don’t worry about your no-show status getting sent to business schools.

What Is the GMAT Cancellation Fee?

GMAC has a pretty harsh GMAT cancellation fee structure.

If you cancel your exam seven or more days before your GMAT appointment, you’ll receive an $80 refund. That means you’ll lose the rest of your $250 registration fee.

You can also reschedule your exam seven or more days for your GMAT appointment. Rescheduling a GMAT appointment costs $50, so it’s definitely a better financial decision if you still want to take the GMAT.

If you’re within seven calendar days of your test date, you’ll lose your entire $250 registration fee if you cancel a GMAT appointment. You’ll also have to pay the full $250 registration fee if you decide to register for a different test date.

What Happens If I Have an Emergency?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to recoup your full registration fee, even if you have an emergency. If you cancel more than seven days in advance, you can get the standard $80 refund. If it’s within seven calendar days of your test date, you’ll still have to pay the full $250 GMAT cancellation fee to register for a different GMAT date.

How Can I Decide Whether or Not to Cancel GMAT Appointments?

Because GMAC has such a strict GMAT cancellation policy, if you have to cancel a GMAT appointment, you stand to lose a lot of money. You should only completely cancel a GMAT appointment if you don’t want to take the GMAT at all, or at least not for many months. Otherwise, it’s better to reschedule your appointment.

If you’ve had an unforeseen emergency come up, such as a severe illness or family crisis, try to reschedule your GMAT for another time. Remember, you can reschedule your GMAT up to seven days before your test date. So, if you’re feeling under the weather as your test date approaches and are worried that you won’t be well before the test, you can decide to reschedule so you don’t have to worry about losing your registration fee. However, if an emergency pops up closer to test day, know that you’ll have to pay the $250 GMAT registration fee again if you decide to take the test at a later date.

If you’re worried about how you’ll score, rescheduling your test for a later date might make sense. Scheduling your test for a later date means that you’ll have time to study more and feel more prepared. However, you need to keep in mind the amount of time it takes to send and receive GMAT scores. Pushing your test date back might mean that you don’t have enough time to send your GMAT scores to MBA programs before their application deadlines. If you’ve decided that you have enough time to push back your GMAT appointment, make sure you reschedule at least seven days before your current GMAT appointment, so that you only have to pay $50 instead of the full $250 registration fee.

If you’ve already gotten into business school or have decided not to apply, canceling your GMAT makes sense. If you can cancel seven days or more before your exam, you’ll at least get $80 of your GMAT registration fee back.

What’s Next?

Choosing a GMAT test date that works for you will go a long way in making sure you don’t have to cancel your exam and lose a lot of money. If you’re looking for more information about how to choose a correct GMAT test date, our complete guide to choosing a GMAT test date will help you make the best decision that works for your schedule.

Picking a GMAT test center that’s convenient to your location is also an important part of your registration process. Find out more about what to expect at a GMAT test center and how to choose the right one for you in our guide to GMAT test centers.

It’s important to send your GMAT scores well before your application deadlines. In our guide to sending GMAT scores, you’ll learn when schools receive them, how to send them, and what to do if you need to send extra GMAT scores.

The post Can You Cancel GMAT Appointments? Should You? appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

So you’ve scheduled your GMAT appointment and feel good about it. A month later, you find out that’s your sister’s wedding date. What can you do? Don’t panic: you can reschedule the GMAT, though there is a fee. 

In this article, I’ll go over how to reschedule your GMAT date, how much it costs, and when it’s a good or bad move to reschedule.

Can You Reschedule GMAT Appointments? How Much Does It Cost?

The short answer is yes, you can reschedule your GMAT appointment. However, there are some limitations.

When you register for your GMAT date on mba.com, you’ll pay a scheduling fee of $250 for selecting the date, time, and location of your exam. You can’t get that fee refunded no matter what, so keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to reschedule.

If you decide to reschedule, you’ll pay a $50 fee if you change your exam date more than seven calendar days before your GMAT appointment. If you change your exam date seven days or fewer before your appointment, you’ll pay a $250 GMAT reschedule fee (meaning that you’re essentially paying to register for the test again).

You cannot reschedule or cancel your GMAT appointment 24 hours or less before your scheduled exam date. If you don’t appear on your exam date, your mba.com account will label that date a no-show. However, no-shows won’t appear on the score reports that go to business schools.

