GMAT Exam Delivered Online vs at a Test Center: Which Option is Right for You?

Considering taking the GMAT™ exam? You can now take the GMAT exam online or at a test center. The exam is the same whatever option you choose.

The main difference between taking the GMAT exam online or at a test center is how the test is delivered, but there are some more subtle differences too.

To assess whether the online or in-person GMAT exam is best for you, here are the key differences and similarities that you should consider.

GMAT exam delivered online vs at a test center

Exam structure

The structure and content are the same, with four sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing, and Integrated Reasoning. The GMAT exam takes 3 hours and 7 minutes to complete, plus two optional 8-minute breaks.

Cost

As a globally administered exam, the cost of the GMAT exam varies based on location and currency. Additional fees for rescheduling or canceling exam appointments are based on location, currency, and advance notice.

For a detailed overview of costs where you live, please refer to our pricing page.

Scoring

The scoring practices of the GMAT exam remain unchanged whichever exam delivery method you choose.

You can’t cancel your score online, but you can instead review your official online score and then choose whether to send it to programs.

The option to receive an Enhanced Score Report (ESR) however isn’t available for GMAT exams delivered online. If you wish to get comprehensive feedback on your performance, you will have to take the test at a test center.

“ESR provides a detailed debrief on how a test taker has performed during the test, thereby guiding for the subsequent preparation,” notes Sam Modi, founder of GMAT Prep Expert.

Test experience

Beyond the fact that you can take the GMAT exam from the comfort of your home, one difference between the test experiences is related to note taking.

At a test center, you’re provided with five sheets of laminated paper to take notes and do calculations on, while you use a digital or physical whiteboard for an exam delivered online.

A benefit of taking the GMAT exam online is round-the-clock appointment availability. The time slots for in-person GMAT exam are not as readily available due to the operating hours of the test center. But if you plan well enough in advance you should be able to secure an appointment at your closet center.

“[The online GMAT] provides test takers the flexibility to choose the day and time that works best for them to maximize their performance in the test,” Sam comments.

Should you prepare differently for the GMAT delivered online vs at a test center?

While the content of the GMAT exam is the same however you sit the test, you should consider taking practice tests in the same or similar conditions you expect to take the real GMAT exam 

If you are taking the GMAT exam online, this means writing all practice exams in the same workspace, using the same computer, the same day of the week, and at the same time as the real online GMAT exam is scheduled.

Sam from GMAT Prep Expert strongly advises students to use a physical whiteboard to revise. “Students should purchase an erasable whiteboard of the size approved by the GMAC, two dry-erase markers, and dry-erase whiteboard eraser before they start writing practice test,” he adds. The GMAT online does also offer an online whiteboard feature, so test-takers can choose either a physical whiteboard, the online whiteboard, or a combination of both.

To prepare for the test, both Rowan Canter, an MBA student at ESMT Berlin and online GMAT test-taker, and Sanjana Sahgal, an MBA student at Imperial College Business School and in-person GMAT test-taker, leveraged official GMAT prep resources.

“I found the Official GMAT Practice Exams especially valuable to identify my weaknesses and prioritize my study schedule,” Rowan explains.

Sanjana adds: “I also signed up for weekend classes at a coaching center and spoke to multiple people who had taken the test to understand how best to prepare.”

Online vs Test Center: Which is best for you?

If your nearest test center is far away, then taking the GMAT online can eliminate the stress and uncertainties associated with travel.

Sam also advises taking the GMAT exam at a test center if you live in a noisy home where distractions may be expected, or if your internet connection is slow or unreliable.

While for some candidates, the strict exam conditions of a test center could induce test anxiety which could adversely impact performance, others say the test center environment boosts their concentration.

Think about the way you manage stress and whether you will perform better in a test center or a more familiar environment at home.

Ultimately, whichever option you pick should suit your individual circumstances. With the GMAT exam offered both online and at a test center, you now have full flexibility to choose the test format that suits you best.