You've taken the GMAT®. You've seen your score. Now you need to send it to the schools on your list.
It feels like it should be the easy part. And for the most part, it is. But there are a few rules about timing, costs, and how the process works that trip people up — especially because the rules changed with the GMAT® Focus Edition.
If you've found old advice online about picking schools before your test or canceling scores you don't want schools to see, most of that information is outdated. The current process gives you more control than the old version did.
Here's how it works.
When You See Your Score
Right after you finish the exam, you'll see your unofficial scores on the screen. Your total score, your Quantitative score, your Verbal score, and your Data Insights score.
You can't send scores from this screen. You can't print it, screenshot it, or save it. You get to look at it, and nothing more.
The unofficial scores are almost always the same as the scores on your official report. The exam gets rescored after you take it, but discrepancies are very rare. If the scores you see on test day look the way you expected, that's a good sign.
Within 3 to 5 business days, you'll get an email from GMAC letting you know your Official Score Report is available in your mba.com account. In some cases — score verifications, testing holds — it can take up to 20 business days. But the standard timeline is 3 to 5 days.
That email is the one that matters. Because the clock starts when it arrives.
The 48-Hour Free Score Window
Here's the rule that catches people.
Your GMAT® registration includes up to five free score reports. You can send your scores to up to five schools at no additional cost.
But the free window is short. You have 48 hours from the moment your Official Score Report becomes available in your mba.com account.
The 48-hour clock doesn't start on test day. It doesn't start when you finish the exam. It starts when GMAC sends you the email saying your official scores are ready.
If you miss the 48-hour window, those five free sends are gone. Every score report after that costs $35 each.
A lot of people assume the free sends are available whenever they want to use them. The timing rule isn't intuitive, and GMAC doesn't make it obvious. The window is real, and it closes fast.
Our recommendation: check your email and your mba.com account every few hours starting about three days after your test. The moment you get the notification, log in and send your scores. Don't wait.
Score Selection: You Choose What Schools See
With the GMAT® Focus Edition, you see your score before you decide whether to send it. You choose which schools receive your scores. And each score report contains only the scores from a single test date — not your full testing history.
This means if you take the GMAT® three times and only want to send your best score, you can do that. Schools won't see the other two attempts. They won't even know they happened.
Under the previous version of the exam, score reports included all your attempts from the past five years. That's no longer how it works.
There's also no need to cancel scores anymore. If you get a score you don't like, don't send it to schools. For schools, it's effectively as if you never took that test.
If you come across old advice about strategizing around score cancellation, you can ignore it. That policy doesn't apply to the current exam.
How to Send Your Scores: Step by Step
Once your Official Score Report is available, here's the process:
- Log in to your mba.com account (the same one you used to register)
- Go to the My Exams section and find the test date you want to send
- Click "View and Send Score"
- Review your scores — total, Verbal, Quantitative, and Data Insights
- Click "Send Score"
- Search for each school or program by name
- Select the correct program (full-time MBA, part-time MBA, Executive MBA — they each have separate codes)
- Repeat for up to five programs
- Review your selections carefully
- Click "Send GMAT® Score" to confirm
Once you click that final button, the send is permanent. You can't undo it, recall it, or refund it. So double-check every school name and program type before you confirm.
Most schools receive the score report within about 8 hours of submission. The system allows up to the end of the business day for processing, but 8 hours is the typical delivery time.
The whole process takes about five minutes once you know where the buttons are.
A Note on Program Codes
Most business schools have multiple entries in the GMAT® system. A full-time MBA, a part-time MBA, an Executive MBA, and sometimes specialized masters programs — each with its own program code.
When you search for a school, make sure you select the right program. A score sent to the wrong program code doesn't automatically transfer to the correct one. If you accidentally send to the Executive MBA program when you're applying to the full-time MBA, you'll need to send and pay for an additional report.
Take the extra 30 seconds to verify the degree type before you click confirm.
Additional Score Reports: What They Cost and How Long They Take
If you're applying to more than five schools, or if you missed the 48-hour free window, you'll need to order Additional Score Reports (ASRs).
ASRs cost $35 each when you order online through mba.com. If you order by phone, there's an additional $10 service fee, bringing the total to $45 per report. All score reporting fees are non-refundable.
ASRs take longer to deliver than free reports. While free reports typically arrive within 8 hours, paid reports take about 5 to 7 calendar days to reach each program.
That delivery time matters for application deadlines. If your deadline is on a Monday and you order an ASR the Friday before, it probably won't arrive in time. Build in at least 10 days of buffer before your deadline for any paid score reports.
A practical approach: if you're applying to more than five programs, use your five free reports on the schools with the earliest deadlines first. Then order ASRs for the rest with enough lead time.
Your Detailed Performance Insights
When your Official Score Report becomes available, you'll also get access to a section called Detailed Performance Insights.
