GMAT & TOEFL FAQ

GMAT (www.mba.com)

Note these HBS and MIT policies regarding candidates applying with the GMAT Focus:

• HBS: Note on the GMAT Focus: Writing is an essential component of the MBA program. Therefore, to be admitted to HBS all students must have an official writing assessment. You can satisfy this with a valid GRE, GMAT 10th Edition, or English language test score. If you only submitted the GMAT Focus, which lacks a writing section, HBS will contact you at the interview stage about taking the separate GMAC Business Writing Assessment. If you wish to take the GMAC Business Writing Assessment before knowing your interview status, you will be able to do so beginning July 2024. Because the written application has opportunities to showcase your writing abilities (e.g. essays, short answers), you will not be at a disadvantage if you do not include the GMAC Business Writing Assessment before you are invited to interview.
• MIT: The Admissions Committee is also interested in assessing the writing abilities of anyone who is admitted to MIT Sloan’s MBA program. For anyone who submits a GMAT (Focus Edition) or is granted a test waiver, the Admissions Committee may require that you take the GMAC Business Writing Assessment. If you took the GMAT (10th Edition) or the GRE and have a valid AWA score, that will satisfy this requirement. If the Admissions Committee requires you to take the GMAT Business Writing Assessment, we will contact you after interview invitations are sent.

How to Send Your Score

Included in your GMAT registration is the option to send your Official Score Report to up to five (5) programs for free within a 48-hour period. After this period, or if you want to send your score to more programs, you can send additional score reports for a fee.

Sending Your Score to Up to Five Programs (for Free)

Whether you take the exam at a test center or online, you have the flexibility and control to review your Official Score before deciding whether you want to send it to schools. You will receive an email notification once your Official Score Report is available in your mba.com account. If you would like to send your score to schools, you can search for and select the programs you wish to send your score report. You must send your (up to 5) free score reports within 48 hours of your Official Score being made available on mba.com.

Please Note:

Each Official Score Report you send to a program will only contain the Total and Section Scores from a single exam. No other exam scores from previous exams will be sent.
Exam scores canceled due to a testing issue or policy violation will remain part of your Official Score Report.
Once your Official Score Report has been sent to a program, that action cannot be cancelled or undone.

Sending Your Score to Additional Programs (for a Fee)

You can send your Official Score Report to as many additional programs as you like, as long as your score is no more than five years old. Additional score reports can be purchased for via your mba.com account. Score reporting fees are non-refundable.

If you have scores older than five years but less than 10 years, you may ask to send these scores to programs as long as you have not taken a GMAT exam within the past five years.

Can I apply without GMAT score?

Several programs offer GMAT waiver.

.

TOEFL (http://www.ets.org/toefl/)

The test of English as a foreign language is required by most programs for applicants whose native language is not English. There are some cases where the TOEFL requirement may be waived (for example, if the applicant received a degree from an institution whose official language of instruction is English) – check the school website or the school page on Aringo website (click on the school name and go to the bottom to see TOEFL requirements).

The TOEFL® test measures the ability of non-native English speakers to use and understand the English language as it is heard, spoken, read and written in the university classroom.

The TOEFL test is offered in two formats: the TOEFL iBT™, administered in an Internet-based format, and the TOEFL PBT, administered in a Paper-based format. The format you take depends on your testing location. Test centers that do not have Internet access offer the TOEFL PBT test.
• The TOEFL iBT test measures reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. It is offered 30 to 40 times a year, and is administered online via computer at more than 4,500 testing sites in 165 countries. Most test takers take the TOEFL iBT test.
• The TOEFL PBT test measures reading, listening, grammar and writing skills and is offered six times a year in areas where Internet-based testing is not available.

Do I have a choice of which format to take?

The format of the test depends on your testing location, the capabilities of the testing center and any accommodations required for special needs.

When can I register for the test?

Seats fill up quickly, so register early. We recommend that you register three to four months before your desired test date to reserve your seat. Your test date should be two to three months before your earliest admissions application deadline.

Can I take the test in one day?

Yes, the test is given in one day. The test takes about 4 hours, but with check-in you should plan to be at the test site for at least 4.5 hours.

Can I retake the test?

Yes, you can retake the test as many times as you wish. There is no passing or failing test score — score requirements are set by each higher education institution or agency.

What Does the TOEFL iBT Test Cost?

The cost of the test can range from $160 to $250 and varies between countries.

What are TOEFL test scores like?

Your scores are based on your performance on the questions in the test. You must answer at least one question each in the Reading and Listening sections, write at least one essay, and complete at least one Speaking task to receive an official score. For the Internet-based test, you will receive four scaled section scores and a total score:
• Reading Section (Score of: 0 – 30)
• Listening Section (Score of: 0 – 30)
• Speaking Section (Score of: 0 – 30)
• Writing Section (Score of: 0 – 30)
• Total Score (0 – 120)

In addition to your scores, your official score record also includes performance feedback that is a reflection of your performance level and a description of the kinds of tasks that test takers within the reported score range can typically do.

