GMAT® Online Exam: All You Need to Know

As a GMAT® candidate, you have the option of taking the exam at a test center or online. The GMAT® online exam is remotely proctored and designed to give candidates more flexibility and promote confidentiality, therefore, enhancing performance. You can schedule your online exam up to six months in advance. In addition, you can reschedule your exam appointment for a fee based on advance notice of the cancellation.

The online exam is similar to the test center exam in the following ways;

1. You can select your exam section order before taking the exam
2. There are two optional eight-minute breaks
3. The exam includes the Analytical Writing Assessment section
4. You will view your unofficial exam scores immediately after completing your exam

The attempt limits for the GMAT® Online Exam are five attempts in 12 months and eight-lifetime attempts.

What is the GMAT online exam availability?

The GMAT online proctored exam is in English and accessible in most global locations. However, regulatory and local data privacy rules are not available in the following countries; Sudan, Cuba, Iran, Mainland China, and North Korea.

You can take the online exam on both Mac and Windows computers and laptops.

What is the GMAT online exam structure?

I. Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)

The analytical writing assessment is the essay section that tests your writing skills. Your writing task involves critiquing an author’s argument by analyzing their evidence and reasoning. The section takes 30 minutes to complete. Consequently, you should clearly identify and analyze parts of the argument, and thoughtfully and logically organize your ideas. Additionally, you should be insightful and show clear transitions between your statements.

II. Integrated Reasoning (IR)

The Integrated Reasoning section tests how well you can analyze and interpret data and information presented in different formats. It takes 30 minutes to complete. The integrated reasoning section has 12 questions in different formats, such as multi-source reasoning questions, two-part analysis questions, graphics interpretation questions, and table analysis questions.

III. Quantitative Reasoning

The quantitative reasoning section tests your numerical literacy and mathematical abilities such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. It takes 62 minutes to complete and includes two types of questions; data-sufficiency questions and problem-solving questions.

IV. Verbal Reasoning

The verbal section tests your reading and comprehension skills, editing ability, and analyzing written arguments. Accordingly, the section takes 65 minutes to complete. The various types of questions in this section include; reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction.

What is the section order for the GMAT online exam?

Once you select the business schools to send your GMAT score report to and the navigation tutorial, the select section order screen will appear on the computer.

Once the select section order screen appears, you will have three options and one minute to make your selection. The first order will be selected by default if you do not make a selection. The options are;

• Analytical writing assessment, integrated Reasoning, an eight-minute optional break, quantitative Reasoning, an eight-minute optional break, and Verbal Reasoning.
• Verbal Reasoning, eight-minute optional break, Quantitative Reasoning, eight-minute optional break, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment.
• Quantitative Reasoning, eight-minute optional break, verbal Reasoning, eight-minute optional break, integrated Reasoning, analytical writing assessment.

The eight-minute breaks are optional. Therefore, you can skip them and go on to the next section of your exam. If you choose to take the break but exceed the time limit, you will deduct the time from your next section.

How is the GMAT online exam scored?

The online exam has the same questions and section times as the exams administered at the exam center, so as to ensure comparability. Additionally, the exam uses the same algorithm and score scale as the center-based exam.

The Analytical Writing Assessment segment is scored from 0 to 6 in half-point increments, while the Integrated Reasoning section is scored from 1 to 8 in one-point increments.

The Verbal and Quantitative sections have a scale of 0 to 60 each. The combined scores then generate your score on the 200 to 800 scale, with 10-point increments reflecting the difficulty of questions answered.

You will access the final official score reports within seven business days and up to 20 days through your mba.com account. Online exam scores count towards your 12-month and lifetime limits. Your scores are valid for five years.

Once you receive your official score, you will have 48 hours to view and choose to send your scores to five business schools of your choice. The schools will receive the scores within 24 hours of your request.

The GMAT online exam is convenient and allows for flexibility. However, you are still required to study and prepare. Enroll with us at Analystprep.com and access the best exam prep materials.