Because you will be familiar with the format and content of the GMAT exam after you take the exam, chances are you can significantly improve your score if you retake the test. According to the GMAC, most people improve their Total score by approximately 30 points the second time they take the exam. So, if you take the test, study the material you realized you did not know well enough during the exam, and then retake the GMAT exam, you should be on your way to a significantly higher score. But do not plan on gaining another 30 points by taking the test a third time. GMAC statistics show that score improvements are typically much lower after the second exam. Should You Retake the Test? 13 E-mail: fifthtest@gmac.com Mail: GMAT Fifth Testing Request Graduate Management Admissions Council Suite 1100 1750 Tysons Boulevard McLean, VA 22102 GMAT Testing Center Rules and Regulations Like all standardized tests, the GMAT exam must be taken under very specific conditions that are standard for all testing centers. Because everyone who takes the exam takes it under the same conditions, business schools can feel more confident in comparing the GMAT scores of their applicants. Test center regulations for the GMAT exam are numerous and very specific, and violation of the regu- lations can lead to expulsion from the testing center and cancellation of your test scores. Read this section care- fully to be sure that you do not inadvertently violate any regulations. Present Valid Identification When you sign in at the testing center, you must present valid identification. Each form of identification must contain your name, a recent photograph, and your signature. An ID without all three elements is not accept- able, with the following possible exception: Test administrators are authorized, under certain conditions, to accept IDs that contain a physical description in lieu of a photograph. Your identification must contain the following: ■ your name (use this name when you register; your ID and your registration name must match exactly) ■ a recent and recognizable photograph ■ your signature 14 It is important that the name on your ID be the same name you provide when you register for the test. For example, if you register for the test as Rajita Aggarwal, but your ID says Rajita Aggarwal-Samson, your iden- tification may be questioned and you might not be permitted to take the test. Test administrators will accept the following valid forms of ID: ■ a current passport (valid passports are required for test takers in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh; expired passports are not acceptable anywhere) ■ a current driver’s license (expired driver’s licenses are not valid ID) ■ a national identity card ■ a military ID card ■ a student ID card* ■ an employee ID card* ■ a letter from your college or university attesting to your identity *You must present a second form of ID from the previous list with one of these forms of ID. A driver’s license alone will be sufficient; however, if you have an employee ID card as your primary ID, you will also need a student ID or letter in order to enter the exam. Social Security cards, credit cards, and bank cards are not acceptable forms of identification for the GMAT exam. At the testing center, you may also be asked to verify your identity with a fingerprint, photograph, video- tape, or other form of electronic identity confirmation. If you refuse to participate in electronic identity ver- ification you will forfeit your right to take the exam, and your testing fee will not be refunded. The GMAC is very serious about proper identification. If you do not present valid ID or agree to addi- tional identity verification, you will not be admitted, and your test fee will be forfeited. The ETS may also determine that your ID was invalid after you take the exam. In that case, your test scores will be canceled and Letter of Identity Confirmation If you lack a valid ID with your photograph, you may present a letter from your college or university attesting to your identity. The letter must be from an official from the college or university you attend(ed) and must include the following: • your name • a recent and recognizable photograph of you • your signature • the college/university official’s signature and job title, along with the institution’s seal (if available) These letters are valid for up to one year. 15 cancellation notices will be sent to all of the schools that receive your scores. Your testing fee will not be reimbursed. Make sure you arrive early for the exam to allow sufficient time for the verification of your identity. If you have any questions about GMAT registration, testing centers, scores, or any other matters relat- ing to the GMAT exam, contact ETS-GMAT Customer Service at gmat@ets.org, or 800-GMAT-NOW, or 703-749-0131. Confidentiality Agreement In addition to providing the proper identification, you must also sign a confidentiality agreement — your promise not to reveal specific details about the contents of the GMAT exam you will take. If you do not sign this agreement, you will not be permitted to take the test, and your test fee will not be refunded. Exam Procedures and Regulations At the GMAT testing center, you will be given an individual computer workstation for your exam. You will also have access to a small locker or other limited space for your personal belongings. Purses, backpacks, cell phones, and other personal items are not permitted in the testing room and must be left in your locker. You will not be able to access items in your locker during the exam or breaks. Your test administrator will supply you with several sheets of scratch paper at the start of the exam. If you need additional sheets, need help with your computer, have technical difficulties with your machine, or need any other assistance, you must raise your hand to notify the test administrator. Do not leave your seat except in an emergency. If you leave your seat during the exam session, the timing of the section you are tak- ing will continue, and you will not be granted extra time to complete the test. Once you have arrived and signed in and until you sign out, you must follow several regulations. During the test sessions and during the breaks, you may not ■ use testing aids of any kind, including notes, calculators, dictionaries, or translators ■ exceed the scheduled five-minute breaks between sections ■ communicate with anyone about the content of the exam ■ leave the test center What You Need to Bring to the Testing Center On the day of your scheduled exam, bring the following items: • proper identification • names of the schools that you would like to receive your score reports • your authorization voucher, if you registered via mail Paper and pencils will be provided for you at the testing center; do not bring your own. Technical Difficulties Although the old paper exams could not adapt to your level as you took the test, they had one sure advantage: No technical difficulties occurred. If you have any problems with your computer as you are taking the exam, raise your hand for assistance from the test administrator. If