How Late Can You Take the GMAT or GRE for MBA Applications?

You have an MBA application deadline approaching, and your GMAT or GRE score is not where you want it yet. A late test date can feel like your last chance, especially when you are also finishing essays and waiting on recommendations. You deserve a clear answer before you spend more time and money on another attempt.

The latest date you can test depends on the school. Some MBA programs accept a test taken on the application deadline; others require you to test earlier or have a score ready when you submit. This guide explains the 2026–2027 M7 deadlines, when results become available, and whether each school may consider an updated score, so you can decide what is still possible for your application.

How Late Can You Take the GMAT or GRE for an MBA Application?

The last acceptable GMAT/GRE test date is set by the business school, not by GMAC or Educational Testing Service (ETS). Test availability does not establish an admissions policy. You might be able to register for an exam the day after a school’s application deadline, but that does not mean the school will review the resulting score for that round.

Before you book, separate these three events:

Wharton provides a clear example: for its 2026-27 application cycle, the last date in each round’s valid testing window is the application deadline itself. Applicants may self-report scores, and Wharton requests official results for verification if it offers admission. Still, Wharton recommends taking the test at least two weeks before the deadline. A date the school permits is not necessarily a good date for your first attempt.

A permitted date and a useful date are different. If you already have a score you would be willing to submit, a late attempt may give you one more option. If it is your first exam, a deadline-day test puts your entire application on that single result.

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The 2026-27 GMAT and GRE Deadlines for the M7 MBA Programs

The deadlines below cover regular full-time MBA applications for 2027 entry. Pay attention to each school’s testing requirements, since some require a valid score when you apply, while others allow limited updates after the deadline.

• Stanford GSB
  • Round 1: Sept. 9, 2026
  • Round 2: Jan. 6, 2027
  • Round 3: Apr. 7, 2027
  • Test timing: Take the GMAT or GRE before submitting your application and before your round’s deadline. Stanford recommends testing at least a few weeks earlier. If a test taken before the deadline has not produced a score when you apply, follow Stanford’s instructions for entering temporary values and submitting the actual score afterward. Stanford will not consider a score from a test taken after your round’s deadline.
• Harvard Business School
  • Round 1: Sept. 9, 2026
  • Round 2: Jan. 5, 2027
  • Round 3: None
  • Test timing: Take the GMAT or GRE by the application deadline. HBS accepts unofficial scores when you apply but requires you to request an official score report.
• Chicago Booth
  • Round 1: Sept. 15, 2026
  • Round 2: Jan. 7, 2027
  • Round 3: Apr. 1, 2027
  • Test timing: Self-report a valid GMAT or GRE score when you apply, unless you qualify for Booth’s testing exception for eligible University of Chicago students or graduates. Booth generally requests official scores after admission. Send them earlier if your score will expire before the admissions decision.
• Wharton
  • Round 1: Sept. 8, 2026
  • Round 2: Jan. 5, 2027
  • Round 3: Mar. 31, 2027
  • Test timing: Wharton’s published testing windows extend through each round’s deadline, and scores may be self-reported. Wharton recommends taking the test at least two weeks before the deadline.
• Northwestern Kellogg
  • Round 1: Sept. 9, 2026
  • Round 2: Jan. 6, 2027
  • Round 3: Mar. 31, 2027
  • Test timing: Submit the required test score with your application. Kellogg permits later score updates, but does not guarantee that it will consider them before making a decision.
• MIT Sloan
  • Round 1: Sept. 29, 2026
  • Round 2: Jan. 12, 2027
  • Round 3: None
  • Test timing: Include a valid, self-reported GMAT or GRE score by the application deadline.
• Columbia Business School — August entry
  • Round 1: Sept. 9, 2026
  • Round 2: Jan. 5, 2027
  • Round 3: Mar. 29, 2027
  • Test timing: Submit a valid, self-reported GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment score with your application. You may add a later score, but Columbia does not guarantee that it will be reviewed.

The deadlines and testing rules above come from each school’s current admissions materials. Columbia’s dates are for August 2027 entry; its January-entry and deferred programs follow different schedules. As of September 26, 2026, MIT Sloan’s September 29 Round 1 deadline has not yet passed, although the other regular M7 Round 1 dates in the table have.

