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The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) permits GMAT test-takers to retake the exam up to five times within a calendar year and eight times throughout their lifetime. This flexibility provided by the GMAT retake policy allows individuals to make multiple attempts at the exam and strive for improved scores if they are unable to achieve their desired result on the first attempt.
A low GMAT score in the initial attempt should not hinder your pursuit of studying at some of the top business schools abroad; instead, it should serve as a learning opportunity to identify your weaknesses and work on them to achieve a higher score in your GMAT retakes. For more information about the GMAT retake policy, please refer to the provided article.
| Name of the Exam | GMAT |
| Duration | 3 Hours 7 Minutes |
| Sections | 4 |
| Score Range | 200-800 |
| Questions | 80 |
This Blog Includes:
Benefits of Retaking the GMAT Exam
You can certainly retake the GMAT exam if you are unable to achieve the desired target in the first attempt. Clearing the GMAT, especially with your desired score, can be challenging, particularly if you are taking the exam for the first time. This is where the GMAT retake policy comes in as a valuable feature. Retaking the GMAT exam can provide insight into your areas of weakness and help you rectify them to achieve a better score. Consider GMAT retakes as an extended opportunity to strive for better results.
Many individuals who retake the GMAT exam multiple times fail to muster the same courage and enthusiasm as they did in their first attempt. However, such practice should not be encouraged. You should always put aside your fatigue, fears, and apprehension and strive for better scores in your retakes. Although the GMAT retake policy allows you to take the exam up to five times in a year, you should always give your best effort in each retake, as there are a limited number of attempts you can make in a year.
When Should You Retake the GMAT?
GMAT test-takers looking forward to a retake must wait up to 16 calendar days after taking a GMAT exam. As mentioned earlier, individuals are allowed up to 5 retakes in a calendar year. Therefore, you should only consider retaking the exam if you are confident enough to address your shortcomings within a span of 16 days and can score better on a retake. However, experts do not recommend this practice as it provides a very narrow window for improvement. Instead, most students tend to retake the exam 2-3 months after their initial attempts.
This is mainly because it can take up to 3 months for students to fully prepare and gain the confidence to achieve better results in the GMAT exam. On the contrary, retaking the GMAT in haste only 16 days after the initial exam will not give you enough time to rectify your shortcomings, and you may end up making the same mistakes over and over again.
What is the Fee for Retaking the GMAT Exam?
GMAT retakes are not free. Individuals intending to retake a GMAT exam must go through the entire registration process again. Having said that, test takers are required to pay the registration fee of $250 for each GMAT retake exam. Individuals who wish to reschedule their GMAT exam dates are required to pay a fee of $50. The rescheduling fee for the GMAT exam is determined by the number of days in advance you request a change to your test date. Refer to the following table to go through the GMAT rescheduling costs.
| GMAT Rescheduling Cost | Window of Application |
| $50 | More than a month |
| $100 | 15-60 days |
| $150 | 2-14 days |
GMAT Retake Strategy: Top Tips and Tricks for Better Preparation
It is advisable for GMAT test-takers to take a gap of at least 2-3 months before retaking the GMAT test. This timeframe is more than adequate for most students to cover the GMAT syllabus and address their shortcomings in order to achieve better results in their retakes. Here are some of the best preparation strategies that you can follow to prepare better for your GMAT retake exam:
- Dedicate your time in going through and understanding the GMAT exam pattern and syllabus. Doing so will give you a solid idea about the exam and its nuances. Understanding the exam pattern will help you grasp the exam’s marking scheme, the types of questions to expect, the appropriate time allocation for each question, and the overall difficulty level. Familiarising yourself with these aspects will enhance your overall GMAT experience.
- Identify your shortcomings by solving more sample papers. Implementing time constraints while practising will bolster your ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure. This practice will boost your confidence in tackling challenging questions within a specified time frame.
- Refer to the best available prep books to enhance your core concepts. Ensure that you purchase books that are authored by notable authors, contain the latest information, are aligned with the current curriculum, and come bundled with many sample papers.
- Work on your vocabulary by inculcating a habit of daily reading. Immerse yourself in a variety of written materials, including articles, novels, and so on. This practice will not only expand your vocabulary but also refine your grammar skills. Additionally, watch or listen to English content such as podcasts, movies, and television shows.
- This immersion will enhance your understanding of how words and phrases are correctly employed in everyday contexts. Even if you encounter unfamiliar vocabulary, exposing yourself to its usage in natural conversations will provide valuable insights into its meaning and appropriate application.
The GMAT exam is one of the most widely taken standardised exams worldwide by aspiring business school students. GMAC, the exam conducting body, allows students to retake the exam up to five times in a calendar year. This feature provides ample opportunities for students to improve upon their weaknesses and address them to secure a higher score on subsequent attempts.
FAQs
Ans. GMAC allows students to take the GMAT exam up to 5 times in a calendar year.
Ans. GMAT aspirants must pay an amount of $250 to retake the exam.
Ans. GMAC provides students a timeframe of 16 days to sit for a GMAT retake.
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