GMAT
The standard admission test for MBA and business master's programmes worldwide, including the Indian School of Business (ISB), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) executive programmes and top schools in the US and Europe. Scores are valid for five years.
Eligibility
There is no formal educational requirement; candidates aged 13-17 need written parental consent, while those 18 and above can register directly. A valid passport is mandatory identification for Indian test-takers. Attempts are capped at five in any rolling 12-month period and eight in a lifetime, with online attempts counting towards both limits.
Age limit: 18+ (13-17 with written parental consent); no upper limit
Exam pattern
Computer-adaptive test of 2 hours 15 minutes with 64 questions across three equally weighted 45-minute sections: Quantitative Reasoning (21 questions), Verbal Reasoning (23 questions) and Data Insights (20 questions), plus one optional 10-minute break. This is the current format (formerly called the GMAT Focus Edition) — there is no essay and no geometry. You can choose your section order, bookmark questions, and review and edit up to three answers per section. Total score runs 205-805 in 10-point steps; each section is scored 60-90. Unanswered questions carry a heavy penalty.
Syllabus at a glance
Quantitative Reasoning tests arithmetic and algebra problem-solving (no geometry, no calculator). Verbal Reasoning covers reading comprehension and critical reasoning — sentence correction has been dropped. Data Insights, weighted equally with the other two, tests data-sufficiency, multi-source reasoning, tables, graphics and two-part analysis, with an on-screen calculator available.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Open year-round on mba.com; centre slots in Indian metros fill 3-4 weeks ahead in the Sept-Dec admissions season | confirmed |
| Test dates | Year-round, at centres and via the online proctored exam | confirmed |
| Official score report | Within 3-5 business days of the test | confirmed |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- GMAT Official Guide 2025-2026 (Quant, Verbal and Data Insights Review bundle) — GMAC
- All the GMAT (Strategy Guide Set) — Manhattan Prep
- GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible — PowerScore (David M. Killoran)
- GMAT Advanced Quant — Manhattan Prep (for 86+ section targets)
How toppers play it
- Data Insights carries the same weight as Quant and Verbal in the 205-805 total — most Indian aspirants under-prepare it, so give it a full third of your time.
- Unanswered questions are penalised more than wrong ones on an adaptive test: always keep 2-3 minutes in hand to guess and complete the section.
- Use the review-and-edit feature deliberately — flag doubtful questions and spend leftover time on your three permitted answer changes.
- Quant has no calculator and no geometry; drill mental arithmetic, number properties and algebraic manipulation for speed.
- Take both free official mocks under timed conditions — they use GMAC's real algorithm, so third-party mock scores can mislead by 30-50 points.