We are all aware how COVID-19 has impacted our lives in an unprecedented manner. It has also impacted the education sector, but most of the Colleges, Universities and other educational organizations globally are trying best to ensure that the studies remain unaffected by the crisis. Recently GMAC has also come up with interim online alternative to the GMAT exam.
This solution is developed by GMAT to support candidates and schools during the current COVID-19 pandemic, also to ensure the health and safety of candidates and the staff in GMAT centers. Most of the GMAT centers around the world have been shut down and hence this immediate solution to ensure that study abroad aspirants can continue their preparations.
As per information received from GMAC, the online alternative testing for the GMAT will start in India from April 20, 2020 until June 15, 2020. Registration has already started.
The alternative GMAT will be administered online and be available on both Windows and Mac personal computers and laptops. Please refer to the below table to make sure the computer you will take the exam on meets the minimum system requirements.
| Technical requirement | Technical Specification |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 Windows 8.1 (32-bit and 64-bit) Mac OS 10.13 and above (excluding beta versions) |
| Note: Windows Operating Systems must pass Genuine Windows Validation.
Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 7 are strictly prohibited for exam delivery All Linux/Unix based Operating Systems are strictly prohibited. |
|
| Firewall | Do not take your exam in a setting with a corporate firewall (including VPN), or, alert your Network Administrator to the network configuration requirements. |
| Display | Minimum Resolution: 1024 x 768 in 16-bit color.
Additional monitors are forbidden. |
| Internet Browser | The newest versions of Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome, and Firefox for web registrations or downloading the secure browser or Internet Explorer 11. |
| Internet Connection | A consistent connection speed of 1 Mbps down/up is required.
We recommend testing on a wired network as opposed to a wireless network. Tethering to a mobile hotspot is explicitly prohibited. |
| Webcam | Webcam must have a minimum resolution of 640×480 @ 10 fps. Webcam may be internal or may be external and connected to the computer.Mac users may need to allow OnVUE within their ‘System Preferences: Security & Privacy: Privacy’ settings for Microphone, Camera, Automation and Input Monitoring. |
| Sound & Microphone | Verify the audio and microphone are not set on mute in Windows.
Mac users may need to allow OnVUE within their ‘System Preferences: Security & Privacy: Privacy’ settings for Microphone, Camera, Automation and Input Monitoring. |
| Browser Settings | Internet Cookies must be enabled. Any Pop-Up blocking setting(s) must be disabled. |
| Work Computer | We recommend testing on a personal computer as work computers may block the OnVUE software. |
| Power | Ensure you are connected to a power source before starting your exam to avoid draining your battery during the exam |
This interim online alternative GMAT will be offered at $200; that is a price lower than that for the standard GMAT delivered in Centers at $250.
Test scheduling will remain open 24 x 7. Students can register for the test up to 24 hours before an available time slot. No appointment change can be made within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time.
Rescheduling and canceling of the test can be done up to 24 hours before the scheduled test time. Rescheduling fee is USD 25 and cancellation fee is USD 100.
This test will be available to test takers in areas impacted by test center closures (except in Mainland China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Slovenia). This will be an interim arrangement.
This interim online alternative GMAT exam will have structure similar to the GMAT delivered at the test centers. The number of items/questions, timing, and scoring will remain unchanged in respect of the Verbal, the Quant, and the IR sections. There will be no AWA section, however.
The section order will be fixed as above – Quant, Verbal, and IR
The total duration of the GMAT exam now will be 3 hours (2 hours 45 minutes for the exam and 15 minutes for checking the online proctored system). Only one 5-minute break will be provided before the IR section.
The interim online alternative GMAT test-scores will remain comparable with those for the tests administered in test centers in the past and for the tests that will be administered in the test centers in the future.
The test will be proctored live. Remote human proctors will ensure test integrity. At present, the proctoring support for the GMAT Online exam will be available only in English.
Proctoring will include remote human + Video for check-in and exam delivery.
On our part, at Manya Education, all our existing batches and 1-on-1 courses have been moved to online platforms. In addition, we are continuing to provide all our value-added-services such as extra-help and Booster sessions online. Manya Education is with you in this crisis!
Keep Calm and Learn Online.
For more information, call our Study Abroad Helpline 1800 102 4646
GMAC has done a wonderful job in kepping the GMAt aspirants’ hopes alive otherwise those who left their jobs especially for GMAT exam would have had to face another drop year which would have tarnsihed the profile by a great magnitude.
Thanks for the info.