Essential Guidance When Applying for an MBA GMAT/GRE Test Waiver
- Malvika Patil
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
“Can I just get a test waiver?” It's tempting for MBA applicants to ask for a GMAT/GRE waiver. We see this all the time, especially when someone scores poorly on their first try and doesn't feel like they can get that number up.
In other cases, like these applicants we Roasted, they don't think they have the time to take a test, due to work or personal constraints.
If you are applying to an MBA program right now, you’ve probably asked yourself this question too. GMAT and GRE waivers exploded during COVID, stuck around longer than expected, and now live in a slightly confusing gray zone where schools technically allow them but don't always love them.
In this blog, we'll break down how GMAT waivers actually work, when they help, when they hurt, and how to decide if you should apply for one. Read till the end for a realistic example of what a test waiver essay looks like.
Should You Ask for a GMAT/GRE Waiver?
When testing centers shut down during COVID and applicants around the world couldn't travel to take their tests, schools needed a backup plan to keep applications moving.
Once testing centers reopened and online testing became normal, many top programs quietly rolled things back. Some schools eliminated waivers entirely. Others kept them, but with tighter rules and much higher expectations for academic proof.
Today, waivers still exist mainly for accessibility and flexibility. Admissions committees acknowledge that standardized tests are not a perfect measure of intelligence or potential. At the same time, they know from years of data that test scores correlate strongly with academic success in an MBA classroom.
And they're also worried about their rankings. MBA rankings rely heavily on average GMAT scores. Schools care about this more than they publicly admit. All else equal, AdComs would often rather admit a candidate with no score than one with a clearly below-average score that drags the class average down. That's why waivers are possible, but rarely encouraged.
At SWC, we encourage applicants to take the GMAT/GRE first before thinking about a waiver. Hire a tutor, even. Here's how a tutor and a solid test strategy transformed this applicant's GMAT score by 70 points and helped him get admitted to the Yale SOM MBA.
From an admissions perspective, a GMAT or GRE score does three important things:
It reassures the school that you can handle the academic rigor of the program.
It helps the school protect its class average GMAT for rankings.
It gives scholarship committees a clean, comparable data point.
When you submit no score at all, you remove a data point rather than replacing it. Unless your profile screams academic strength in other areas, the AdCom would be left guessing (and they might assume you don't have those skills).
Are You Eligible for a GMAT/GRE Waiver?
But there are cases where a test waiver makes sense, especially if you're applying late in the cycle, if you're not a great test-taker and continue to score below the average despite multiple test attempts, or if you really don't have the time to prepare for the test. You may be a good waiver candidate if you have a combination of the following:
A strong undergraduate GPA, especially in quantitative or analytical subjects
A master’s degree, PhD, or advanced professional qualification like CFA, CPA, or CAIA
Several years of work experience in a quantitatively demanding role
Clear evidence that you use data, analysis, or modeling regularly at work.
In these cases, the AdCom is less likely to be concerned about your academic readiness and think of you as an admissions risk. And if the rest of your application is strong enough, a waiver could even quietly help you if your test performance is significantly below a school’s median.
Why You Should Not Get a GMAT/GRE Waiver
If your undergraduate GPA is below average for your target schools, your coursework lacked quant rigor, or your career has not required much analytical work, a waiver often backfires. This is especially true at top programs.
Ironically, even a slightly below-average GMAT or GRE score can be better than no score at all. It gives context to your application and shows commitment, industry, and the willingness to learn.
Waivers are also risky if:
You are applying to M7 or top US programs where waivers are rare or nonexistent
You need merit-based scholarships to attend
You plan to recruit for consulting or finance, where recruiters still ask for scores
You are using the waiver mainly because you don't want to prep
Keep in mind that waivers are never guaranteed, even if you technically meet the criteria.
What If You Don't Have A GMAT/GRE Score in Time for the MBA Application Deadline?
Some applicants consider a waiver because they are close to a deadline and don't have a score yet. Schools sometimes allow you to update your test score after submitting your application, usually within a short window of around 2-3 weeks.
However, updates are not guaranteed to be reviewed. Low-effort updates like changing a test score are more likely to be considered than major changes like job switches that throw a spanner into the works; you can't email the school saying “Here's a new job essay”. You should never assume the school will wait for your score or reevaluate your file once it has entered review.
Note that timing on its own is a poor excuse for requesting a waiver. You are expected to manage your time well and accommodate test prep within your schedule.
What If You're A Bad Test-Taker?
We've seen it happen. Applicants take multiple tests, but there isn't much of a bump in their scores.
If you're a bad test taker, that doesn't always mean that you’ll perform poorly in your MBA, or that you don't have the academic skills to handle the coursework. Standardized testing just doesn't work for some people.
In these cases, we ask applicants to consider the Executive Assessment, a shorter and more focused exam originally designed for EMBA programs but increasingly used for full-time MBAs as well. It’s less time-intensive and often feels more manageable for applicants, especially older professionals with no time to dedicate months to test prep. Here's a list of schools that accept the EA for their full-time MBA programs.
You can also strengthen your academic profile through graded coursework in statistics, accounting, economics, or finance. Programs like HBS CORe or university-level courses with strong grades can help demonstrate readiness, though they rarely replace a strong test score at top schools.
Test-Optional vs Test-Free Programs
Test-optional programs allow waivers but still expect strong justification. You’re opting out but not bypassing evaluation. These programs will scrutinize your academics more closely if you apply without a score.
Test-free programs, often online MBAs or select in-person programs, don’t require tests at all. The admissions philosophy is different, and the absence of a score is fully baked into the process.
If you plan to apply to MBA programs without a test score, make sure you do your research on what the school accepts.
Example GMAT/GRE Waiver Request Essay
Some schools ask for specific GMAT/GRE waiver essays, like NYU Stern:
Please list the coursework completed, certifications held, and professional experience you have that demonstrates academic readiness for an MBA program. You may use bullet points. (300 word limit)
For a FREE Example GMAT Waiver Request based on real client essays, head over to MBAConsultant.com.
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