GMAT

Before understanding the timeline, let us understand what all factors are important for your MIM or MBA admissions. These factors include your undergraduate percentage or GPA, GMAT score, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, admission essays, updated resume, work experience (if applicable), and performance on the interview. It is advised that you begin your research for the MBA or MIM College at least 10-12 months before the application deadline. In these 10-12 months, you need to prepare for the GMAT, prepare your application documents, arrange all the finances, and complete your paper work. Typically, it takes 3-6 months to prepare for the GMAT. You must also keep some buffer time just in case if you have to retake the GMAT exam. Hence, ideally speaking, there must be 6-8 months of gap between your GMAT exam date and MBA or MIM application deadline (considering 4 months of preparation).

Before understanding the timeline, let us understand what all factors are important for your MIM or MBA admissions. These factors include your undergraduate percentage or GPA, GMAT score, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, admission essays, updated resume, work experience (if applicable), and performance on the interview. It is advised that you begin your research for the MBA or MIM College at least 10-12 months before the application deadline. In these 10-12 months, you need to prepare for the GMAT, prepare your application documents, arrange all the finances, and complete your paper work. Typically, it takes 3-6 months to prepare for the GMAT. You must also keep some buffer time just in case if you have to retake the GMAT exam. Hence, ideally speaking, there must be 6-8 months of gap between your GMAT exam date and MBA or MIM application deadline (considering 4 months of preparation).

There is no maximum age limit to appear for the GMAT exam  as anybody 18 years and above can appear for the GMAT. However, there is definitely a lower ceiling. In the case of students who are between 13 years and 17 years of age, they are required to provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their parents or legal guardians to appear for the GMAT exam 2023. Students, who are more than 18 years of age, need not provide any such NOC and can directly register and appear for the GMAT 2023 exam. However, it is advised that the candidates check the eligibility requirements of the MBA Colleges before applying since the GMAT eligibility criteria can be significantly different for the MBA admissions criteria.

There are certain conditions laid down by the GMAC for retaking the GMAT:Candidates can take the GMAT test only once in 16 daysCandidates are allowed to take up to 5 attempts in a period of 12 monthsCandidates can take 8 attempts in a lifetimeIn case if a student wants to reschedule or cancel his/her GMAT exam, he/she needs to pay a fee for the same. The fee for rescheduling the GMAT exam in the case of a test centre GMAT and the online GMAT are different. Similarly, the refund in the case of GMAT exam cancellation are different in the case of a test centre GMAT and the online GMAT. It is advised that the students prepare well for their GMAT exam in one go to avoid rescheduling, cancellation, or running out of attempts.

Candidates with bachelor's degree in any stream are allowed to take the GMAT exam. There are no such restrictions when it comes to the undergraduate background of the candidates. It is not compulsory that the students need to complete their graduation in the commerce field to be eligible for the GMAT. However, it is important for the students to note the eligibility requirement for different MBA or MIM programmes. GMAT eligibility criteria differs from that of B-school admission criteria. It is advised that the candidates research thoroughly about admission requirements, GMAT exam cut offs, GPA requirements, English language requirements, etc. to avoid any hassles later on.