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Whether you’ve taken the exam before or you’re simply weighing your options, many prospective graduate school students wonder, “how long do GMAT scores last?”
The GMAT is a difficult exam, but getting a good score could boost your business school application immensely. As such, it is critical that you develop a sound business school application timeline for the 2026 admissions cycle to give yourself ample time to prepare for the GMAT, especially if you will be working. Part of this process of building a timeline then turns on the question, “How long is my GMAT score valid?”. We answer this question for you below.
How Long Are GMAT Scores Good For?
GMAT scores are valid for five years from the exam date. While GMAC retains score records for up to ten years, acceptance of scores older than five years is at the discretion of individual schools and programs. This five-year period applies to all GMAT versions, including the current GMAT Focus Edition and earlier formats.
This policy gives test-takers flexibility to retake the exam if they wish to improve their scores. As long as a score is within the five-year window, it can be reported alongside newer scores to demonstrate improvement, a factor often valued by business schools.
Still, it is incredibly important to view the policies for each business school for which you’re applying.
One of the biggest questions is when to take the GMAT. It is suggested that taking the GMAT sooner rather than later after completing your undergraduate degree is beneficial.
If you decide to take the GMAT right after graduation, and aren’t planning on applying for another four years, your score is still safe to report and viewed just as it would be if you took the test right before applying.
Official score reports can be accessed through your MBA.com account within 3-5 business days after your exam. While scores are stored for ten years, if the GMAT was taken over ten years ago, scores are no longer available by request. For any scores between five and ten years old, a score report request and a fee of $35 USD per school is required.
About the GMAT
The Graduate Management Admission Test is made up of three sections – Data Insights, Quantitative and Verbal. These exam sections are designed to test an individual’s critical thinking and analysis skills, which are the strengths most often used during MBA graduate-level coursework.
The overall time length of the assessment is2 hours and 15 minutes, including one small break. Each section of the assessment has its own time limit (45 minutes), which can be one of the most difficult factors of the exam. Because questions cannot be skipped, not finishing a section can negatively impact your score greatly. When preparing to study for the GMAT, honing in on time management per section is a key piece to achieving a desirable score.
Also, using a GMAT course can have a major impact on scoring. Studies show a strong correlation between prep work, especially doing practice questions, and GMAT score. While book work can help, digital products tend to be more effective for the GMAT’s computer-adaptive format. For students who want a structured, comprehensive digital curriculum, Target Test Prep is among our top recommendations for mastering both the Quantitative and Verbal sections.
How Scoring Works
Note: The following scoring information applies to the current GMAT Focus Edition. If you took the previous GMAT format (before 2024), the scoring scale was different (200-800).
After completing the GMAT, test-takers receive an unofficial total score immediately. The total score ranges from 205 to 805 and reflects performance across the three scored sections mentioned above. Each section is scored from 60 to 90, and the official score report from GMAC includes all section scores and the total.
After your official score report becomes available in your MBA.com account, you have 48 hours to choose up to five schools to receive your official score report for free. This means you can make informed decisions about which test attempt to send to schools, giving you more control over your application. GMAT does not require score cancellation, test takers control which exam scores are sent, and schools see only the scores that are officially reported.
The enhanced Official Score Report, which is included free with your GMAT registration, provides you with detailed performance insights by section, question type, and content type, plus data on your time management. This report is available as long as your score is valid (five years), which benefits anyone who is planning on retaking the exam to improve their GMAT score. With in-depth analysis on exam performance, the report can assist those planning to change their study focus or create a plan to improve their score.
Your GMAT scores are good for five years from the date you take the exam. Most business schools consider whether your score is still valid based on their application deadlines, so it’s a good idea to check with each program to make sure your score will be accepted.
How long should you study for the GMAT?
Most candidates study for 100+ hours. A general rule of thumb is that every 10 hours of study results in a 10-point score increase. To maximize your time, we recommend using a structured GMAT prep course.
