GMAT Testing Accommodations
Back to SyllabusGraduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
GMAT Testing Accommodations
To make the exam broadly accessible, accommodations are available for GMAT test takers who meet certain eligibility criteria and properly document their request.
Review the steps below for information about the request process.
How to Apply for Accommodations
- Read the GMAT Supplement for Test Takers with Disabilities carefully.
- Create an mba.com account.
- Gather documentation as described by disability type.
- Click the Apply for Accommodations button at the bottom of this page to complete your request. Upon completion, if you do not receive an email confirmation of submission, reach out for support.
Available Accommodations for GMAT Focus Edition
Testing accommodations are available for test takers who meet certain eligibility criteria and properly document their request. Accommodations may include:
- Additional testing time
- Additional rest break
- Allowance of a medical device in the testing rooms
- A reader/recorder who can read the test items to the test taker and record test taker responses
- Enlarged font
- Adjustable contrast
- A sign language interpreter
Registering for an Accommodated Testing Appointment
If your request is approved, you will be given directions on how to schedule accommodated testing appointments.
We recommend that you wait to schedule an appointment until you receive a decision letter regarding the outcome of your accommodation request. A standard testing appointment cannot be changed to an accommodated testing appointment. You cannot register for an accommodated testing appointment until your accommodation request is approved.
Please note: Registration does not open until August 29, 2023.Frequently Asked Questions
What must I submit in order to request GMAT accommodations?
You must complete and submit the Test Accommodation Request Form located on the Testing Accommodations page. You will also need documentation appropriate to your disability, as described in the Supplement for Test Takers with Disabilities.
Is my disability information kept confidential?
Yes. Your disability status and medical documents are treated as confidential, as described more fully in the Privacy Statement. Various service providers assist in reviewing accommodation requests. These service providers are subject to strict confidentiality requirements.
Are accommodations available for online appointments?
GMAC continues to make enhancements and improvements to accommodations available for online examination delivery. GMAC reviews accommodation requests regardless of intended modality or how many times a candidate intends to take, or has already taken, an assessment. If you receive a decision letter, there will be information about the availability of your specific approved accommodations for test center and online exam delivery. A standard testing appointment—test center or online—cannot be changed to an accommodated testing appointment, and you cannot register for an accommodated testing appointment until and unless GMAC approves your accommodation request. If GMAC approves your request, you will receive directions how to schedule accommodated testing appointments.
Is there a deadline for submitting documentation for an accommodations request?
GMAC encourages candidates to submit accommodation requests well in advance of the date when they wish to sit for an assessment. Every effort will be made to respond to your request within 16-20 business days of its receipt. However, the process may take longer, especially if all documents are not submitted together in a single package, if additional documentation is needed, or if you are requesting reconsideration of a prior accommodation decision.
Should I register for the test before I request an accommodation?
A standard testing appointment cannot be changed to an accommodated testing appointment, and you cannot register for an accommodated testing appointment until and unless GMAC approves your accommodation request. If your request is approved, you will receive directions how to schedule accommodated testing appointments.
Do I have to pay the test fee to request an accommodation?
No. Do not submit payment with your accommodation request. If your request for accommodation is approved, you will be asked to pay for each accommodated testing appointment when you are ready to schedule it.
Will I receive confirmation that my application has been received?
After you have successfully submitted your GMAT Accommodation Request Form, your mba.com account page will reflect any submitted accommodations request within 24 hours. You will also receive an automated email confirmation upon successful submission.
If there is a problem with my documentation, will you contact my evaluator?
No. You will be notified in writing if additional documentation is required. It is your responsibility to provide all necessary documentation to GMAC Disability Services when completing and submitting an Accommodation Request Form.
My medical/clinical documentation is not in English. Is it necessary for me to provide a written translation of the documentation?
Yes. For your application to be reviewed, a word-for-word English translation must be submitted, along with the original documentation for our validation.
Will my GMAT Score Report reflect that I received accommodations?
No. Score reports do not indicate whether a test was taken with accommodations. GMAC does not share disability or accommodation status with schools.
I have taken a GMAC exam with accommodations in the past and want to take it again. What disability documentation do I need to submit?
If your prior request for test accommodation(s) was approved within the last two years and your documentation is still current, you may request the same accommodation(s) without resubmitting your documentation. Simply complete the Accommodation Request Form.
I was approved for accommodations previously, but my approval letter has expired. Can I request an extension?
Please review your decision letter carefully. GMAT accommodation approvals are generally valid for two years. If your approval has expired, visit click on the ‘Apply for Accommodations’ button at the bottom of the Testing Accommodations page. Complete and submit the form and indicate somewhere in the rationale section that you were previously approved. You will also need to upload at least one document (i.e., PDF, Word). You do not need to upload all of the documentation that you included in your original request. If you have a PDF copy of your original decision letter, that would be most helpful to attach as part of your request.
