GMAT Online Exam 2021: A Complete Guide For Test Takers

The GMAT online exam is no longer an interim solution for GMAT aspirants. The online GMAT exam would permanently co-exist with the test center exam.

If you are a GMAT aspirant, this just means one thing: You get to choose the exam format!

We know that you will have several questions in your mind regarding the GMAT online exam now. In this article, we will provide you with answers to all of them.

1. Will the GMAT online exam replace the test center exam completely?

2. What are the GMAT online exam identification requirements?

3. Will the GMAT online exam have the Analytical Writing Ability (AWA) section?

4. Will the section selection order be fixed on the GMAT online test?

5. Can you retake the GMAT online exam?

6. What is the GMAT online exam fee?

7. What are the GMAT online test dates?

Here’s all that you need to know about the GMAT online exam in 2021.

1. Will the GMAT online exam replace the test center exam completely?

The GMAC rolled out the online exam in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns across the world. They called it the interim GMAT online exam back then, probably because they considered it a temporary solution.

But now, the online version has been made a permanent solution. With this, the GMAT aspirants will be able to choose between the online exam and the test center GMAT exam always.

If you wish to go to a test center and take the GMAT, you can book a slot and do that. Whereas, if you want to take the GMAT exam from home, you have that option too.

In India, the GMAT aspirants had to show the passport at the GMAT test center. Even when the GMAT online exam was introduced, the candidate was asked to show the passport to the proctor who monitored them online.

With the recent updates, anyone taking the online exam can use their Aadhaar card or passport as their identity proof.

But, the passport is still mandatory for aspirants taking the exam at the test center.

3. Will the GMAT online exam have the Analytical Writing Ability (AWA) section?

This is a really important question.

As you might already know, the test center GMAT exam has four sections: Verbal Reasoning (Verbal), Quantitative Reasoning (Quant), Integrated Reasoning (IR), and Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA).

When the interim GMAT online exam was introduced last year, the GMAC had announced that the exam would have only three sections. They had removed the AWA section in which a GMAT aspirant had to write an answer and not just choose an answer from the options provided.

Now that the online version of the GMAT is a permanent solution, you will have to attempt the AWA section. Just like the test-center GMAT, the online GMAT exam has four sections now.

4. Will the section selection order be fixed on the GMAT online test?

When you take the GMAT at a test center, you can choose the section selection order.

But when the interim GMAT online exam was introduced, the GMAC had removed this option. The exam came with a fixed section order.

Also read: Know more about the GMAT online exam experience and the fixed section order

That is not the case anymore. If you make an appointment and take the GMAT online exam now, you get to choose the section order. You can choose to start with the Verbal section, Quant section, or the AWA section (Default section order).

Also read: Here’s all you need to know about the GMAT section selection order

5. Can you retake the GMAT online exam?

Once you take the GMAT online exam and you feel that you are not satisfied with your score, you can retake the test.

But unlike the test center GMAT exam, you can take the online exam only twice. And this will count towards your eight GMAT attempts you can make in a lifetime.

If you have to take the GMAT a third time, you will have to book a slot for the test center GMAT exam.

We are not sure whether the GMAC will make changes to the online exam retake limits. For now, you can only take the GMAT exam online a total of two times.

6. What is the GMAT online exam fee?

When the online test was introduced last year, the GMAC offered the test at a lower price point – $50 less than the test center exam. They also gave the MBA aspirants a complimentary unlimited score report sending feature as well.

With the continued pandemic situation, the online test’s registration fees were brought to the same level as the test center exam – $250.

You should know about the changes that the GMAC is trying to bring about in the GMAT online exam rescheduling fees and cancellation fees. You can check it out below.

7. What are the GMAT online test dates?

If you have to take the GMAT exam at a test center, you must first find the test center and search for available slots. You may or may not get the date and time of your choice.

But in the case of the online GMAT exam, you can book your slot, and the appointments are available on a rolling basis. The GMAC has made it really convenient for GMAT aspirants by making this provision.

As a GMAT aspirant, do you have any more questions about the GMAT online exam? If so, please do post them in the comments section below. We would be happy to provide answers to your queries.

And if you are preparing for the GMAT and feel the need to have a structured approach, you can just click on the link below to see how you can optimize your GMAT prep.

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