The computer-based GMAT is administered year-round at more than 500 locations, most of which are in North America. Testing centers are located at Prometric Testing Centers, Sylvan Learning Centers, certain colleges and universities, and ETS (Educational Testing Service) field offices. The official GMAT Bulletin contains a complete list of GMAT computer-based test centers; an updated list is available at the GMAC website (www.gmac.com).

To take the computer-based GMAT you must schedule an appointment by using any of the following four methods:

1. Make an appointment online, via the GMAC website (www.gmac.com).
2. Call the test center of your choice directly. A current test-center list is available at the GMAC website (www.gmac.com).
3. Call a central registration number: 1-800-GMAT-NOW (1-800-462-8669).
4. Make an appointment by mail. (You'll need to complete and mail the Authorization Voucher Request Form in the official GMAT Bulletin; you should receive your Authorization Voucher about four weeks after you mail the request form, and you cannot schedule a test appointment until you've received your voucher.)

Although you can cancel or postpone your GMAT appointment, only a partial refund of your registration fee is available, and only under certain circumstances. For specific policies and procedures consult the GMAC website (www.gmac.com).

During the test. At any time during the test you can quit the test. If you decide to quit, no score for any test section will be tabulated or recorded by the testing service, or reported to any school.

After the test. You may cancel your scores immediately after completing the test, while still in the testing room. However, once you request an unofficial score report (immediately after the test), you no longer have the option of canceling your scores. Assuming you haven't requested an unofficial score report, you may also cancel your scores at any time within one week after the test. (See the official GMAT Bulletin for procedural details.)

Effect of score cancellation. Score cancellations are reported to the B-schools, but scores for cancelled tests are not. B-schools do not look unfavorably at score cancellations; thus the fact that cancellations are reported should not influence your decision about canceling your scores.

Although you may take the GMAT as many times as you want, you may not take the GMAT more than once during any calendar month, even if you've quit the test or cancelled your scores. Whether and how many times you should take the GMAT depends on a variety of factors:

• how well you think you already performed on the real GMAT relative to your realistic potential
• whether your new GMAT scores will be reported to the B-schools early enough to meet application deadlines
• whether the schools to which you are applying average your GMAT scores or consider only your highest GMAT scores
• whether you can afford the fees for taking the GMAT again (the fee is the same each time you take the test)

After weighing these factors, if you're still undecided, bear in mind that about 90% of repeat GMAT test-takers improve their scores. Thus you should consider taking the GMAT at least twice — if you can afford the registration fee and if time permits.