Everything about GMAT 2026
— updated for this cycle.

Dates, pattern, syllabus, eligibility, and the colleges that accept it. All updated for this admission cycle.

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7 MIN READ

CONDUCTED BY
GMACGraduate Management Admission Council
MODE
Computer-adaptiveTest centre or online · at-home
DURATION
2h 15m45 min per section · one 10-min break
FREQUENCY
Year-round5 attempts / 12 months · 8 lifetime
APPLICATION FEE
₹23,000Test centre · ~₹27,000 online
0123456789days to go
On-demand

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7 MIN READ

SECTIONS3Quant · Verbal · Data Insights

QUESTIONS64All multiple-choice

TOTAL MARKS205-805Equal section weight

ASPIRANTS2L+Global · ~30k from India

IIM SEATSISB + IIM execPrimary Indian route

JUMP STRAIGHT TO

01 OVERVIEW

What GMAT actually is.

Background context, in two paragraphs. Skip ahead if you've already taken it before.

GMAT is the global benchmark for MBA admissions, conducted year-round by GMAC and accepted by 2,400+ business schools across 110+ countries. In India, it's the primary route to ISB, IIM Ahmedabad's PGPX, IIM Bangalore's EPGP, IIM Calcutta's PGPEX, and most one-year executive MBAs.

The current format — the GMAT Focus Edition — replaced the older version in early 2024. It's shorter, has no essay, and lets you pick the section order. Scores are valid for five years and the exam can be taken up to five times in any 12-month period — which makes it less of a single-day pressure cooker than CAT.

THE APPLYO FRAMEOne profile, multiple GMAT-accepting colleges.
That's what Applyo is built for.

02 TIMELINE

Important dates
— 2026 cycle.

Indicative dates, anchored against the 2025 calendar. Notification confirms the actual schedule.

Decide your target score & schoolsISB · 710-740 · IIM PGPX · 700+ · global top-20 · 730+

Book your slot on mba.comPick a date 2-3 months out · centres in 30+ Indian cities

Prepare with official materialOfficial Guide + GMAT Focus mocks from mba.com

Take the examTest centre or online · unofficial score immediately

Official score reportReleased within 3-5 business days · 5 free score reports

Apply with the scoreScore is valid for 5 years · retake if needed (16-day gap)

03 ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility &
exam pattern.

The two questions every aspirant lands on first: am I eligible? and what does the paper look like?

Eligibility · Who can apply

Three conditions. That's it.

No formal degree requirement to take the examSchools impose their own — typically a bachelor's degree at the time of admission
Minimum age 18 · no upper limit13-17 year-olds need written parental consent
Up to 5 attempts in 12 months · 8 lifetimeMandatory 16-day gap between attempts

Exam Pattern · Structure

Three sections. Any order. 45 minutes each.

SECTION	QUES	MARKS	TIME
QuantQuantitative Reasoning	21	60	45 min
VerbalVerbal Reasoning	23	60	45 min
DIData Insights	20	60	45 min
Total	64	205-805	135 min

CorrectAdaptive score

IncorrectNo negative

UnattemptedHeavy penalty

Section orderYou choose

04 SYLLABUS

What's actually tested.

Broken down by section, with the topic weights we observed in the last three CAT papers.

Quant

Problem Solving

Arithmetic and algebra only. Geometry was removed in the Focus Edition. Calculator not allowed.

Arithmetic

~10Q

Algebra

~7Q

Word problems

~3Q

Number properties

~1Q

Verbal

Reading & Reasoning

Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. Sentence Correction was removed in the Focus Edition.

Reading Comprehension

~13Q

Critical Reasoning

~10Q

Data Insights

The newest section. Mixes data sufficiency with multi-source and graphic interpretation. On-screen calculator available.

Data Sufficiency

~5Q

Multi-Source Reasoning

~4Q

Table Analysis

~4Q

Graphics Interpretation

~4Q

Two-Part Analysis

~3Q

05 APPLICATION

How to apply for GMAT 2026.

GMAT booking on mba.com takes about 15 minutes. The exam is on-demand — pick a date that fits your prep timeline.

Create an mba.com accountSign up with your email and verify. Use the exact name on your government photo ID — it must match on test day.

Choose test centre or onlineTest centre: ~₹23,000 ($275). Online at-home: ~₹27,000 ($300). Most candidates pick centre for fewer distractions.

Pick a date and locationSlots open ~6 months in advance. Test centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and 20+ more cities.

Pay the application fee~₹23,000 at a test centre, ~₹27,000 online, by credit or debit card. The fee is billed in USD, so a low-forex-markup card saves 1-3%.

Verify photo ID requirementsIndian candidates need a valid passport. PAN, Aadhaar, and driving licence are not accepted for the GMAT.

Take a free GMAT Official Starter Kit mockAvailable on mba.com after registration. Use it to calibrate your prep timeline before you spend more on materials.

Visit the official GMAT website

Colleges that use
GMAT score.

Where a GMAT score can take you.

IIM Bangalore

Bangalore, Karnataka

Total Fees~₹28.0 lakhs

Average CTC₹34.88 LPA

XLRI

Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

Total Fees~₹30.6 lakhs

Average CTC₹28.68 LPA

SPJIMR

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Total Fees~₹22.5 lakhs

Average CTC₹33.00 LPA

Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurugram

MDI

Gurgaon, Haryana

Total Fees~₹25.0 lakhs

Average CTC₹25.60 LPA

GLIM Chennai

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Total Fees~₹21.6 lakhs

Average CTC₹17.30 LPA

View All

06 FAQ

Things aspirants
ask us about GMAT.

Can't find what you're looking for?

Five years from the date of the exam. After that, schools won't consider it. The score is reported to GMAC for ten years, but most programmes only accept scores under five years old.

Still have questions?

Can't find what you're looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.

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Everything about GMAT 2026 — updated for this cycle.