GMAT Online vs In-Person
The entire world is combating COVID-19, yet in these trying times, even a glimmer of hope might cheer us up. And that is exactly how we feel about GMAC’s plan to enable GMAT testing at home. However, with the resumption of test centres in India and other parts of the world, you must make a choice: GMAT Online vs In-Person Exam?
In this post, we analyze the GMAT Online vs. In-Person Exam on a variety of criteria and answer a critical question: which GMAT Exam type is best for you?
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GMAT Online Vs. In-Person – Key Differences
Here’s a quick overview of the main differences between the GMAT Online and In-Person Exams:
| Factors | GMAT Test Center Version | GMAT Online |
| Acceptance | Admission in all the B-schools including the globally top ones | Equally accepted like the GMAT test center format |
| Registration | 24×7 | 24×7 |
| Advanced registration | 6 months prior to the exam date | Yes (anytime) |
| Retesting | Yes | Yes |
| Total attempts in a year | 5 | 2 |
| Rescheduling exam | Possible | Possible |
| Canceling exam | Possible | Possible |
| Fees | US$ 250 (varies in different countries) | US$ 250 (varies in different countries) |
| Test Format | 4 sections: Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, Integrated reasoning, and analytical writing assessment | 3 sections: Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and Integrated reasoning |
| Verbal reasoning | 36 questions to be answered in 65 minutes | 36 questions to be answered in 65 minutes |
| Quantitative reasoning | 31 questions to be answered in 62 minutes | 31 questions to be answered in 62 minutes |
| Integrated reasoning | 12 questions to be answered in 30 minutes | 12 questions to be answered in 30 minutes |
| Analytical writing assessment | 1 essay in 30 minutes | N/A |
| Order | 1. AWA → IR → Quant → Verbal | Quant → Verbal → IR |
| 2. Verbal → Quant → IR → AWA | ||
| 3. Quant → Verbal → IR → AWA | ||
| Duration | 3 hours and 7 minutes | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Check in time | 30 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Break | 2 optional breaks (8 minutes each) | One optional break of 5 minutes before the integrated reasoning section |
| Score range | 200-800 | 200-800 |
| Score range breakup | Quant: 0-60 | Quant: 0-60 |
| Verbal: 0-60 | Verbal: 0-60 | |
| IR: 1-8 | IR: 1-8 | |
| AWA: 0-6 | – | |
| Score availability (Unofficial) | Unofficial scores of quant verbal and integrated reasoning will be available after completing the exam. Score of writing section will not be in there. | Unofficial scores of quant verbal and integrated reasoning will be available after completing the exam. |
| Score availability (Official) | Official score will be available within 3 weeks of the exam. | Unofficial score and official score will be almost the same here as AWA section is not in GMAT online version. |
| Score validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Score sending | Send GMAT score to 5 b-schools for free, additional score sending charge US$28 each | Unlimited free |
| Resources | Scratch papers are offered | Whiteboards are permitted |
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Exam Structure
Both the Exam’s content and structure remain unchanged.
The GMAT in-person and GMAT online exams feature the same number and types of items in each part, as well as the same time to complete the Exam. You can choose the order of the examination from the three options listed below for both the in-person and online exams:
- AWA →IR → Quant →Verbal
- Verbal → Quant → IR →AWA
- Quant → Verbal → IR→ AWA
GMAT Online vs. In-Person Exam – Are the Test scores Comparable?
There are no differences in the scores. Furthermore, institutions regard the online GMAT score to be the same as the in-person GMAT score.”
In addition, your overall score is comprised of Quant and Verbal. So there is no difference between GMAT online and GMAT in-person scores.
Section and total scores, as well as percentiles and score scales, are the same for both the tests. But that’s not all. Both have a five-year validity period!
Can you Cancel your score?
You are unable to cancel your online GMAT exam score. It is only applicable to the in-person exam. For the Online Exam, you have the option of viewing the result first and then sending it to schools, thus canceling makes no sense. You can choose which school to attend based on your test results.
If you take the exam at a test centre, you must first choose five schools before seeing your results. As a result, offering a cancellation option makes sense.
There is no one test that is superior to another. It depends on your comfort level, and after you understand the difference, you will be able to pick between the Online GMAT and the In-Center exam.
Calculate your GMAT score using GMAT Score Calculator.
How to choose between the GMAT Online and In-center Exam?
There are numerous benefits and drawbacks to taking the Exam online or in-person. However, which test to take is dependent on your level of comfort.
We hope you found this article to be informative. You may also read the article Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting GMAT Scores (including Placements, Fees, and GMAT Cut-Offs).
If you are starting your GMAT preparation from scratch, you should definitely check out the GMATPOINT