There is no passing or failing TOEFL score; individual higher education institutions and agencies set their own score requirements. TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the test date and there is no limit to the number of times you can take the test.

When should I start preparing for the test?

Start preparing for the test at least eight weeks before your test date.

What is the best way to prepare for the TOEFL test?

Practicing your reading, listening, speaking and writing skills as much as possible will help you feel prepared and confident on test day.

When do I take the test?

Plan to take the TOEFL test two to three months before your earliest application deadline so your scores arrive at your institutions in time. Find application deadlines by checking the institution's website.

What is the Reading section like?

The Reading section includes three to five reading passages. There are 12 to 14 questions per passage. You have from 60 to 100 minutes to answer all the questions in the section.
TOEFL iBT Reading passages are excerpts from university-level textbooks that would be used in introductions to a discipline or topic. The passages will cover a variety of different subjects. Don't worry if you're unfamiliar with the topic of a passage. All the information you need to answer the questions will be in the passage.

What is the Listening section like?

The Listening section includes test questions about academic lectures and long conversations in which the speech sounds very natural. You can take notes on any listening material throughout the entire test. The test is composed of:

Four to six lectures, each three to five minutes long, six questions per lecture, 60 to 90 minutes
Two to three conversations, each three minutes long, five questions per conversation, 60 to 90 minutes

What is the Speaking section like?

The Speaking section is approximately 20 minutes long and includes six questions.

The first two questions are called "independent Speaking tasks" because they require you to draw entirely on your own ideas, opinions and experiences when you respond.
The other four questions are called "integrated Speaking tasks" because they require you to integrate your English-language skills — listening and speaking or listening, reading and speaking — just as you would in or out of a classroom.

You will speak into the microphone on your headset and your responses will be recorded and sent to the ETS Scoring Network, where they will be scored by certified human raters.

What is the Writing section like?

The total time for the Writing section is 50 minutes. You are asked to write responses to two writing tasks: an integrated Writing task and an independent Writing task.

Integrated Writing task (20 minutes) — read a short passage and listen to a short lecture. Then write in response to what you read and listened to.
Independent Task (30 minutes) — write an essay in response to a Writing topic.

What do I need to bring on test day?

There are only two important things you need to bring with you on test day:

– An acceptable, valid ID with your name, recent photo and signature. Requirements for a valid ID vary; see identification requirements for more details.
– Your registration confirmation, including your registration number.

How many score reports are included in my test fee?

Your test fee includes:
• one examinee score report for you
• up to four official score reports to the destinations (institutions or agencies) selected when you register; ETS will send the official score reports directly to these destinations

What is on my score report?

Your examinee score report includes scores for each test section, a total score and performance feedback about what test takers typically achieve at your score level.

Can I order additional official score reports?

Yes, you can order additional score reports after your scores are available online, approximately two weeks after the test date.

How and when do I get my scores?

Scores will be posted online within two weeks of the test date. Log in to your online TOEFL iBT account, enter the ETS ID received when you registered and click on the "View Scores" link. Your scores are also mailed to the universities or institutions you selected when you registered. A score report posting schedule for each test administration is available on the TOEFL iBT test site. Allow 7 – 10 days for mail delivery in the United States and more than four weeks for other areas. We recommend that you take the test two to three months before your earliest application deadline.

How soon do score recipients get my scores?

Score reports are sent electronically or mailed to recipients two weeks after the test date.

How long are scores valid?

ETS reports scores for two years after the test date.

Will score recipients accept scores from previous tests?

Check with each score recipient directly.

Does the TOEFL test have cumulative score reporting?

No. TOEFL score reports include scores for only the last test taken.

Is there a minimum score required?

Some programs require a minimum TOEFL score (check the school website or the school page on Aringo website (click on the school name and go to the bottom to see TOEFL requirements)). For example:

Stanford – require minimum IBT score of 100
Harvard – 109
Chicago – 104
Berkeley – 68
INSEAD – 105
UCLA – 87
Queen's – 100
Cambridge – 110
IESE – 100
Cornell – 100

Are there any substitutes for the TOEFL?

Yes – there are other English tests which some programs accept as a substitute for the TOEFL – PTE, IELTS, TOEIC.

Should I already have my score when I submit my application?

Yes. You should report your score unofficially on the application, and later arrange that the official score will be sent directly to the school by the testing agency.

Are there programs which don't require the test?

Yes, for example – MIT Sloan, Yale, IMD, RSM. More details here.

---

GMAT/GRE & TOEFL/IELTS Codes