Rescheduling the GMAT: Step by Step

If you’ve decided to reschedule your GMAT appointment, it’s a fairly simple process.

1. To reschedule GMAT dates online, log into your mba.com account that you used to register for the exam.
2. Under “Future Exams,” on the first page, rescheduling your appointment will be one of the options under “Actions.” After clicking on ‘reschedule,’ you can select your new testing location (if applicable), exam date, and time.
3. Depending on when you’re rescheduling your exam, you will pay a $50 GMAT reschedule fee (more than seven days before your appointment) or $250 fee (seven days or fewer before your appointment). You’ll be directed to do this online in order to complete your new exam registration. Watch out for an email confirmation of your new exam date.

Note: You can also reschedule GMAT appointments by phone (find the appropriate number here). By phone, there is a $10 rescheduling fee. You are required to reschedule your appointment by phone if you want to reschedule an exam in a different country from the original one in which you registered.

Should You Reschedule the GMAT?

So, now you know you can reschedule GMAT dates. But is it a good idea? Let’s go over the do’s and don’ts of rescheduling the exam.

Avoid Rescheduling the GMAT If Possible

Rescheduling the GMAT is expensive, and your initial registration fee can’t be refunded. Also, depending on when you plan to apply to business schools, putting the test off until a later date can interfere with your admissions deadlines.

If possible, it’s usually best to stick to your initial plan and take the test on your scheduled date. If you don’t do well on your scheduled GMAT date, you can always retake the exam after further preparation—usually a better idea than putting it off to begin with.

Don’t Reschedule Because You’re Doing Poorly on Practice Tests

MBA programs don’t look down on taking the GMAT more than once, so it won’t reflect poorly on you if you take the GMAT twice or even several times. If you’ve prepared extensively but are not scoring exactly where you want on your practice tests, it’s usually a better bet to take the exam anyway. Taking the test at a real testing location may actually help you prepare and feel more relaxed and ready for your next GMAT appointment.

If you do decide to take the test more than once, just make sure to leave yourself plenty of time to prepare before your next exam date. You can’t take the GMAT more than once in a month, but depending on your target score, you’ll likely need at least three months to substantially prepare before retaking the test.

The one exception to this rule is if you truly haven’t prepared much for the GMAT at all due to work or other stressors in your life. If you’re still unfamiliar with the exam content and format, or haven’t focused on your weak spots at all, it’s better to reschedule. Taking the GMAT while woefully underprepared will only increase your fear of the exam.

Do Reschedule If You Have a Personal Emergency or Health Crisis

If you’re having an issue such as a personal crisis or illness, it may be better to reschedule. It’s best not to take the GMAT under more pressure than you need to, as it will likely lower your score and create anxiety around the process of taking the exam for next time. Taking time to heal and prepare before your next GMAT appointment will be better for your exam score and your health.

What’s Next?

If you’re ready to schedule your GMAT appointment, learn how to schedule wisely with our guides to choosing GMAT test dates.

Not sure how long you need to study for the GMAT? Our guide will help you set a timetable for your GMAT prep.

Meanwhile, our comprehensive GMAT Study Guide will cover everything you need for your GMAT preparation.

The post Can You Reschedule Your GMAT? Is There a Fee? appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

Unlike a diamond, a GMAT score isn’t forever. But how long do GMAT scores last, exactly? After five years, GMAT scores are no longer valid for business school admission. After 10 years, you can’t even see them!

If you’re applying to a business program, you’ll need to send scores that are five or fewer years old. Read on to find out the exact policies around how long GMAT scores last and how these policies affect your test-taking schedule.

First, let’s take a closer look at the rules for GMAT score validity.

How Long Are GMAT Scores Valid?

GMAT scores are valid for five years from the date you took the test. You can sign into your account at MBA.com to see any GMAT scores that you accepted in the past five years.

If you want to see scores from a GMAT that you took more than five but fewer than 10 years ago, then you can gain access to them via a special score report request. You’d have to call customer service and pay a fee of $28. This hard copy score report is mostly available for your own benefit, since business schools won’t accept GMAT scores that are older than five years.

If you took the GMAT over a decade ago and want to see your scores just for old time’s sake, then hopefully, you wrote them down. Any GMAT scores that are 10 years or older scores are long gone. You wouldn’t be able to get ahold of them unless you kept your own personal record.