the technical difficulties cannot be immediately repaired and you are unable to complete your exam, you will be permitted to reschedule your test and take another exam free of charge. If you decide not to retake the test, you will be reimbursed for your testing fee. 16 ■ use telephones or cell phones ■ remove scratch paper from the testing room (all scratch paper must be returned at the end of the test session) ■ remove or attempt to remove, or reproduce or attempt to reproduce, any test questions from the testing center ■ give or attempt to give, or receive or attempt to receive, unauthorized help ■ create a disturbance or behave in a disruptive manner You may eat and drink only during the scheduled breaks, and if you wish to step outside for a cigarette, you must let the test administrator know and stay in the immediate vicinity of the testing center. Failure to follow any of these rules may result in your dismissal from the exam. Registering for the GMAT Exam Registering for the GMAT exam is easy. Once you choose your testing center and determine which of the avail- able testing dates and times best suits your schedule, you can schedule your exam online, by phone, or via fax. A complete list of testing centers and their contact information is available on the GMAT website at www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/Tools/TestCenterList.htm.You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to down- load the list. You can also download the GMAT Information Bulletin; pages 10 through 16 include list of national and international testing centers and their phone numbers. You can register for the GMAT exam in several ways: ■ By phone. Call 800-GMAT-NOW (800-462-8669) or 800-529-3590 for TTY or call your selected test- ing center directly. ■ By mail. Call 800-GMAT-NOW to request a Voucher Request Form, or print the form from the GMAT website at www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/Tools/VoucherRequestForm.htm. The following items are considered testing aids and are not permitted in the testing room during the exam sessions: • notes • stopwatches or watch alarms • calculators • telephones or cellular phones • dictionaries or thesauruses • pagers or beepers • translators • photographic devices • personal data assistants (PDAs) • stereos or radios • rulers or other measuring devices You will be given pencils and scratch paper at the testing center, so don’t bring your own pens, pencils, or blank paper into the testing room; if you do, you will be asked to store them in your locker until the test is over. No Testing Aids Allowed! 17 Send your completed form and testing fee to: GMAT Educational Testing Service P.O. Box 6103 Princeton, NJ 08541-6103 ■ Online. Register directly on the website www.mba.com. Click on “Take the GMAT” and then “Schedul- ing a GMAT Appointment.”You will need a valid Visa®, MasterCard®, or American Express® card to pay your $200 registration fee. Again, whether you register by mail, phone, or computer, make sure you register with the name that is printed on the ID you will take to the testing center. If your registration name and ID do not match — for example, if you make a spelling error when you type in your registration online — you may not be permitted to take the exam, and your testing fee will not be refunded. Registering for the GMAT Exam outside the United States How you register for the GMAT exam outside of the United States, U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, or Canada depends upon the kind of testing center you choose. Three kinds of international testing centers are available — permanent, mobile, and supplementary. Each has a different registration procedure. Permanent centers offer the GMAT CAT year-round. You can register for the test at a permanent cen- ter via phone, fax, mail, or Internet. To schedule by phone, call the Regional Registration Center (RRC) for your desired testing center (phone numbers for RRCs are listed on the Testing Center Locations List). You must call at least three days before your desired test date, and payment by credit card is required at the time of your call. 18 To register by mail, download the International Test Scheduling Form from www.mba.com/mba/ TaketheGMAT/Tools/InternationalTestSchedulingForm.htm (or call 800-GMAT-NOW to request this form) and return it with your payment to the RRC for your testing center. To register by fax, send your completed International Test Scheduling Form and your credit card infor- mation to the fax number for your testing center RRC. Mobile centers are temporary and offer the GMAT CAT on a limited schedule. You can register for the test at a mobile center by mail, phone, or fax. Follow the instructions provided for permanent centers. Supplementary centers offer the paper-based GMAT exam only once or twice each year. To register for the test at one of these sites, you must complete a Supplementary Test Center Preregistration Form and send it (via fax or mail) to the ETS by the appropriate deadline. You can download this form at www.mba.com/ mba/TaketheGMAT/Tools/SupplementaryTestCenterPreregistrationForm.htm or request it from 800-GMAT- NOW. This form reserves you a place at the testing center for the exam. Do not include payment with this form. After the ETS receives your request, you will receive a packet of information with details about the testing cen- ter location and information about the paper-based exam. Nonstandard Testing Accommodations Test takers with disabilities can arrange for several nonstandard testing accommodations for the exam. These accommodations include the following: ■ extended (but not unlimited) testing time ■ additional breaks during exam sections and/or extended breaks between sections ■ adjusted background and foreground colors (for CAT only) ■ a recorder or writer of answers ■ a sign language interpreter for spoken directions ■ audio cassette, Braille, or large-print GMAT formats Follow the Rules A considerable portion of this section has been dedicated to rules. This is because GMAT testing center reg- ulations must be followed very carefully. If you violate any regulations during the exam, you may be dismissed by the test administrator, and your violation will be reported to the ETS. Consequences may include the can- cellation of your test scores and forfeiture of your testing fee. If your violation is serious enough—for example, if you attempt to use testing aids or remove test questions from the testing room—you could even be barred from future exams. . 800 -GMAT- NOW (800- 462 - 866 9) or 800-529-3590 for TTY or call your selected test- ing center directly. ■ By mail. Call 800 -GMAT- NOW to request a Voucher Request Form, or print the form from the GMAT. to follow any of these rules may result in your dismissal from the exam. Registering for the GMAT Exam Registering for the GMAT exam is easy. Once you choose your testing center and determine. fee to: GMAT Educational Testing Service P.O. Box 61 03 Princeton, NJ 08541 -61 03 ■ Online. Register directly on the website www.mba.com. Click on “Take the GMAT and then “Schedul- ing a GMAT Appointment.”You