Check the submission time. For example, MIT Sloan requires applications by 3:00 p.m. Eastern, HBS by noon Eastern, Wharton by 5:00 p.m. Eastern, and Booth by 11:59 p.m. Central. If you live elsewhere in the world, convert the school’s cutoff to your local time before booking a same-day test.

A deadline table cannot answer every case. Read the detailed instructions in your application portal if you plan to test close to submission. If the school does not clearly address your situation, ask admissions a narrow question: give your preferred test date, application round, whether you already have a valid score, and which results you expect to have when you submit. Attending one of the school’s admissions events can help you learn about the program, but it does not extend a published deadline.

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Will Your GMAT or GRE Scores Be Available in Time?

Both exams show some scores at the end of test day. Official scores arrive later. The distinction matters most when you schedule an exam within days of an application deadline.

GMAC displays the current GMAT’s unofficial section and total scores when you finish. Your official report appears later in your mba.com account. ETS makes official GRE scores available through your ETS account and sends reports to recipients you selected on test day when those scores become available.

This makes a same-day GRE more dependent on a school’s application fields. You may know your unofficial verbal and quant scores, but you will not yet know your Analytical Writing score. Check whether the program asks you to enter that score before submission. Do not assume that choosing an electronic score recipient through ETS automatically fills out the scores in your MBA application.

Work backward from the application deadline

Suppose your Round 2 application is due January 5. An exam on January 4 might meet a school’s test-date rule, but your official GRE scores would normally arrive after the application deadline. Whether you can still apply depends on what the school accepts in the application itself. An exam in early December gives you more time to receive the official result, assess your performance, and respond if the test does not go as planned.

Use this order when choosing a date:

1. Find the school’s latest accepted test date.
2. Check what you must enter to complete the application.
3. Check when and how official scores must be reported.
4. Leave time for a second attempt if your first score could change your plan.

The last step is advice, not an admissions requirement. The amount of time you need depends on your starting score, prep, appointment availability, and other application work.

When Should You Take Your First Test and Plan a Retake?

If you can choose freely, aim to finish a first GMAT or GRE attempt six to eight weeks before your application deadline. That gives you time to review your score, decide whether another attempt is likely to help, and continue work on essays, recommendations, and your résumé. You can test later, but each week you give up reduces your options.

For an early-January Round 2 deadline, a workable plan could look like this:

GMAC’s retake policy requires at least 16 calendar days between GMAT attempts. You can take the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times in a rolling 12-month period. These are the earliest dates you may test again; they do not tell you when you will be ready to improve.

If you have only two weeks left, start with your existing score. If it is valid and you are comfortable applying with it, you can submit it while checking whether the school permits a later update. If you have no score, book the earliest acceptable appointment only after confirming what the school requires at submission. Set aside time after the exam to finish the application. A test that ends minutes before the portal closes is a poor plan even when the date itself is allowed.

Should You Take the GMAT or GRE When Time Is Short?

Choose the exam you can prepare for and score well on within your available time. You do not need to prefer the GMAT simply because you are applying to business school, or the GRE because you might also apply to another university program. Check that all your target schools accept your choice, then use official practice tests to compare how you perform.

The GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing. Its two verbal reasoning sections and two quantitative reasoning sections are part of the current, shorter exam. The current GMAT uses a 205-805 total score scale, while the earlier GMAT used 200-800; do not compare totals from the two versions as if they were identical.

For a closer look at the questions and prep demands, see Leland’s GMAT versus GRE guide. If a practice test shows a large difference between your results, that is more useful for your decision than a general claim that one exam is easier. Give yourself enough time to work through the question types that held you back.

Should You Test at a Test Center or at Home?

The best test location is one where you can get a valid appointment, meet the identification rules, and complete the exam without a preventable interruption. Check both test center and at-home testing options during registration. Availability can vary by location and date; the GRE General Test is offered year-round in many locations, while some regions follow a more limited schedule.

Home testing removes the trip to a center, but you must meet the provider’s equipment, room, and ID requirements. ETS says GRE home testing is monitored by a human proctor. Complete the required equipment and identification checks before test day. If you are close to an application deadline, a failed setup or identity check may leave little time to reschedule. Applicants in mainland China should follow ETS’s location-specific home-testing and registration instructions.