As you just read, you can access scores that are older than five years (but younger than 10), but business schools probably won’t accept them. How long are GMAT scores valid for business schools?

Will Business Schools Accept Old GMAT Scores?

Business schools consider GMAT scores to be valid for five years. This five-year mark typically starts five years prior to a school’s application deadline. Any scores older than that don’t fulfill application requirements.

Harvard Business School, for example, had a Round 1 admissions deadline of September 7 in 2016. To apply, students had to send scores from a GMAT taken after September 7, 2011.

Stanford Business School has a similar policy. To apply for its Round 1 September 21, 2016 deadline, students had to have taken the GMAT on or after September 21, 2011.

Most schools set the cutoff five years prior to their application deadline. If you’re not sure if your scores make the cut, you should contact the admissions office to learn more. They should be able to tell you the exact date from which GMAT scores are considered valid.

While most schools will accept GMAT scores that are five years old, a few only want scores from the “Next Generation GMAT,” the redesigned version that was introduced in 2012.

Columbia Business School, for example, says that scores are valid for five years, but then it adds this caveat: “Both the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) and Integrated Reasoning (IR) sections are required if you take the GMAT.”

Since the IR section was introduced in 2012, GMAT scores from 2011 wouldn’t be valid. Old GMAT scores only count if they come from a test taken in or after June 2012, as that was the first month that the GMAT contained Integrated Reasoning.

If you’re solely concerned with accessing your GMAT scores, then all you need to know is that they’ll stay in your MBA.com account for five years. If you’re using them to apply to business school, though, then you should contact admissions offices to make sure you know any school-specific policies.

In other words, don’t assume that there’s a one size fits all rule when it comes to GMAT score validity in business school admissions. Each school is different, and each can set its own rules. Make sure you know what they are before applying.

Now let’s say that you took the GMAT more than once in the past few years to improve your scores. Will business schools see all your scores from every time you sat for the GMAT?

Do Business Schools See All Your GMAT Scores?

When you take the GMAT, you have the option of keeping or canceling your scores. Right after you finish taking the exam, you’ll see your unofficial score report with your IR, Quantitative, Verbal, and total scores (everything but Analytical Writing Assessment). Based on these scores, you can decide whether to keep or cancel the test.

In past years, business schools could see that you canceled scores from a test sitting. As of 2015, though, canceled scores are no longer indicated on score reports. Even canceled scores from tests taken prior to 2015 will no longer appear on score reports.

You don’t have to worry about schools knowing how many times you took the GMAT. If you crashed and burned during your first try, no one has to know but you.

You also now have the option to reinstate canceled scores from any test taken on or after January 1, 2014 for a fee of $50. You can reinstate scores up to four years and 11 months from your test date. This reinstatement period is a month shy of five years to allow time for processing your request.

Now that you have a sense of the rules around GMAT scores, let’s consider what they mean for your planning. How do these policies around score validity, cancellation, and reinstatement affect your test taking schedule?  

How Do GMAT Score Policies Affect Your Schedule?

The five-year rule for GMAT scores doesn’t affect most people’s test taking schedule a great deal. Generally speaking, people start preparing for the GMAT when they decide to go to business school, so they don’t have to worry about their scores being too old.

There are three main scenarios when GMAT score policies might affect your plans. Read on to see if any of them apply to you.

Scenario #1: You’re Worried Your Scores Are Too Old

If you took the GMAT years ago and are unsure if your scores are still valid, then you should check with each business school that you’re applying to. That way, you can confirm that you’re meeting individual, school-specific application requirements.

Most schools will accept scores that you took five years prior to their Round 1, Round 2, or Round 3 application deadline. Others only want scores from the most recent version of the GMAT, which was first administered in June of 2012.

You could start by looking for this information on each school’s admission website. If you can’t find it there, then you should email or call up the admissions office and ask about its GMAT policy.

Scenario #2: You Want to Take the GMAT as an Undergraduate

If you’re an undergraduate thinking about taking the GMAT, you should consider whether you’ll be applying to business school within five years. Most applicants have at least two to three years of work experience on their resume before applying, so you might be cutting it close.

As long as you meet the five-year cutoff, taking the GMAT during or right after college can be beneficial. Since you’ll still be in academic mode, you may not have to study as much as you would if you waited until several years after graduation. Your math, verbal, and test-taking skills might be as sharp as they’ll ever be.

