Examining the Changes in MBA Testing Policies and Waivers

The GMAT and GRE have long been flagships of the MBA admissions process. Due to the Covid pandemic, schools adapted their policies around these tests–particularly with flexibility and accessibility. For many, this looks like the introduction of test waivers—or even test-optional policies. 

Throughout this article, we’ll explore the changing landscape of MBA testing, looking at the schools that offer waivers, the schools that don’t, and the schools that are bringing in test-optional policies. We’ll take a look at why these test changes are occurring and what they mean, and share our advice on whether a test waiver is the right move for you. 

Why Testing Policies Changed

The surge in altered testing requirements for MBA programs can be attributed to several different factors. 

The first is Covid-19. The pandemic changed almost everything; the way we worked, studied, and socialized; the way we tested was affected, too. Testing centers closed to comply with restrictions and, while online testing rose to somewhat fill the gap, it didn’t quite cut it. Applicants struggled to complete GMATs and GREs, leading schools to offer waivers to mitigate these challenges. 

The second is an increasing emphasis on holistic admissions and on equity. Test waivers can give schools a chance to offer a more accessible application process, one that gives candidates a chance to shine even if the testing format is hard for them. Some schools may also grant waivers to students who cannot take the test due to extenuating circumstances.

The third is the rise of alternative indicators of academic readiness. For candidates who are already equipped with professional certifications, academic qualifications, or quantitative coursework that demonstrates similar ability to the GMAT, a standardized test may feel somewhat redundant. Test waivers allow schools to consider this context. 

The fourth and final reason is competition. Schools compete for top MBA talent, and a waived test is a surefire way to increase applications and attract strong candidates. 

Current Landscape: Waivers and Flexibility Across Top MBA Programs

Test Waiver Policy Types Across Schools

Top business schools engage with the topic of test waivers in a few different ways. 

Some schools continue to say a hard “no” to waivers, even in the face of widespread testing changes. These schools have never offered waivers to any pupils, insisting that they are a crucial part of the application process. These tend to be the very top schools such as Stanford GSB and Harvard Business School. 

Others have leaned into the test waivers, requiring a GMAT or GRE score from the majority of applicants, but granting waivers for those who meet certain criteria. These schools include MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, and UVA Darden.

Then there are schools who have previously offered MBA test waivers and yet no longer do. These tend to be schools who waived test requirements for some students during the pandemic, but have shifted back to “normal” proceedings now that restrictions are a thing of the past. Dartmouth Tuck, for example, reactivated its required testing policy in February 2024, explaining that “we believe a standardized testing requirement will improve—not detract from—our ability to bring the most promising and diverse students to our campus.” This new policy will be introduced with prospective students for the Class of 2029.

And finally, other schools still are becoming “test-optional,” meaning that candidates decide themselves whether to include a test score as part of their application. Programs on this route include NYU Stern’s Tech MBA.

Typical Waiver Criteria

For a candidate to be considered for a test waiver, they must be able to demonstrate their readiness for an MBA program in different ways. 

Usually, schools will be looking for: coursework that evidences an impressive quantitative ability; work experiences; other graduate degrees; and professional certifications such as CPA or CFA.

Which Schools Offer Waivers?

In the chart below, we first mark which admissions tests the given schools accept. The final column notes if they offer test waivers or not.

What Applicants Should Know 

The candidates who will benefit most from test waivers, or from opting for a test-free application where possible, are those who can clearly demonstrate their readiness for the MBA in other ways. They should have a clear record of strong academic performance, demonstrable success in quantitative or analytical coursework, impressive work experience, and evidence of business-relevant skills. For these candidates, there is no doubt that they will perform well in an MBA program, and, therefore, no need to complete a standardized admissions test.

Alongside a strong, quantitative, and well-documented academic background, you skip the standardized test if you: 

• Have limited access to the GMAT or GRE, and are unable to take it; 
• Have professional credentials such as a CPA or CFA; 
• Have a strong but outdated GMAT score, from a test taken more than five years before (the usual timeframe over which the GMAT remains valid);
• Have taken the Executive Assessment, the LSAT, or the MCAT, and wish to submit this test instead (acceptance of this varies from school to school)
• Suffer from acute anxiety around the test, and need to prioritize your health. 

