Online GMAT or Regular Test Center GMAT? What's your pick?

Question

Hello GMATClub folks,

If you have seen me around then you know that I have been inactive lately. I have been meaning to post this question but I never actually did.

Test slots have opened up near my zip code (66210 if you're curious). I see that some random slots are available through June. I am inclined towards booking a slot at test centre but I wanted to ask to the community as well. Which one do you prefer and why? I pretty much know all the facts (example Online version doesn't count towards your life attempts, you can't cancel, you can take only once so on and so forth. Two things that stop me from preferring online version are : 1. Having to constantly look straight into your monitor and get interrupted by proctor for failing to do so. 2. Whiteboard obviously.

I had initial plans for applying to R1 starting soon but honestly I don't know at this point of time. What I am thinking is that since I had already put enough efforts into my first attempt I might as well put some more to park a decent score for securing admission at any time in near future if not immediately.

If you read this far then thank you for reading! I would love to know your thoughts.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi TheNightKing,

What is stopping you from taking the test at a test center in June? Do you think you’ll be ready by then?

TheNightKing · Answer

Hey Scott, I hope you're doing good.

Well, Technically nothing is stopping me except the self assessment of whether I will be ready by the test date.

I was just looking for thoughts on should one prefer online version over test center or vice versa.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Gotcha. Either way, I think the major benefit of the online GMAT is that you don't actually have to submit the online GMAT score to schools unless you want to. So, essentially it’s a free crack at the GMAT.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi TheNightKing,

You already seem to understand that the At-home testing 'parameters' are less-than-ideal (a number of GMATers who took that option have run into unfortunate technical 'issues' and many others have reported lower-than-expected Score results). In an earlier post back in November, you stated that your Score Goal was 720+, so I'm going to assume that that is still your Goal. If you're not feeling "ready" to take the GMAT right now (and/or are not close to your Score Goal yet), then taking the At-home GMAT option does not make a lot of sense. The fact that the attempt won't count against the 8-attempt limit is nice, but you would be spending $200 to be testing under arguably "tougher" conditions. If you're going to keep studying until you score in the 700s, then taking the At-home GMAT right now - when you're not facing any immediate application deadlines - does not seem like a good idea.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

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