How long will it take to prepare for and complete the required exams like IELTS or GMAT for admission in Germany for a Master's?

Getting your IELTS and GMAT done for a German Master's usually takes you four to six months from the day you start studying to the day your scores are in hand. Whether you need both tests depends on your program, since most technical and engineering courses skip the GMAT entirely while business programs almost always ask for it. Here is how to budget your months realistically.

Exam Prep Timeline at a Glance

Logistics You Need to Build Into Your Schedule

• Give yourself a two week gap between finishing your prep and taking the test, since test centre slots fill up weeks in advance.
• IELTS computer delivered results usually arrive within three to five days, while GMAT score reports take seven to twenty days.
• If you fall short, most tests require a short waiting period before a retake, around sixteen days for GMAT.
• Germany runs two intakes, Winter Semester starting in October with deadlines around July 15, and Summer Semester starting in April with deadlines around January 15.
• Finish your exams at least one to two months before your application deadline to allow time for transcript checks and the APS certificate where it applies to you.

My Advice

Start your IELTS prep first even if you also need the GMAT, since a clean English score locks in your language requirement early and frees you to focus fully on GMAT quant in the following months. Book both test dates the moment you commit to your intake, not after you feel ready, so your retake window still fits comfortably before your July or January deadline.