GMAT Exam Registration: When to Test, Study Plans, And Timelines

As the world’s most widely-taken business school entrance test, the GMAT™ Exam is a crucial first step for anyone thinking of applying to an MBA or business master’s.

While schools won’t reject your application based on your GMAT score alone, getting a good score will strengthen your application and signal to your target school that you’re serious about studying there. Plus, the skills and knowledge you’ll gain during GMAT revision are perfect preparation for the rigors of business school.

In this article we’ll explain all you need to know about GMAT exam registration, including:

●     How to register for the GMAT

●     When to sit the exam

●     How to put together a study plan

●     Study tips to help you get the best score possible

●     A full timeline for applying to business school

Your business school journey starts here!

When should you register for the GMAT?

Our advice here is simple: you should register for the GMAT as soon as you’ve decided to apply to business school.

Why? Well, firstly because it sends an important message: that you will follow through with this. Once you’ve registered for the GMAT you have a concrete date to work towards, which means no more procrastinating and no more deciding. Basically, your business school journey begins when you register for the GMAT. That can be an important psychological hurdle to overcome.

Registering early also gives you ample time to retake your test in case your score isn’t as strong as expected. We would recommend taking your GMAT around three to four weeks before the application deadline. This way, you will have enough time to retake your test before the deadline. You can also apply to other schools where you have a better chance of being accepted.

Having said that, don’t forget that your GMAT score is only one small part of a lengthy application process. Your GMAT score alone won’t determine your acceptance, but a strong score will certainly improve your chances. 

Your GMAT score is valid for five years. If you choose to delay your application, you probably won’t need to retake it.

How to register for the GMAT

You can register for the GMAT™ Exam on the mba.com website. Here are the steps you’ll need to take:

Enter your personal information. Write your name exactly as it appears on your ID, contact details, preferred language, home address, date of birth, and country of citizenship.

Enter your profile details. Detail your previous qualifications, GPA, work experience, where you plan to study, and when you plan to study. This section is optional.

Choose your exam and delivery channel. Select which test you’d like to take and how you’d like to take it (online or at one of our test centers).

Choose your test center. If you’ve chosen to take your exam in-person, pick a convenient test center. Test centers exist in more than 100 countries, so you’re likely to find one near you.

Confirm your exam date and pay the fees. The GMAT fees will depend on your location, but in the United States they are currently $275 for an in-person test and $300 online.

To reschedule your exam, the fee starts from $55 if you do so more than 60 days before the test.

How to prepare for the GMAT

Now the hard work starts. The time you need to prepare for the GMAT varies for everyone, but we suggest setting aside at least six weeks for studying. You may need more time if you’re busy with other work or personal commitments, for example.

While it may seem scary, dividing your GMAT exam prep into stages will make it easier to handle. Here’s how to do that.

Create a study plan

The first thing you’ll need to do is create a GMAT study plan. The official MBA.com 6-week planner makes that task much easier. It breaks your revision down into weekly chunks, setting out what you need to do and when you need to do it. You will slowly increase your study time, setting aside time for practice exams before the official test.

IMPORTANT STUDY TIP: We’d recommend studying the Quantitative Reasoning section before moving on to the Data Insights section. That’s because the skills you’ll gain in the first will give you a solid grounding for the second. The quantitative section tests your basic algebra and arithmetic skills, while the data insights section checks how well you can analyze and interpret data. It also looks at how you apply this information to real-world business situations.

Keep an error log

As part of your study plan, you should keep an error log that keeps track of the areas where you’re falling short.

It’s easy to do. When you get a question wrong while studying, write down the question type. Also, note your answer and the correct answer.

Finally, include a brief analysis of your mistake. Reviewing your log will help you identify patterns and target areas for improvement.

Over time, you should be able to smooth out the common errors you’re making and incrementally improve your score.

Take practice exams consistently and strategically

Practice exams should form the bedrock of any good GMAT study plan. They can get you accustomed to the question formats, help you pinpoint weaknesses, and improve your time management skills (more on that in the next section).

Many students say that the official GMAT Practice Exams are a good way to predict how you will do on the real test. They can help you avoid guesswork and give you a clear idea of your score, which will boost your confidence to do well on your test.

Work on your time management

Another thing that students consistently mention to us is the importance of time management during the GMAT. Knowing your source material is one thing, but if you can’t plan your time accordingly then your score will suffer.

The reason this is so important is that each section is time-bound. You have 45 minutes for the Quantitative Reasoning section, 45 minutes for Verbal Reasoning, and 45 minutes for Data Insights.

You need to pace yourself well to make sure you’re allocating enough time to each section. If you go over the time limit for a section, try it again. Keep practicing until you can finish without rushing.

Prioritize official GMAT exam prep materials

Various unofficial exam prep materials are available, which can be helpful for many students. However, only the official GMAT exam prep materials match the difficulty and question style of the real exam.

They were made by the same people who created the exam which means they accurately represent the real test. This is especially true for the practice exams where students often say these exams show their likely GMAT score.

Your suggested b-school application timeline

Here’s what a full application timeline could look like. It starts from the day you decide to apply and ends on the day you (hopefully) enter the classroom.

This timeline reflects a typical MBA program and assumes you have already decided which school(s) to apply to.

●     June 2025 - Register for the GMAT. Once you’ve decided which program(s) to apply for, the first step of the process is to register online for the GMAT.

●     June 2025 - Start GMAT revision. You should leave yourself at least six weeks between the start of revision and your test day - though some people may need more time to revise.

●     August 2025 - GMAT test day. We would recommend booking your GMAT around 3-4 weeks before the application deadline(s) you’re aiming for.

●     August/September 2025 - GMAT retake (optional). Hopefully, you get your desired score on your first try. If not, the 3-4 weeks you planned are enough time to retake the test and improve your score.

●     September 2025 - First application round deadline. MBA programs normally have three or four application rounds throughout the year. The first round deadline tends to be in the fall.

●     December 2025 - First application round notification.

●     January 2026 - Second application round deadline. If you weren’t quite ready to apply in round one, you normally have another chance to apply a few months later. Most students will apply for an MBA in these first two rounds.

●     March 2026 - Second application round notification.

●     April 2026 - Third application round deadline. We usually don't recommend applying for an MBA in round three unless you have a very unique application. Many schools will have nearly filled their classes by this time.

●     May 2026 - Third application round notification.

●     September 2026 - The start of your business school journey!

7 Key takeaways

1. You should register for the GMAT as soon as you’ve decided to apply for business school.
2. Take your exam three to four weeks before your application deadline, so you have enough time to retake if necessary.
3. Give yourself at least six weeks to revise for your test.
4. Create a week-by-week study plan and stick to it.
5. Official GMAT practice exams strongly indicate your final score, so use them during your prep.
6. Your GMAT score is valid for five years, so if you’re happy with your score then you shouldn’t need to retake it anytime soon.
7. If the rest of your application isn’t quite ready, don’t rush it through. Wait until you’re 100% happy with your application before sending it off. If that means missing an application deadline, so be it.

Get started on your GMAT journey today. Register early to give yourself ample time for preparation and any necessary retakes – setting yourself up for a smooth path to business school.