How is eligibility for test accommodations determined?
GMAC reviews accommodation requests in accordance with the guidelines that are enumerated in our Supplement for Test Takers with Disabilities and within the framework of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a person’s ability to perform one or more major life activities, as compared to most people in the general population. Under ADA guidelines, you could have a diagnosed condition that does not rise to the level of a disability. In addition to reviewing your supporting documentation, GMAC will evaluate the reasonableness of the requested accommodations and their effect on the psychometric integrity of the GMAC assessment you wish to take.
How can I demonstrate that I meet the ADA’s definition of disability?
You should provide both objective evidence (e.g., a professional assessment) and subjective evidence (e.g., your own self-report, rationale, clinical observations). The documentation should show substantial limitation when compared to most people from the general population.
I was diagnosed with a disability by a medical/psychological professional. Will I automatically be granted accommodations?
No. A diagnosis alone does not qualify you for accommodations. You must adequately document:
- The existence of an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity
- The current impact of your impairment and how it affects your ability to take a GMAC assessment under standard conditions
- A rationale to explain why you believe the requested accommodations are appropriate considering your impairment(s)
Is a veteran with a service-connected disability protected by the ADA?
Yes, as long as the ADA’s definition of disability is met. The ADA definition of disability may differ from the definition used in other laws. For example, the term “disabled veteran” means an individual who has served on active duty in the armed forces, was honorably discharged, and has a service-connected disability, or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension because of a public statute administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a military department. Many veterans meet both the definition of “disabled veteran” and the ADA’s definition of “individual with a disability.” Returning veterans who believe they have an ADA-defined disability are encouraged to apply for accommodations to take a GMAC assessment.
If I am testing outside the United States, can I still request accommodations based on a disability?
Yes. GMAC is committed to fair testing practices for all test takers. Applying the general framework of the ADA to all applicants enables GMAC to fairly and independently verify the need for accommodations.
I received accommodations in college. Is this sufficient to demonstrate my need for accommodations?
No, a history of receiving accommodations in college (or high school), does not guarantee that accommodations will be granted on a GMAC assessment. Policies and procedures for establishing eligibility for accommodations differ from college to college, and college accommodations may involve different considerations than accommodations on a standardized examination. College disability services (DS) staff and advisers may view their role as helping students maximize their academic success and may apply eligibility criteria less stringently. GMAC’s objective is to achieve fairness of the exam process for all test takers, which is pursued by applying the ADA consistently and by providing accommodations only when the test taker has objectively demonstrated the existence of a substantial limitation as defined by the ADA.
My disability is considered to be lifelong. Why does the documentation have to be recent?
While you may have been diagnosed with a permanent disability, the manifestations of your condition may vary over time and across settings. GMAC needs to verify the current impact of the condition on your daily functioning. For some conditions, such as most learning disabilities, documentation prepared within the past three years is generally sufficient to verify current impact, while more recent documentation may be needed for other conditions, such as psychological disorders. For physical disabilities and long-term vision and hearing disabilities that typically do not change over time, older documentation may be accepted if it provides a clear indication of your current functional limitations.
Should I ask for every possible accommodation (in hopes of getting something), or is it better to ask only for what is necessary?
You are encouraged to request accommodations that appropriately addresses any functional limitations you experience. Accommodations are designed to provide equitable access to candidates with disabilities. Requests for accommodations must include objective evidence of a clear connection between the functional limitation and the accommodation being requested. The evidence presented must demonstrate that the accommodation is needed. Requests for accommodations not supported by objective documentation will not be granted.
Am I entitled to my preferred accommodations?
If you are disabled within the definition of the ADA, you are entitled to reasonable and appropriate accommodations that enable equitable access to a GMAC assessment. Your requested accommodations will be considered, but you might not receive your preferred accommodations.
Although my impairment does not result in substantial limitations, I am sure that I would do better if I had accommodations. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to show my true potential?
The ADA is intended to enable equal access, not to maximize outcomes. Accommodations must not provide anyone with an unfair advantage relative to other test takers. Instead, they should provide equitable access to GMAC assessments for test takers with disabilities.
I do not really view myself as having a substantial functional impairment; I simply find that when taking timed tests, I always run out of time. Why shouldn’t I be allowed additional time?
Test takers must carefully monitor their time on any GMAC assessment. An inability to complete a GMAC assessment under standard time conditions is not automatically a reason for granting additional test time.
Do you have questions?
If you’re not sure where to find answers, reach out to us for support.