If you are applying without a GMAT or GRE score, adcoms will evaluate your MBA readiness based on your:

• Academic transcripts; 
• Application essays; 
• Resumes; 
• Application interviews;
• Recommendation letters. 

Risks Surrounding Test Waivers

Even if all this applies to you—if you are a candidate with an exceptionally strong and clearly evidenced academic and professional background—a test waiver might not be the right choice for you. Skipping the GMAT or GRE ultimately means one less data point for adcoms to review, and could put you at a disadvantage compared to other applicants. 

Alongside removing a data point, requesting a test waiver may give the impression of laziness, or of seeking the easiest route to a school. Plus, some post-MBA employers have been known to look at GMAT and GRE scores as part of their recruitment process, meaning that repercussions might continue further down the line. 

These points are especially important for candidates who belong to over-represented groups amongst MBA applicant pools. These candidates face high competition, and presenting an excellent test score could help stand out from a crowded group. 

Key Trends to Watch

While the numbers of “test optional” schools and schools offering test waivers seems to be on the up, there are doubts over whether it will last. 

“While COVID did initially usher in a wave of test-optional policies,” Graham Richmond, Co-Founder of Clear Admit, says, “there are a number of leading programs—from Harvard to Wharton to Booth to Yale—who still require a test and never stopped doing so. There are also some schools who went flexible during COVID but haven’t stayed that way.

“More importantly perhaps, admissions officers at some schools that allow for waivers have begun to say things like ‘While you can apply for a waiver, you should be prepared to clearly demonstrate the skills that these tests measure in other areas of your application—and you should also know that if you don’t submit a score you are depriving the admissions team of a useful data point in your file.’

“In short,” he summarizes, “I don’t think that ‘test optional’ will become the new normal at leading MBA programs.”

AI plays a role here, too; it is increasingly used in the MBA application process to help streamline processes and reduce bias. These AI tools rely heavily on metrics, and work best when analyzing data points such as GPAs and GMAT scores. They tend to skip over the more qualitative aspects of an application, such as leadership experience or a presentation of communication skills. 

What Do the Changes in Testing Mean?

The variety in business schools’ engagement with test waivers represents an interesting push and pull across the field of MBA applicant testing. With some schools embracing the difference and others standing firmly with tradition, it’s tricky to predict where these changes will take the application process. One thing is clear, though: testing is changing. 

We see this too in the newer versions of the GRE and the GMAT, both of which launched trimmed and compacted editions in 2023. These shorter, less burdensome exams show a shift across the industry as it adapts to better fit the needs of candidates. 

Expert Opinions 

To uncover further insight on why these shifts in the admissions process are occurring, we turned to the expert voices of admissions directors and deans. 

Bailey McChesney, the Admissions Director of Vanderbilt Owen, explains the school’s requirement of “an official standardized test score or an approved test waiver.” 

Candidates likely to receive a waiver, she says, are those who “demonstrate multiple examples of academic and professional accomplishments are more likely to receive a waiver.” She expands on this, saying that “incoming students need to be ready for the academic rigor of the Vanderbilt program, and a strong test score can demonstrate that readiness. Alternatively, we recognize that sometimes candidates can’t take the standardized test for various reasons so we offer the test waiver approval process as an opportunity for candidates to show us their academic readiness in the absence of a test score.”

INSEAD, on the other hand, does not offer test waivers to incoming applicants. 

Admissions Director Teresa Peiro-Camaro explains that “given the fast-paced nature of our programme, we believe it’s essential to admit candidates who are academically prepared to fully engage with the experience. Standardized tests are also necessary to fairly benchmark academic performance across our highly diverse candidate pool.”

If you’re considering applying for a test waiver or facing a test-optional applications process, we recommend that you dive deep into the specific policies of your target school. Balance the cost and preparation time of a standardized test against the impact it will have on your application, and consider how to stand out from the candidate crowd. 

And remember—the appearance of waivers and test-optional policies, alongside the adaptation of the GMAT and GRE, signals a changing test landscape for MBAs. Applications are shifting—not towards lower standards, but towards more personalized, accessible, and flexible pathways.