The GMAT exam, explained: format, fees, scores and prep
The GMAT exam is the business school admissions test run by GMAC. Since February 2024 the only version is the GMAT Focus Edition: 2 hours 15 minutes, three sections, 64 questions, scored from 205 to 805. It is offered year-round, at test centers and online, with no fixed dates, and you can take it up to five times in 12 months.
First checked October 11, 2026; rechecked October 23, 2026 · Format, scores and attempt limits from GMAC (mba.com); US fees as reported. We have not yet built a guide for the Executive Assessment, GMAC’s shorter test for executive MBA programs.
The three GMAT sections
| Section | Questions | Time | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 | 45 minutes | Problem solving with arithmetic and algebra |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 | 45 minutes | Critical reasoning and reading comprehension |
| Data Insights | 20 | 45 minutes | Interpreting tables, graphs and multiple sources |
From GMAC. You choose the section order on test day, with one optional 10-minute break.
Everything on the GMAT
Account, ID and attempt limits.
→Exam fee and rescheduling.
→The three sections and score scale.
→No pass mark; old vs new scores.
→Book any day, center or online.
→Official scores in 3 to 5 business days.
→Step by step.
→Timing, review and edit, and breaks.
→What the Focus Edition changed.
→Format changes since 2023.
→Two free official practice exams.
→10 weeks for the Focus Edition.
→Choosing GMAT prep
Start with GMAC’s two free official practice exams, the only ones using the real scoring algorithm. For a course, e-GMAT (4.7 / 5) includes three live sessions a week from $249, Target Test Prep (4.3) is the deepest for Quant, Manhattan Prep (4.1) leads for live classes, and Magoosh (3.8) is the cheapest.
e-GMAT 4.7, Target Test Prep 4.3, Manhattan Prep 4.1, Official 4.0, Princeton Review 4.0, Magoosh 3.8.
→Nine head-to-head comparisons.
→The lowest-cost routes.
→Sales, trials and guarantees.
→Common questions about the GMAT exam
Is the old GMAT still offered?
No. Since February 1, 2024, the GMAT Focus Edition has been the only version, as reported by guides; GMAC’s documents describe the change.
How much does the GMAT cost?
$275 at a test center and $300 online in the US, as reported.
How many times can I take the GMAT?
Up to five times in any 12 months, according to GMAC.
What is a good GMAT score?
There’s no pass mark. Schools look at your score against their own ranges; see GMAT scores and percentiles.