If your plans change in subsequent years, you can always take the GMAT again, as long as you are able to pay the $250 registration fee again or get a voucher that covers all or part of the cost.

Scenario #3: You Need to Reapply to Business Schools

Finally, this five-year rule for GMAT validity is useful if you don’t get into business schools the first time around and decide to try again the following year. You won’t have to take the test over again, because you can send the same results along with your new applications.

The only reason you would take the GMAT again is if you seek higher scores. Otherwise, your scores will be just as valid for the following year’s admissions as they were for the current year’s, as long as they haven’t passed the five-year mark.

Unless any of the above three scenarios apply to you, the five-year rule of GMAT score validity probably won’t affect your test taking plans all that much. As we finish up, let’s go over some key points you should remember regarding our original query, How long are GMAT scores valid?

How Long Do GMAT Scores Last? Final Thoughts

When asking ourselves, “how long do GMAT scores last?”, it’s useful to come at the question from two angles.

First, we can think about how long the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) holds onto GMAT scores. GMAC keeps GMAT scores for five years, and you can access them online or over the phone. The organization also allows you to request a special score report for GMAT scores between five and 10 years old.

The second angle we should consider is how long GMAT scores are valid for business schools. Like GMAC, most business schools accept scores up to five years old. This five-year cutoff typically starts five years from the application deadline.

Because each school sets its own rules, you need to check requirements on a school by school basis, especially if you’re worried about your scores being too old.

What about if you’re interested in taking the GMAT, but don’t have any concrete plans to apply to business school yet? In this case, you may opt to take the exam if you feel you could get an especially strong score.

As long as you apply within five years, your scores will meet the application requirement. There doesn’t seem to be any advantage to sending scores that are a year old compared to scores that are three years old.

This five-year rule can be useful for anyone who wants to take the GMAT early and then be free to focus on the rest of their business school applications. As long as you fulfill business school requirements, then you can feel confident sending off your GMAT score reports.

What’s Next?

When you take the GMAT, you’ll have to decide whether to keep or cancel your scores. But what makes a good GMAT score? Check out this guide to find out.

What’s a competitive GMAT percentile for business school? Consult this guide to see how GMAT section scores and total scores match up with percentiles.

Are you scoring at or above average on your practice tests? This article on average GMAT scores explains what scores you need to stand out from the pack.

The post How Long Do GMAT Scores Last? appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

Effective time management is something many GMAT test takers struggle with – with only two sections that contain many questions and multiple question types, the GMAT makes it easy to mismanage your time during a section and get behind schedule. So on the GMAT, how long should you spend on each question?

In “GMAT Time Management Made Simple”, we break down GMAT time management by the numbers.

In the first half of the video, we go over the length of GMAT Verbal and Quant. Using this information, we determine time per question for each section. We then discuss how on each section of the GMAT, time per question can vary, particularly if the question includes a passage. We use these differences to give guidance on approximate time spend per question type and per question element.

In the second half of the video, we delve into how to use this information on test day to improve your GMAT time management. Effectively managing your time on the GMAT comes down to setting checkpoints for how far you should be in the test based on how much work you have done — we walk through two tried-and-true methods for setting these checkpoints. If you’re behind schedule on one of your check-ins, your primary goal is to get back on track. As a final message, we close with a GMAT time management trick for making up for lost time quickly.

Watch the video to learn how to make the most of your time on the GMAT!

While it isn’t covered in the video, these same GMAT time management principles can also be applied to Integrated Reasoning and the Analytical Writing Assessment.

Test takers are given 30 minutes for 12 Integrated Reasoning questions. On the IR section of the GMAT, time per question should be about 2.5 minutes. However, it’s important to recognize that more complex question types, such as Multi-Source Reasoning, may be more time consuming than others. For AWA, test takers have 30 minutes to assess the given argument and write your essay. Dedicate a reasonable amount of time up top to understanding the argument and outlining your essay (directly on the screen!) before writing a single complete sentence.

To stay updated on our latest GMAT videos, you can subscribe to our new PrepScholar GMAT YouTube channel — we’ll have three new free videos every month.

Happy studies, and good luck preparing for the most important 3 hours and 30 minutes of your GMAT career!

The post GMAT Time Management Made Simple [Video] appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of GMAT strategy is using your GMAT scratch pad. Using your GMAT scratch paper to keep track of and work through information is a large part of your testing experience, so learning how to use it effectively is critical to your success on the exam. In “GMAT Scratch Paper Technique”, we discuss a quick strategy for making the most of your GMAT scratch paper.