This section includes:
- Score data by section (Quantitative, Verbal, Data Insights)
- How your scores compare to other applicants at your target schools
- Your performance by skill area and question type in each section
- Time management statistics for each section
This section is for you. It's not sent to schools. It's a free tool that replaced what used to be called the Enhanced Score Report, which previously cost $30.
The Detailed Performance Insights can be useful for understanding your performance — especially if you're considering a retake. But don't build an entire study plan around it. The sample size of questions on any single GMAT® is small, so the insights are better as a bird's-eye view than as a detailed diagnostic.
For a more thorough approach to diagnosing your performance, our guide on the GMAT® error log walks through a two-list system for tracking mistakes and identifying patterns across your prep.
How Long Are GMAT® Scores Valid?
GMAT® scores are valid for five years from the date you take the exam. You can send your scores to schools at any point during that five-year window.
This means you don't have to send scores immediately if you're not ready to apply. You can take the GMAT® now, hold onto your score, and send it when you're preparing your applications.
If your scores are between 5 and 10 years old, they move into an archived category. You can request that archived scores be sent to programs, but only if you have score reports that old. Scores older than 10 years can't be sent at all.
For most applicants, this isn't something to worry about. If you're taking the GMAT® now and applying within the next few years, your scores will be valid.
What the Superscore Change Means for Score Sending
Starting in August 2026, GMAC is introducing GMAT® Superscore. This combines your best section scores across multiple GMAT® Focus Edition attempts into a single superscore report.
If you've taken the GMAT® more than once, the superscore automatically takes your highest Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights scores from any of your attempts and combines them. It's free, automatic, and retroactive to all Focus Edition attempts.
This doesn't change how you send scores — the process stays the same. But it does change the strategic calculation for retaking the GMAT®. If your Quantitative score was strong on one attempt but your Verbal score was stronger on another, superscore combines the best of both.
For the full breakdown of what changes and what doesn't, our guide on GMAT® Superscore covers the policy in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I send my GMAT® scores to schools?
Log in to your mba.com account, go to My Exams, find the test date you want to send, and click "View and Send Score." Search for each school by name, select the correct program, and confirm. You can send to up to five schools for free within 48 hours of your Official Score Report becoming available.
How much does it cost to send GMAT® scores?
Your registration includes up to five free score reports, but only if you send them within 48 hours of your Official Score Report becoming available. After that window, Additional Score Reports cost $35 each online or $45 each by phone. All fees are non-refundable.
How long does it take for schools to receive GMAT® scores?
Free score reports sent within the 48-hour window are typically delivered within 8 hours. Additional Score Reports (paid reports) take about 5 to 7 calendar days to arrive. If you're ordering paid reports, plan for at least 10 days of buffer before your application deadline.
Can I send my GMAT® scores after the 48-hour window?
Yes. You can send scores to schools at any time within the 5-year validity period. But after the 48-hour window closes, each additional send costs $35 (online) or $45 (by phone). The five free sends are only available during the 48-hour window.
Can I choose which GMAT® scores to send to schools?
Yes. With the GMAT® Focus Edition, you see your score before deciding whether to send it. Each score report contains only the scores from a single test date. Schools don't see your other attempts unless you choose to send those too. There's no need to cancel scores — if you don't send a score, schools won't see it.
Do schools see all my GMAT® attempts?
No. Under the current GMAT® Focus Edition score reporting system, schools only see the scores you choose to send. Each report covers a single test date. If you took the exam three times and only send your best score, schools won't see the other two attempts.
How many schools can I send my GMAT® scores to for free?
You can send your scores to up to five schools for free, as long as you send them within 48 hours of your Official Score Report becoming available in your mba.com account. The five free sends are included with your registration fee. After the window closes or after you've used all five, each additional send costs $35 online.
What happens if I miss the 48-hour window?
If you miss the 48-hour window, your five free score reports are no longer available. Every score report after that costs $35 each (online) or $45 each (by phone). There's no way to recover the free sends once the window closes. That's why it's important to check your email frequently starting about three days after your test.
Are GMAT® scores sent automatically to schools?
No. You have to actively send your scores through your mba.com account. GMAC doesn't send scores to schools on your behalf unless you request it. The only exception is if you pre-selected schools before your test under the old exam format — but that process no longer applies to the GMAT® Focus Edition.
How long are GMAT® scores valid?
GMAT® scores are valid for five years from the test date. You can send scores to schools at any point during that five-year window. Scores between 5 and 10 years old are archived but can still be requested. Scores older than 10 years can't be sent.
Want to learn even more?
Episode 82 of our podcast series, "What Everyone Should Know About the GMAT® in 2025," covers score sending, score selection, and the current policies around how schools receive your scores. It also covers other key rules that changed with the Focus Edition. If you want the full picture of how the current GMAT® works, give it a listen:
We also have guides on how many times you can take the GMAT®, GMAT® Superscore and what it means for you, and what makes a good GMAT® score — all of which connect to the score sending process in different ways.
If you're planning your application timeline and not sure when to send your scores or how many schools to target, reach out to us. We're happy to help you think through the logistics.