GMAT 2025: Highlights, Eligibility Criteria, Exam Dates, Registration Dates

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardised exam for graduates to evaluate their business aptitude. It has been conducted for over 50 years by GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) and assesses significant problem-solving, communication, and strategic thinking skills in its latest GMAT 11th Edition. This MBA GMAT tests applicants in three sections – QR, VR and DI. These sections of the GMAT test applicants’ proficiency in quantitative reasoning, logical reasoning, critical thinking and data analysis skills. The GMAT test is popularly taken by applicants not just aspiring for an MBA abroad but also for courses like MIM, MS in Management, and other business-related courses.

The GMAC conducts the Graduate Management Admission Test at home and at an exam centre. The GMAT Exam fee in India is USD 275 for the GMAT at a test centre, whereas USD 300 is charged for taking the GMAT exam at home. The GMAT exam dates are available around the year, and registrations are open 24 hours before each GMAT exam date.  The GMAT 11th Edition is 2 hours and 15 minutes long and is a more flexible, efficient and condensed exam format. New changes have not negatively impacted the GMAT exam. We will discuss the GMAT exam and its 11th Edition in detail, along with how to register for GMAT, new GMAT format, GMAT maximum score, GMAT study prep and GMAT syllabus.  

GMAT 2025: Key Highlights

What is GMAT Test?

The GMAT entrance exam is meant to judge the analytical abilities of the candidates in the quantitative section and verbal reasoning sections. Even though the GMAT exam is meant for MBA admissions, students are not required to prepare anything related to management. GMAT judges the basic mathematical and verbal skills that are required for you to survive your B-School academics. Hence, students who do not have a management background must not be worried about their GMAT preparation. The GMAT is designed to test students based on their logical skills to attempt this entrance exam. Check out the Top Reasons to Take GMAT Exam and how MBA GMAT is popular globally among international students and top institutions. 

Check out what is GMAT test is for more details in the video below: 

GMAT Eligibility 2025

As such, GMAC (the organisation that conducts GMAT) does not specify GMAT eligibility criteria for appearing in the GMAT Focus Edition. Students who wish to apply for business courses at the master’s level will be eligible for admission only if they submit GMAT scores if the institution requires them.

Also, no educational degree requirement is supposed to be furnished while registering for the GMAT Focus Edition to prove one’s eligibility criteria. However, the applicant may be asked when and from where they will complete their graduation and the course. 

Age Limit for GMAT Registration

• The candidate must be 18 years of age. There is no upper age limit for candidates with GMAT eligibility.
• If the candidate is between 13 and 17 years old, they should have permission in writing (NOC) from their parents or a legal guardian.

GMAT Educational Requirement

• GMAC has not announced any official statement regarding the qualifications as per GMAT eligibility, required to appear for the GMAT exam.
• Since GMAT is a standardised exam required for postgraduate admissions, having a bachelor’s degree is generally better. 

Work Experience for GMAT Registration

• No work experience is required to be furnished for eligibility for GMAT Focus.
• But while creating an account on MBA.com or while registering, the applicants will be asked about their total work experience level.

This is all about GMAT eligibility criteria, and nothing has changed much after GMAT Focus came into play.  

GMAT Exam Dates 2025

GMAT exam dates are available all around the year, all 12 months of the year. The dates may vary based on location or availability of test centres. Thus, applicants can choose any date according to their convenience and availability. GMAC offers flexibility for applicants taking the GMAT exam once or twice. But certain rules come with it. They are as follows:

• Applicants who need to retake the GMAT Focus exam can do so after 16 calendar days. Applicants can retake the GMAT exam after every 16 calendar days.
• Applicants can appear for the Graduate Management Admission Test 5 times in a year (12 months) and 8 times in a lifetime. Ideally, candidates are recommended to register themselves two to three months before the exam date.
• The applicants who wish to apply for GMAT Focus Edition can opt for dates based on their geographic location and the test centre. Though GMAT Focus dates 2025 are available all year round, dates may vary on a month-on-month basis. Thus, applicants should not select their GMAT Focus Edition exam dates at the last hour because chances are the exam dates may be unavailable due to seats getting full at the respective exam centres.
• In case applicants miss their exam appointments, they can schedule a new exam date without waiting for 16 days. However, there will be a 24-hour waiting period, plus, applicants will have to pay the full GMAT registration fee.
• If applicants register for the GMAT exam online or by phone, they can register as late as 24 hours before the GMAT exam date. But it is safer to stick to early GMAT registration as you will then have a set schedule to prepare for the exam accordingly. Even though the coaching institutes recommend you register at the later available date, you should still register for GMAT well in time so that you have a wide window of time to prepare.

Applicants should keep these rules and regulations handy when applying for the GMAT exam or registering for GMAT exam date. 

GMAT Registration 2025

According to GMAC, applicants can do GMAT registration 6 months before the GMAT Test date or a maximum of 24 hours before the GMAT exam date. However, the students are advised to plan their GMAT exam 2025 and book their slots well in time. To register for GMAT Focus, the applicants can go for GMAT registration online on the official website. The GMAT registration can happen in less than 15 minutes. A lot of times, students do not knwo how to register for GMAT exam. To help students understand how to register for GMAT systematically, they can follow the steps given below. 

How to Register for GMAT 2025:

How to register for GMAT exam? There is only one way to register for GMAT: by registering online through a laptop or phone. These steps are essential for applicants to know how to register for GMAT exam:

• The applicants must register on MBA.com and choose their GMAT exam dates.
• Choose to register for GMAT either at a test centre or online, choose the appropriate centre and make a payment
• GMAT Focus exam dates are available based on region and seat availability throughout the year. Hence, it is always better to register for GMAT exam dates as soon as possible. 

But how to register for GMAT? There are 9 steps to register for the GMAT and different steps for the GMAT schedule. You can read the complete steps for GMAT registration.

GMAT Exam Fees 2025

The GMAT exam fee in India is USD 300 (INR 25,793) for the online format and USD 275 (INR 23,643) for the GMAT exam administered at a test centre. In addition, if the applicants want to reschedule their GMAT exam or want to cancel it, they will have to pay a certain additional fee. Candidates not attending the test will be charged full GMAT exam fees. Following is a breakup of the GMAT exam fee for Indian students going to appear for the exam soon: 

GMAT Exam Fee 2025 in INR for Focus Edition: 

• GMAT Exam Fee Online: USD 300 which is ₹25,974.15
• GMAT Exam Fee at Test Centre: USD 275 + USD 49.50 tax which is (USD 324.50) ₹28,095.37

The GMAT exam fee for the Focus Edition is the same, except for the cancellation charges. There have been some changes in the rescheduling time and cancellation charges for applicants in the GMAT exam fee. 

Additional Fees for the GMAT (Focus Edition)

GMAT Syllabus 2025

The GMAT Focus Edition syllabus tests the candidate’s abilities on various parameters. Further, the syllabus of GMAT has three sections:

• Quantitative Aptitude consists of Arithmetic and Algebraic Math questions.
• Verbal Reasoning consists of Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension-related questions.
• Data Insights is basically a data analysis skill test set of questions.

Since the latest version of GMAT referred to as the GMAT Focus Edition is rolling, a further slashing of timing and one entire section has been witnessed. Applicants have a lower number of questions which are to be answered based on pure logic and the application of rules. For further details on topics tested on each of these sections, applicants can check out, the GMAT Syllabus.