First, we discuss why the GMAT scratch pad provided by your testing center is different than any scratch paper you’ve used before: GMAT scratch paper comes in a spiral-bound pad of 5 sheets; the pages are yellow, laminated, and covered in a grid pattern; you write on it with a marker than you can’t erase; and you can only get more paper if you request a new pad from your proctor.

However, this strange set up can be a blessing in disguise. We reveal the technique that will help you make the most of your GMAT scratch paper: using the grid to your advantage. We spend the remainder of the video digging into various applications of this GMAT strategy — from straightforward uses of the GMAT scratch paper grid, such as the creation of diagrams, to less obvious uses that lead to the reduction of simple mistakes and improved time management.

Watch the video to learn more!

To stay updated on our latest GMAT videos, you can subscribe to our new PrepScholar GMAT YouTube channel — we’ll have three new free videos every month.

Happy GMAT studies!

The post Quick and Easy GMAT Scratch Paper Technique [Video] appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.

If you’re a future business student, then you know it’s important to think about the bottom line. Before you get into business school, how much will you need to spend on GMAT fees?

This guide will go over all the fees associated with the GMAT so you know what to expect as a test-taker. Plus, you’ll find some tips for keeping your total GMAT cost down.

To start, let’s answer the big question: how much does the GMAT cost?

How Much Is the GMAT?

Wherever in the world you’re taking the test, the GMAT exam fee will be the same: $250. Most people register for the GMAT online and pay this $250 registration fee with a credit card. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or JCB. You can also pay with a debit card if it’s a Visa or MasterCard.

Besides signing up online, you can also register by mail or phone. By mail, you would send a cashier’s check, money order, or personal check that’s payable in U.S. dollars and draws on a U.S. bank, along with the GMAT Appointment Scheduling Form. Your check must arrive at least ten days before your selected test date so it has time to clear.

If you choose to register by phone, you should know that GMAC charges a $10 service fee per phone call. If you have multiple requests, therefore, you should try to address them all in one call so that these service charges don’t pile up. Apparently, GMAC employees aren’t especially interested in being phone buddies.

While everyone pays $250 to register for the GMAT, anyone who needs to cancel or reschedule will have to pay an additional fee. Read on to learn about the fees associated with canceling or rescheduling the GMAT.

How Much Does It Cost to Cancel or Reschedule the GMAT?

Let’s say you schedule the GMAT and then win a sweepstakes trip to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. Is it possible to cancel or reschedule your test?

Rest assured that you can still cancel or reschedule the GMAT after registering. Before you start packing your bags, though, you should know that you won’t get a full refund.

If you cancel your test more than seven days in advance of your test date, then you can get an $80 refund. If you cancel seven or fewer days out or miss your test completely, you won’t get any of the original $250 registration fee back.

Rescheduling the GMAT is a little more affordable. If you choose a new test date more than seven days out, then you only have to pay an additional $50. If you wait to act until your test is only a few days away, though, then you won’t get any discount. You’ll have to pay the entire $250 registration fee again.

In a nutshell:

• Cancel more than 7 days before test date: $80 refund
• Cancel 7 days or fewer before test date: no refund
• Reschedule more than 7 days before test date: $50
• Reschedule 7 days or fewer before test date: $250

Before you buy the best binoculars to see the Aurora Borealis, make sure you know how much of a financial hit you’ll take canceling or rescheduling the GMAT. If you figure out your plans more than seven days out from your test, then you can minimize additional GMAT fees. If you’re trying to make changes seven or fewer days before your selected test date, then you won’t get any refund.

Now that we’ve gone over fees for registering, canceling, and rescheduling the GMAT, let’s look at the costs associated with sending your GMAT score reports to business schools.

How Much Does It Cost to Send GMAT Score Reports?

If you’ve done your research and are applying to five schools or fewer, then you won’t have to pay anything to send your GMAT score reports. This is because you can list up to five schools as score recipients on your GMAT test date for free.

Any additional score reports cost $28 each, and you can order them online after you take the test. The score recipients you designate on test day will receive your official report about 20 days after you take the GMAT. Any additional schools may have to wait an extra five to seven days to see your scores.

You can also order an Enhanced Score Report, which provides more details about your performance on the exam, for $24.95.

How Much Does It Cost to Cancel Your GMAT Scores?

