GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$275
Provider
GMAC
Validity
5 years
Available
Global
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- There are no academic prerequisites to sit the GMAT. GMAC does not require a degree, transcript, or minimum age disclosure to register.
- A valid, original form of identification meeting GMAC's requirements for your testing location. Requirements differ by country, and the name must match your mba.com registration exactly.
- An mba.com account, used for registration, score sending, and access to the free Official Starter Kit.
- Payment by VISA, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. A declined card automatically cancels the appointment.
- For the online exam: a computer meeting GMAC's published system requirements, a webcam, a private room whose glass surfaces can be covered, and a workspace clear of prohibited items.
- If you need testing accommodations, approval must be obtained before you schedule. GMAC states approved accommodations are applied during scheduling and cannot be added to an existing appointment.
- The degree requirement belongs to the schools, not the exam. Business programs generally require a completed bachelor's degree, but that is checked at application, not at the test center.
Number of Questions
64 questions: Quantitative Reasoning 21, Verbal Reasoning 23, Data Insights 20. Each section is capped at 45 minutes.
Duration
2 hours 15 minutes of testing time (135 minutes), plus one optional 10-minute break. GMAC allots roughly 2.5 hours for the whole appointment including check-in, and requires the online exam to be finished within 3.5 hours of the appointment start time.
Question Format
Problem Solving (Quantitative Reasoning, 21 questions, no calculator), Reading Comprehension (Verbal Reasoning), Critical Reasoning (Verbal Reasoning, passages usually under 100 words, five answer options), Data Sufficiency (Data Insights), Multi-Source Reasoning (Data Insights), Table Analysis (Data Insights), Graphics Interpretation (Data Insights), Two-Part Analysis (Data Insights)
Passing Requirement
None. GMAC publishes no pass mark and advises schools against cutoff scores unless they hold empirical evidence supporting one. GMAC's admissions guidance notes most US programs expect at least 620, around the 77th to 79th percentile, while many report class averages of 670 or higher.
How It Is Delivered
Computer-adaptive, delivered either at a Pearson VUE test center or online at home through GMAC's online delivery partner. Both formats use the same structure, timing, and scoring, and both count toward the same attempt limits.
Languages Offered
English only. GMAC notes the exam does not test vocabulary or grammar directly and includes no essay, which is part of why it is often described as more accessible than the GRE for candidates who learned English later.
Rules specific to this exam
- Adaptivity: GMAC describes the GMAT as computer adaptive: it selects each question based on the test taker's estimated ability level, so two candidates almost never see the same set of questions.
- Review And Edit: Each section ends with a Question Review and Edit screen. You may bookmark unlimited questions during the section, revisit as many as you like at the end, and change up to three answers per section. Running out of time skips this screen entirely.
Visit the official GMAC certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
Total Score 205 to 805 in 10-point increments, always ending in 5. Each of Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights is reported separately on a 60 to 90 scale in 1-point increments, and each section is weighted equally in the Total Score.
Score You Need
None. GMAC publishes no pass mark and advises schools against cutoff scores unless they hold empirical evidence supporting one. GMAC's admissions guidance notes most US programs expect at least 620, around the 77th to 79th percentile, while many report class averages of 670 or higher.
How It Is Calculated
The GMAT is computer adaptive: GMAC states it selects each question based on the candidate's estimated ability level, so scores are not a simple count of correct answers. GMAC reports section scores as a function of the number of questions answered, whether each answer was correct, and the difficulty and other statistical parameters of the questions delivered. There is no penalty for a wrong answer relative to a blank, but unanswered questions still reduce the score, so guessing is always better than leaving items blank.
When You Get Results
GMAC delivers the detailed Official Score Report within 3 to 5 days of the appointment, and states it may occasionally take up to 20 days. At the end of the appointment you are prompted to report or cancel your scores, and failing to choose within the allotted time cancels them automatically. Scores remain valid for five years from the test date.
In raw terms: GMAC publishes concordance tables rather than a raw-to-scaled conversion. The published anchor point is that 645 on the current scale is equivalent to 700 on the GMAT Exam (10th Edition) scale of 200 to 800. GMAC states that direct total score comparison between the two editions is not meaningful and that percentile comparison is the correct method.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)?
There are no academic prerequisites to sit the GMAT. GMAC does not require a degree, transcript, or minimum age disclosure to register.. A valid, original form of identification meeting GMAC's requirements for your testing location. Requirements differ by country, and the name must match your mba.com registration exactly.. An mba.com account, used for registration, score sending, and access to the free Official Starter Kit.. Payment by VISA, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. A declined card automatically cancels the appointment.. For the online exam: a computer meeting GMAC's published system requirements, a webcam, a private room whose glass surfaces can be covered, and a workspace clear of prohibited items.. If you need testing accommodations, approval must be obtained before you schedule. GMAC states approved accommodations are applied during scheduling and cannot be added to an existing appointment.. The degree requirement belongs to the schools, not the exam. Business programs generally require a completed bachelor's degree, but that is checked at application, not at the test center..
How much does the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) cost?
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) exam costs $275. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)?
Visit the official GMAC certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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