Check costs before you register, too. GRE cost, GMAT cost, rescheduling charges, and score-report fees can affect whether a speculative retake makes sense. GMAT pricing varies with your test location and whether you test online; consult the price shown during registration. ETS also offers a GRE Fee Reduction Program for eligible test takers, including some who demonstrate financial need. If you need a voucher, look into that process before selecting a near-term exam date.

Updating GMAT or GRE Scores After Applying

What happens if you submit your MBA application with a lower GMAT or GRE score, then retake the exam and earn a higher score? Each M7 program has its own policy on whether applicants can submit updated scores after the application deadline, and some schools warn that updates may not be reviewed.

Here’s where each M7 program stands for the 2026-27 application cycle:

• Stanford GSB: Stanford will not consider a GMAT or GRE score from a test taken after your application round’s deadline. If you tested before the cutoff but your score was unavailable when you submitted, enter the temporary values specified in Stanford’s application guidance and explain the situation in the Additional Information section. Once you receive your score, submit it through the application’s “Provide New Information” link. This procedure does not permit a new test after the deadline.
• Harvard Business School: HBS does not accept application updates after submission, and applicants must take the GMAT or GRE by the application deadline. HBS says its decisions are based on the completed application materials submitted by the applicant.
• Chicago Booth: Applicants can self-report updated GMAT or GRE scores through their online status page after submitting. Booth’s full-time MBA FAQ says it cannot guarantee that reviewers will see new information and will not reevaluate an application that has already been reviewed.
• University of Pennsylvania Wharton: Wharton requires applicants to submit a valid GMAT or GRE score with their application. Its current application guide does not provide a process for adding a new score after submission, so applicants should plan to submit the score they want considered with their application.
• Northwestern Kellogg: Applicants can submit new test scores after submitting their application through the Supplemental Information page in the application portal. However, Kellogg cannot guarantee that updated information will be considered before a decision is made.
• MIT Sloan: MIT Sloan requires applicants to submit a valid GMAT or GRE score by the application deadline. The school notes that official score reports may arrive shortly after the deadline because processing can take up to two weeks, but this refers to scores from tests already taken, not a new test taken after the deadline.
• Columbia Business School: Additional GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment scores may be added after an application is submitted, but Columbia says it cannot guarantee that they will be reviewed with the application. The Admissions Committee considers the highest score and does not combine subscores from multiple exams.

For MBA programs outside the M7, check the school's current application instructions or contact the admissions office directly before assuming that a new GMAT or GRE score can be added after the deadline.

How to Strategically Schedule Your GRE or GMAT for the MBA Application Process

Your GMAT or GRE date should fit into your broader MBA application timeline. You need enough time to prepare, receive your score, retake the exam if necessary, and submit the score required by each school's deadline.

There is no universal “best” test date. Work backward from your application deadlines and leave enough room for an unexpected delay or a second attempt.

1. Pick Your Target Test Date, Then Work Backward

Start with your earliest MBA application deadline and determine how much time you need for preparation, scoring, and a possible retake.

A practical timeline might look like this:

• 8-12+ weeks before the deadline: Take your first exam if you want substantial time to prepare or leave room for a retake.
• 3-6 weeks before the deadline: Take the exam if you are already well prepared and want your score available well before you submit.
• Within the final 1-2 weeks: This can work if necessary, but leaves less room for delays, another attempt, or school-specific score-reporting requirements.

These are planning ranges, not admissions requirements. Your ideal date depends on your starting score, preparation time, target score, and how many schools you're applying to.

Also account for score processing. GRE scores are generally available in your ETS account 8-10 days after the test, while GMAT Official Score Reports are typically available within 3-5 days. GMAT says reports can occasionally take longer, so build in additional time when possible.

2. Leave Time for a Retake

If your first score falls short of your target, a retake may require more time than you expect. For the GRE, you must wait at least 21 days between tests, and you can take the exam up to five times in any continuous 12-month period.

The GMAT has its own retesting and appointment rules, so check the current policies before planning multiple attempts. If a higher score would materially strengthen your application, avoid scheduling your first test so close to the application deadline that a retake becomes impossible.

3. Book Your Test Appointment Once You Know Your Timeline

Test availability varies by location and delivery format. The GMAT is offered at test centers and online, with test-center availability depending on location, seat availability, and local operating schedules.

The GRE is also available at test centers and at home. ETS says the GRE General Test is offered at more than 1,000 authorized test centers in 160+ countries, while the at-home version is available around the clock.

