The GMAT is offered on what dates?

Unlike the SAT, there is no specific date for registering for the GMAT. You can schedule a date and time for your test with your closest test center at your convenience. Almost any weekday will be possible. Of course, you need to register in advance.

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

Your test taking skills are likely at their peak during school or shortly afterwards–so I would recommend you take the exam during this time. The more years out of college you are, the less familiarity you probably will have with taking timed tests. There are a lot of intricacies to test taking that you have in college but that probably disappear once you get into the working world and no longer take tests on a regular basis. Since the GMAT exam is valid for 5 years, there is almost no harm in taking the exam early in your career, especially if business school is one of your career goals.

I’m several years out of college. Is it too late to take the GMAT?

Don’t worry. You didn’t miss the boat! Thousands of 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 bit by bit, 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.

Which one should I do first? Study for the exam? Or schedule for the exam?

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 creator of The GMAT Pill Study Method and has helped numerous students ace the GMAT exam in as little time as possible. Although his secret techniques were limited to wealthy students who could afford $200/hour a few years ago, Zeke has now opened the door to his unique strategies to the general public. Best Online GMAT Preparation