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When is the GMAT?[youtube:foWx9ffAAb4;[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foWx9ffAAb4:GMAT Video Thought Process];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foWx9ffAAb4&feature=related]

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

OK, nice. Given that I have the freedom to choose when to take the exam, what would you recommend as the ideal time to register for the GMAT?

Perhaps the best time to take your GMAT is while you are still in college, 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! Thousands of people haven’t taken their GMATs yet. You might not be familiar with the pressures of test taking so will need to pay extra attention to doing several practice exams mimicking exam-like conditions.

What do you mean by exam-like conditions?

I mean rather than just running 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?

Since you have a busy life with work, extracurriculars, and socializing you want to get the GMAT out of the way ASAP before you start applying to business school. Why? Because later on you’re going to be even more busy. You’ll need to dedicate time to your job, but also any community groups you are a part of. Member of an organization that holds ambitious yearly events? Put in the effort and participate on the board in a leadership position. Trying to get a salary raise so you can mention it on your Bschool application? Do what you need to do to get there. And of course when you apply, you’re going to need to budget time to research each school you apply to and get a sense of which ones are right for you. The list of things to do will get really hectic once you start applying, so take my advice. Take the GMAT now and get it out of the way before you start your bschool applications.

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 guru, Zeke Lee. Zeke is the creator of The GMAT Pill Study Method and has assisted numerous students ace the GMAT exam in as little time as possible. Although his secret techniques were limited to wealthy 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