A 7 min read

The whole world is fighting against COVID-19, but in these testing times, even a small ray of hope can encourage us. And that’s precisely how we feel about GMAC’s decision to allow taking the GMAT at Home. However, with the test centers resuming in India and other parts of the world, you got to make a decision – Whether to choose GMAT Online or In-center Exam?

To help you decide between the in-center and GMAT online exam, we talked to Sehar Khanna, a GMAC representative. This article is based on the advantages and disadvantages that GMAT online has over the in-center Exam.

Watch this video to know the latest enhancements to the GMAT Online exam: 

 

 

In this article, we compare GMAT Online vs. In-center Exam on various parameters and answer a crucial question – Which GMAT Exam version is better for you?

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Here are the parameters on which we have compared both the exams:

1. Exam Structure
2. Registration, Rescheduling and Cancellation Fee
3. GMAT Online vs. in-center Exam – Are the scores comparable?
4. Experience and Policies

GMAT Online Vs. In-Center Exam – Key Differences

Here is a brief overview of the key differences between the GMAT Online vs. in-Center Exam:

GMAT Online vs. In-Center Exam
Parameters	GMAT Online Exam	In-center GMAT Exam
Structure
Number of sections	Three Sections – Quant, Verbal, and IR. From April 8, 2021, you will be able to write your AWA assessment	Four Sections – Quant, Verbal, IR, and AWA
Duration of the Test	Approx. 2 hours 37 mins	Approx. 3 hours 7 mins
Order of the Sections	Select the order from:     1.  AWA → IR → Quant → Verbal 2. Verbal → Quant → IR → AWA 3.   Quant → Verbal → IR → AWA	Select the order from:     1.  AWA → IR → Quant → Verbal 2. Verbal → Quant → IR → AWA 3.   Quant → Verbal → IR → AWA
Cost
Registration Fee	$250	$250
Rescheduling Fee	$25	1 to 14 days prior to appointment: $150 15 to 60 days prior to appointment: $100 More than 60 days prior to appointment: $50
Cancellation Fee	Can Cancel 24 hours before the appointment, with a fee of $100	1 to 14 days prior to appointment: $200 ($50 refund) 15 to 60 days prior to appointment: $175 ($75 refund) More than 60 days prior to appointment: $150 ($100 refund)
Reporting scores to schools	Infinite schools with no fees	You can send your scores to 5 schools for free. Extra $35 for additional school
Scoring
Section scores, Total Scores, along with percentile	Same	Same
Score Scale	Same	Same
Validity	5 years	5 years
Canceling the Score	Not Allowed	Allowed
Experience and Policies
Place	No Commute. Take the GMAT at Home	You need to Travel to the center and wear a mask while taking the test
Material Provided	Online or Physical Whiteboard Option	Scratchpad
Breaks	2 Breaks: 8 mins each	2 Breaks: 8 mins each
Retaking the Exam	Two retakes are allowed	Five times in any 12 months, but no more than once in any 16-day period
Booking the slot	Twice you can give the Exam.     24/7- seven days a week	Once every 16 days and no more than 5 times in a rolling 12-month period.     You need to check availability at the center

Exam Structure

The content and construct of both the Exam remain the same.

In-center and GMAT online exams have the same number and types of items in each section, with the same duration to complete the Exam. For both in-center nd online Exam, you have the option to select the order of the test from the three options mentioned below:

1. AWA →IR → Quant →Verbal
2. Verbal → Quant → IR →AWA
3. Quant → Verbal → IR→ AWA

But does the section order in which you take the GMAT affects your score?

According to Sehar Khanna, the order in which you take the GMAT should not affect your scores as there is no data to support this claim. She states, “We conducted a survey and did not see any huge difference in the score because of the section order. The majority of the students globally follow Quant ->Verbal ->IR section order, and thus, GMAC considered this section order for GMAT online exam.”

Check out the GMAT Syllabus for 2020.

Registration, Rescheduling, and Cancellation Fees

The GMAT Online Exam used to be $50 cheaper ($75 cheaper in the US) than the in-person GMAT test cost. The registration fee now is $250 for Online GMAT and $250 for the in-center GMAT exam.

Previously, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there are no rescheduling and cancellation fees charged for in-center Exams. However, it is now effective.

Also, if you opt for the GMAT Online exam you will be charged a rescheduling and cancellation fee. Refer to the table above to know the prices. 

Also, you can now send your GMAT Online scores to as many schools as you want without any fees. On the other hand, if you want to send scores to more than five schools, the In-center Exam charges an extra $35(per report).

GMAT Online vs. In-center Exam – Are the Test scores Comparable?

According to Sehar Khanna, the scores for both the tests are comparable.

“We have taken both the test scores of individuals and not seen any difference in the score. Besides, the schools are also considering the Online GMAT score to be as same as in-center GMAT Score”

Also, your total score comes from Quant and Verbal. So, there is absolutely no difference when it comes to GMAT online and in-center scoring.

The section scores and total scores, along with percentiles and score scales remain the same for both the exams. And that is not all. Both have validity for five years!

Can you Cancel your score?

As stated by Sehar, you can’t cancel your online GMAT exam score. It is only relevant for the test-center. For the At-home Exam, you have the option of seeing the score first and then sending it to schools, so the cancellation option does not make sense. Based on your scores, you can select which school to target.

If you take the Exam at the center, you need to select five schools before seeing your scores. Thus, providing a cancellation option makes sense.

How can you take advantage of it?

Instance 1: You can take the at-home GMAT and, based on your score, can send the report to as many schools you like.

Instance 2: if you were aiming for 740 and got 700 on the at-home test, you can decide to send 700 scores to Tier 2 schools (As many you like) and then take the in-center test to reserve the Five score reporting slots for Tier 1 schools. Like this, you are broadening your chances of getting into a school.

Experience and Policies

Another advantage of taking the GMAT test from Home is No commute! For all those students out there, who used to commute to GMAT test centers in other states or cities can now relax. All you need to do is find a perfect spot at your home.

With no commute and taking the test from the comfort of your home, it is an advantage, but what tops it all is that you will be able to create your desired Exam environment. There are guidelines set by GMAC on how your exam environment should be, but being in your known surrounding overpowers it.

Here are some tips and checklists for setting up your room for the GMAT Online Exam.

For the in-center test, you need to carry your mask and wear it during the Exam.

Another difference is the use of a scratchpad. For the At-home GMAT test, you will be given an option for an Online or physical Whiteboard, whereas a scratchpad is provided at the center. If you are taking the GMAT at home, you need to purchase the Whiteboard through any of the online retailers like Amazon.

Practice taking online GMAT on floating Whiteboard with video tutorials.

Breaks during the Exam

There are two optional breaks for 8 mins each for both in-center and online exam. 

Retaking the GMAT

One retake is now allowed for the at-home Exam. On the other hand, you can retake the in-center test up to 5 times in any 12 months (no more than once in a 16-day period).

How to choose between the GMAT Online and In-center Exam?

You should have a good power supply, internet, and a quiet place to take the GMAT online exam. According to Sehar, in-center is better if you do not have a calm place in your room or have unstable internet, speed, or power cuts. There is resilience built in the system already. But still, make sure the requirements are fulfilled.

Know more about the GMAT Online Exam requirements and process.

There are a lot of advantages as well as disadvantages of taking the online or in-center Exam. But which test to choose depends on your comfort level.

No test is better than the other. It depends on what you are comfortable with, and after knowing the difference, you will be able to choose between the Online GMAT and In-center exam. 

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FAQs on whether to take GMAT Online or in-Center Exam?