Once you know your target testing window, check actual appointment availability instead of assuming a particular date will be open. If you're testing online, also make sure your computer, internet connection, testing space, and other technical requirements meet the exam provider's rules before test day.

4. Focus on the Scores Your MBA Programs Actually Receive

The current GMAT reports Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights scores, along with a Total Score. GMAC also calculates a GMAT Superscore from the highest section scores across valid attempts and may include it in your official report. Each school decides whether to consider that Superscore. Booth and Kellogg do not accept test superscores; MIT Sloan says it is focusing on single-attempt scores for this admissions cycle; and Columbia does not combine subscores from different exams. Check each program’s policy and report scores from a single sitting when required.

5. Check Each School's Policy Before Testing Close to a Deadline

Do not assume that every MBA program handles late or updated test scores the same way.

Some schools allow applicants to submit updated scores after the application is submitted, while others do not. Some may accept the update but warn that it might not be reviewed before a decision is made.

If you're considering taking the GMAT or GRE shortly before or after an application deadline, check the school's current application instructions and status-portal guidance. If the policy is unclear, contact the admissions office directly.

Questions you can ask include:

• “If I take the GMAT/GRE shortly before the deadline, when does the score need to be available?”
• “If I submit my application before receiving the score, can I add it afterward?”
• “If I retake the exam after submitting my application, will you consider the updated score?”
• “How should I submit an updated score if your application portal does not provide an option?”

Admissions events can be a useful place to hear directly from a school, but treat any guidance about test scores as school-specific. Always confirm important deadlines and score-submission requirements through the program's official admissions materials.

Final Checklist Before Choosing a Test Date

Before you book your GMAT or GRE, make sure you can check all four boxes:

☐ Does this test date give me enough time to prepare and retake the exam if needed?

☐ Will my score be available by the deadline for every MBA program I'm applying to?

☐ Have I checked each school's current policy on submitting or updating scores after the deadline?

☐ If I'm taking the test online, have I confirmed that I meet the provider's technical and testing-environment requirements?

Need Help Deciding Whether to Retake?

If you’re weighing another GMAT or GRE attempt against an MBA application deadline, you don’t have to make the call alone. Leland coaches can help you assess your score, timeline, and target schools so you can decide whether a retake makes sense and build a stronger application plan.

Studying for and taking these standardized tests is a long and arduous process, so here are a couple of other resources that can be helpful:

• Best Free 50+ GMAT Prep Resources: Practice Tests & Study Material (2026)
• GMAT vs. GRE for Business School–Which to Take and How to Ace Both
• How I Got Into Harvard Business School With Low Test Scores
• 10 Best GRE Tutors

FAQs

GMAT vs. GRE: Which test should I take for an MBA?

• If your target MBA programs accept both exams, neither test is universally preferable. Take an official practice test for each and compare your performance, preparation needs, and available testing dates. Your decision should also account for each school's current testing requirements and application deadlines.

How far in advance should I take the GMAT or GRE before applying to business school?

• Take the exam early enough to receive your score and leave sufficient time for a retake if necessary. GRE official scores are generally available 8-10 days after the test, while GMAT Official Score Reports are typically available within 3-5 days. Schools may also have specific requirements for when test scores must be available, so verify each program's policy before scheduling your exam.

Can I retake the GMAT or GRE if I am not satisfied with my score?

• Yes. GRE test takers must wait at least 21 days between attempts and may take the test up to five times within a continuous 12-month period. GMAT test takers must wait at least 16 days between attempts and may take the exam up to five times within a rolling 12-month period. Account for these waiting periods when planning around MBA application deadlines.

How long are GMAT and GRE scores valid?

• GMAT and GRE scores are generally reportable for five years, but schools set their own rules for whether an older score qualifies for a particular round. Stanford publishes round-specific earliest test dates. Booth requires a valid score when you submit your application. If your score is close to expiration, check the school’s instructions before relying on the general five-year window; Columbia, for example, advises applicants to send their report and apply at least one week before the score expires.

Can I submit an updated GMAT or GRE score after submitting my MBA application?

• It depends on the school. Some MBA programs allow applicants to submit updated scores after submitting their applications, while others do not. Some programs accept updates but cannot guarantee that they will be reviewed before an admissions decision is made. If you plan to retake the exam after submitting your application, check the school's current score-update policy before scheduling the test.