Right after you finish the last section, you’ll see a preview of your verbal, quantitative, and total scores. How’s that for immediate feedback! At this point, you have two minutes to decide whether to keep or cancel your scores. Scary fact – if you don’t make a selection after two minutes, then your GMAT scores will be automatically canceled! So, don’t be indecisive.

Cancelling your scores right after you take the GMAT is free. If you decide to keep your scores, but then go home and decide that they weren’t up to par, you still have 72 hours to cancel them. If you want to cancel your scores online at this point, then you can do so for an additional fee of $25. There’s one exception to this policy: if you add one or more score recipients during this 72-hour window, then you’ll no longer be able to cancel your scores.

If, on the flip side, you accidentally canceled great scores, then you can later reinstate them. To reinstate canceled scores, you have to pay a fee of $50. The only exception is that you can’t reinstate canceled scores from exams taken before January 1, 2014.

As you can see, there are a lot of potential GMAT fees, whether you’re registering for the test, adding score recipients, or reinstating cancelled scores. Consult the chart below for the full list of GMAT fees.

How Much Does the GMAT Cost? Full List of Fees

This chart shows all the fees associated with the GMAT. Beyond the costs you just read about, it also includes one more: the fee to rescore your essay from the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section.

If you think there was some mistake with your AWA score, then you can pay $45 to have your essay rescored up to six months after you take the test. Your regraded essay score will be final, even if it ends up being lower than the original one.

Here’s the full list of GMAT costs.

As you can see, there are quite a few additional GMAT fees. Hopefully, though, you won’t have to pay any of them beyond the initial $250 registration fee!

Even without any extra fees, the GMAT on its own is an expensive test. Is there any assistance for people with limited finances?

Are There GMAT Fee Waivers Available?

While GMAC, the administrators of the GMAT, don’t offer fee waivers, you may be able to get one from a business school or a scholarship organization, like the Fulbright Foundation or the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program.

Business schools and other organizations purchase vouchers from GMAC and distribute them to qualifying candidates. Since schools and organizations are responsible for doling out the vouchers, each sets its own eligibility requirements.

Vouchers may cover all or part of the registration fee. They can cover $50, $100, $150, $200, or the entire GMAT cost. You would be responsible for paying any remainder. These waivers only cover the cost of GMAT registration. You can’t put the money toward any other additional fees.

To obtain a GMAT fee waiver, you need to contact the financial aid office of the school or organization directly. If you qualify, you’ll likely have to send relevant documents that support your financial need, like pay stubs or tax records. Since the process can be time-consuming, try to take the first step a couple months before you plan to register.

The final price you’ll have to pay to take the GMAT involves prep materials. Students who score the highest tend to study the greatest number of hours. Read on to get a sense of how much you’ll have to pay for GMAT prep materials.

Additional GMAT Costs: Getting Ready for the Test

According to GMAC, students who got a score of 700 or higher on the GMAT spent an average of 121 hours studying for the test. While GMAC’s free preparation software is very useful, it isn’t going to give you 121 hours of studying. You’ll need to invest in an additional book, online program, class, or tutor.

Self-studying with a GMAT prep book is probably your most affordable option. GMAC offers the official GMAT study collection of three books online (cost: $52.53 on Amazon). Other prep books, like those from the Princeton Review and Manhattan Prep, range between $10 and $30.

If you need more external accountability or a teacher to lead you through the material, then you might go with a GMAT prep class or a private tutor. To give you a sense of prices, let’s look at what Kaplan has to offer. It charges $800 for an online GMAT class, $1,449 for an in-person class, and $2,799 for private tutoring. In most cases, private tutoring will be your most expensive option for GMAT prep.

Before shelling out big bucks, you should think critically about how you learn best. Many students can achieve their goals through self-study, while others will thrive in a classroom or under the guidance of an instructor.

Based on your ideal learning style and budget, you can choose your best approach to GMAT prep. Besides being thoughtful about how you prep, what else can you do to keep down costs of the GMAT? Read on for five essential tips.

5 Tips for Keeping GMAT Costs Down

The GMAT is an expensive test, and many prospective students take it more than once to achieve their target scores. How can you keep your costs down as you prepare for the exam? Consider these five tips for minimizing your GMAT costs as much as possible.

