When and where you can take the GMAT

There is no fixed national calendar for the GMAT. Instead, appointments are scheduled individually through mba.com based on seat availability. As verified on 31 October 2026, test centers in most regions administer the exam on a continuous basis throughout the year, providing a desktop computer with a full screen, keyboard, and mouse.

If you prefer to test remotely, the online version is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. According to GMAC's 2025 Inside the GMAT Exam presentation, the online format is identical in content and structure to the test center exam. During an online session, your test is monitored and recorded by live human proctors and artificial intelligence. What the exam contains is on the GMAT guide.

Online and test center appointments count toward the exact same attempt caps. Under GMAC retake policies updated on 27 May 2026, you must wait at least 16 calendar days between test dates. For example, if you take the exam on 1 June, the earliest date you can sit for it again is 17 June.

You may take the exam up to five times within any rolling 12-month window. The official GMAT FAQ confirms that there is no lifetime limit on attempts.

The 16-day wait and the five-exam limit still apply if you do not finish, and if the score is canceled. A canceled score still counts as one of the five. However, if you cancel an appointment before the test day arrives, or if you miss an appointment entirely, that appointment does not count toward your five-exam allowance and does not trigger the 16-day waiting rule.

The July 2025 GMAT policies and procedures document outlines strict rules for taking the exam remotely. An online appointment takes approximately 2.5 hours, which includes the check-in process. You must finish your testing session within 3.5 hours of your appointment start time. If you exceed this limit, the session can be ended and your fee forfeited. Always check the live mba.com portal to confirm current procedures and policies before booking.

The exam includes one optional 10-minute break. If you take longer than the allotted 10 minutes, GMAC may deduct the extra time from your next section, or they may treat the test as abandoned and cancel your score.

You cannot use scratch paper, pens, or pencils during the online exam. Instead, you have access to a digital whiteboard within the browser, and you may use an erasable physical whiteboard. The physical board must measure no larger than 12 inches by 20 inches (30 cm by 50 cm) and cannot be fixed to a wall. You may have up to two dry-erase markers and one eraser. You are required to show the proctor that both sides of the whiteboard are completely blank before the first question, before taking your break, and at the end of the test.

You must run the test on a desktop or laptop computer; mobile phones and tablets cannot be used as the testing device. Water is permitted during testing only if it is in a clear container. The name on the identification you present must match your registration details exactly. Finally, your testing area must pass an environmental room scan. If the room scan fails, you will not be permitted to test, and your registration fee is forfeited. What the exam contains is on the GMAT guide.