Why should you check two sources?
The test provider explains how long it considers a score valid or allows it to be sent. The institution says what it accepts for a specific program. These questions are related, but one answer does not replace checking the other set of requirements.
The ESSEC MiM page for degree-based admission requires test scores to remain valid through the application round deadline. That date differs from the day you begin filling out the form. For another program, record its own wording instead of reusing this rule.
English requirements illustrate these differences: ESSEC’s MiM degree-based admissions route specifies two years; HEC Paris’s MiM FAQ specifies five years, with no expiration for Cambridge certificates. These admissions rules do not extend the period during which a test provider makes a score available or sends it.
Also check the exact test name. A recent score does not resolve a mismatch between a practice test and a certification, or between two versions when only one is accepted.
What validity periods do test providers publish?
The table describes the rules published by test providers. Separately check how old a score the program accepts and whether the required score report or official delivery is still available.
| Test | Published rule | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| TAGE MAGE | Calendar year of the test and the following calendar year | Two calendar years do not mean a rolling 24 months. |
| GMAT | Score valid for five years | Check the date and requirements of the receiving program. |
| GRE General Test | Scores can be sent for five years after the test date | ETS lets you check the exact date when score delivery ends. |
| TOEIC | Valid for two years | Check the accepted version and the school’s reference date. |
What difference does calendar-year validity make?
Consider a calculation example unrelated to any real application: under the current FNEGE rule, a TAGE MAGE taken in November 2026 falls within calendar years 2026 and 2027, so its FNEGE validity ends on December 31, 2027. Do not automatically add 24 months and assume it remains valid until November 2028.
Two candidates who take the test at different times in the same year therefore share the same expiration year under this rule. The example shows the difference between a calendar-based period and a duration calculated from the exact test date.
For a test whose period starts on the test date, keep the day, month, and year. If your application falls exactly on the cutoff, check the date shown in your test-provider account and ask the program to confirm its interpretation before relying on the score.
How can you determine whether you can use your score?
The three situations in this section are fictional and illustrate a process; they do not predict a school’s decision. For each application, record the test, its date, the published expiration date, and the date used by the program.
If you are considering multiple cycles, repeat this check for each one. A score accepted for one deadline may not be accepted for the next. Check this before deciding to defer your application.
- Your score remains valid after the deadline: still check the test version, required proof, and score delivery method.
- Your score expires between the application opening and deadline: if the process uses the deadline as its reference date, do not rely on its validity when you first log in.
- Your score seems acceptable but official delivery is no longer available: ask what the process requires and do not assume an old PDF replaces score delivery.
The pitfall
Confusing a saved PDF with a score you can still use
You can keep a score report in your files long after it expires. The document records a past result; having it on your computer does not extend its validity period.
Likewise, a school accepting a copy for one step does not change the provider’s rule for other programs. Never alter a score report’s date or wording to match a form’s requirements.
What should you do if score validity is an issue?
First assess the options that are actually available: retake before the deadline, take another expressly accepted test, or apply in another cycle. Compare score-release timelines and test availability before choosing a solution.
If the official wording is ambiguous, ask about your exact situation and provide the test date, version, program, and cycle. A specific confirmation helps you decide; a general assumption about “five years” or “two years” is not enough.
Key takeaways
- Check test-provider validity and program acceptance separately.
- The TAGE MAGE follows calendar years, not a rolling 24-month period.
- For each application, check the reference date, test version, and score delivery method.