The GMAT is offered on what dates?

In terms of registration dates, the GMAT is different from the SAT. With the GMAT, you can register to take the test almost any weekday. Just check with your local test center for details on openings.

Sounds good. Since I can choose when to take the exam, when is the best time to do so?

Perhaps the best time to sit for your GMAT is while you are still in undergrad, or shortly post-graduation. Remember, as you gain more real world experience, you lose the test-taking intuition that you used to have when you were in school. Taking an intensive test like the GMAT 5 years after your last rigorous exam can be quite challenging. Test-taking intricacies like operating in a time pressured environment, reading through answer choices, marking answers, and dealing with psychological issues are second nature to you when you are in school, but they become quite unfamiliar the longer you wait after college. You want to minimize this risk by taking the exam during the summer after graduation or the summer between your junior and senior year-this is the ideal time. Remember, the GMAT exam is valid for 5 years. If you have any intention of applying for business school sometime in the next 5 years, you should take it at your earliest convenience.

I am not in college anymore and I missed my chance to take the GMAT during this time. What do I do now?

Don’t worry. You didn’t miss the boat! A lotof people are in your shoes. You might not be used to the pressures of test taking so will need to pay extra attention to doing several practice exams mimicking exam-like conditions.

Mimicking exam-like conditions?

I mean rather than just going through questions on a practice exam a little here and a little there, you should schedule an entire morning or afternoon to take the exam with a timer. Especially with the Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) format of the exam, you should take these practice exams AS IF it were the real thing, at least several days before your real exam and preferably earlier.

What else should I take into account?

If you are thinking about the GMAT, chances are you have a busy life. When applying to business school, you will need to dedicate time not only to your job, but also any extracurricular activities or initiatives you are pursuing. Part of an organization that holds ambitious yearly events? Put some time and effort and participate on the board in a leadership position. Itching for a promotion at your job so you can mention it in your Bschool application? You’ll need to put in the time and effort. You’ll also need to budget time for researching/visiting schools and writing those dreaded essays. And of course, you want a social life and time with your family. The GMAT is the LAST thing you want to worry about when juggling all these things. That’s why it is best to get it out of the way.

Should I study first and then schedule the exam or schedule the exam and then study?

This is a personal preference. I would recommend you to schedule the exam a few months in advance when you intend to take it. Pay the $250 (yes, not cheap) it costs to take the exam so that you are invested into the exam-forcing you to study. Otherwise, if you casually study for the exam, you may never progress anywhere.

This article was authored by GMAT teacher and expert, Zeke Lee. Zeke is the founder of The GMAT Pill Study Method and has aided numerous students ace the GMAT exam in as little time as possible. Although his secret techniques were limited to privileged students who could pay $200/hour a few years ago, Zeke has now opened the door to his unique strategies to the average student. Online GMAT Prep