#1: Plan Your Test Date Carefully

As you read above, you don’t have much wiggle room once you choose your GMAT test date. The fees for canceling or rescheduling are pretty steep, so you should do all you can to avoid changing your registration to keep costs low.

Before you register, consider your schedule carefully. When are your business school application deadlines? What other personal or professional commitments do you have in your schedule? What location and time of day work best for you to take a three and a half hour test?

Be thoughtful about the date and time of day you choose to take the GMAT so you can minimize the chance you’ll need to cancel or reschedule and pay a hefty fee.

#2: Make Any Changes More Than 7 Days Out

If you do suspect you need to cancel or reschedule the GMAT, try your best to do so more than seven days before your chosen test date. Wait any longer, and you’ll have to wave goodbye to your $250 registration fee. If you suspect you won’t be able to make the test, make sure to change your registration more than seven days ahead of time.

#3: Finalize Your Program List Before Test Day

You should take advantage of your five free GMAT score reports by finalizing your list of business schools before you take the exam. By doing your due diligence, you can confidently list up to five schools on the day you take the GMAT (assuming you’re keeping your scores).

If you don’t know your list, then you’ll have to pay $28 for any additional score reports. This extra fee is unnecessary unless you’re applying to move than five schools, plus your score reports might get delayed.

Finalizing your list of schools will help you keep down costs, plus you’ll have a better sense of what GMAT scores you need to be a competitive candidate. Speaking of scores…

#4: Know Your Target Scores

Just as you should go into the test prepared with your list of score recipients, you should also go in with a target score. Know which scores you will keep and which scores you will cancel.

You just have two minutes to decide at the end of the GMAT, and during this two minutes you can cancel your scores for free. If you make the wrong choice, then you’ll have to pay an additional fee of $25 to cancel your scores or $50 to reinstate your scores.

Rather than sitting before the computer screen wringing your hands in indecision, go into the test with a solid cutoff of an acceptable score. That way, you can keep costs down and ensure a smoother testing experience.

#5: Take Advantage of Free Prep Materials

GMAC offers free prep software that anyone taking the GMAT should download and use. The software gets you acquainted with the test and its instructions, plus it has lots of practice questions and two full-length practice tests that simulate the real exam. Since the software is made by the test-makers, it offers the most realistic practice questions possible.

While this software probably isn’t sufficient as your only source of test prep material, it is very useful and should definitely be part of your GMAT preparation. Plus, the software won’t wear out your wallet, as it’s completely free.

For additional materials, you should be thoughtful about how you study and learn best. The most expensive option isn’t necessarily the best one for getting where you want to go. Private tutors, for instance, can charge a lot, but they may not be the best teachers. Sometimes, tutors are just people who got excellent scores on the GMAT themselves, but they aren’t necessarily skilled at helping others do the same.

You can do extremely well on the GMAT without shelling out thousands of dollars for classes and tutors. Whether or not you’re on a strict budget, think about how you learn best and what approach would help you develop the skills and strategy to achieve your target GMAT scores.

In closing, let’s go over the key facts you need to remember about GMAT costs and fees.

Bottom Line: How Much Is the GMAT?

Hundreds of thousands of students all across the world take the GMAT every year, and their registration cost for the test is the same: $250. If this hefty fee presents a financial obstacle for you, then you should contact business schools or scholarship organizations to find out whether you can get a voucher that covers part or all of the GMAT cost of registration.

By choosing your test date and prep materials carefully, you can keep costs down. You’ll also limit additional expenses if you go into the GMAT knowing your list of score recipients and the minimum score you will keep, rather than cancel after you finish taking the test.

A lot of planning and preparation goes into doing well on the GMAT, and both are important for keeping down GMAT costs. The process of research, registering, and studying starts several months before your first test date. By starting early, you can prepare yourself, feel confident on test day, and reduce the costs of your entire test-taking experience.

What’s Next?

While you’ll spend months planning for the GMAT, how long will you spend actually taking it? Our complete guide to GMAT length goes over the structure and timing of each section of the GMAT, plus how to last the full four hours.

How important are percentiles on the GMAT? Check out our article on percentiles to learn exactly how scores correspond to percentiles in the AWA, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal sections.

What other questions do you have about the GMAT? Find all the answers you need in this comprehensive guide that goes over the structure of the test, how it’s scored, and what scores you need on the GMAT to get into business school.

The post GMAT Fees: How Much Does the Exam Cost? appeared first on Online GMAT Prep Blog by PrepScholar.