GMAT, GRE and Test Waivers

Standardized tests are one part of many MBA applications. The test landscape has changed in recent years, so old advice and old score reports can be confusing. This guide explains the main tests, how their scores are reported, and what "test optional" and "waiver" generally mean.

The GMAT Focus Edition

The GMAT Focus Edition is the current version of the GMAT. According to GMAC, it has three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights. The total score scale runs from 205 to 805, with total scores ending in 5, and each section is reported on a 60 to 90 scale. The three sections are weighted equally in the total score. GMAC also notes that scores have a standard error of measurement, which means small differences between scores do not necessarily reflect real differences in ability.

The retired classic GMAT

GMAC states that the previous version of the GMAT (the 10th Edition, sometimes called the "classic" GMAT) was retired and replaced by the GMAT Focus Edition on February 1, 2024, with January 31, 2024 as the last day to take it. GMAC adds that classic GMAT scores remain valid for five years from the test date.

The classic GMAT and the Focus Edition use different score scales, and GMAC advises that scores from the two are not on a common scale and should not be directly compared. A classic GMAT total of, say, 650 does not mean the same thing as a Focus Edition total of 650. If you hold an older score, read what each school says about whether it accepts classic scores, how it treats them, and whether they are still within the school's own validity period. If you are comparing a school's published class statistics, check which version of the test the figures come from. GMAC publishes score concordance tables for institutions, and schools may use them, but you should rely on the school's own statement.

The GRE General Test

The GRE General Test is administered by ETS and is accepted by many business schools in addition to graduate programs. ETS reports Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning on a 130 to 170 scale in one-point increments, and Analytical Writing on a 0 to 6 scale in half-point increments. ETS notes that the measures are scaled separately and that scores on different measures should not be directly compared with each other.

Not every MBA program accepts the GRE, and some accept it only for certain programs. Check the program's admissions page. GRE scores are also valid for a limited period, which you should confirm with ETS and with the school.

The Executive Assessment

The Executive Assessment (EA) is a GMAC assessment aimed at executive programs. GMAC states that it has three sections (Integrated Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning) with 40 questions in total, and a total score from 100 to 200. It is separate from the GMAT and the GRE, and its scores are on its own scale. Schools that accept it usually say so for specific programs, often executive-format ones. See Executive MBA versus MBA.

Comparing scores across tests

Because the scales differ, you should not translate scores across tests by guesswork. In particular:

• Do not compare a GMAT Focus Edition total with a classic GMAT total.
• Do not compare a GMAT total with a GRE section score or an Executive Assessment total.
• Do not use class averages from a different year or test version as a target without checking how they were reported.

If a school lists a minimum or an average score, the program page should say which test it refers to and the period it covers. If it does not, ask.

What "test optional" and "waiver" mean

Schools use different words, and the meanings are not standardized. As a general guide:

• Test required. You must submit an accepted test score. Waivers may still exist in limited cases.
• Test optional. You may apply without a score. The school may still consider a score if you provide one, and may say how it is weighed. Some schools state that submitting a score can strengthen an application, while others say it makes no difference; read the school's own statement and do not infer.
• Waiver available. A test is normally required, but you can request an exemption if you meet stated criteria. Typical criteria in the market include relevant work experience, a prior graduate degree, professional qualifications or a strong academic record, but each school defines its own.
• Waiver by assessment. Some schools replace the test with an interview, a quantitative skills assessment or coursework. That is also the school's decision.

A waiver is usually a request that the school may refuse, not a right. Waiver criteria can change between intakes, and a waiver granted for one program may not apply to another program at the same school. They can also affect scholarship eligibility, so ask whether an applicant who is granted a waiver is still eligible for merit funding. See MBA scholarships.

Planning your test timeline

1. List the tests each shortlisted school accepts, with the validity period stated on its site.
2. Check whether the school requires or recommends a minimum score, and whether section minimums apply.
3. Work back from the application deadline, leaving time for score delivery. Official score reports can take days to reach schools, and deadlines are set by each school. See MBA application rounds.
4. If you plan to retake the test, find out how the school treats multiple attempts. Some consider the highest score, some consider all attempts.
5. If you plan to request a waiver, file it early and keep proof of eligibility documents ready.

Language tests are separate

Tests of English proficiency are separate from the GMAT or GRE and have their own rules. See English language requirements.

Using this directory

Test requirements, minimum scores, validity periods and waiver criteria are set by each school and can change between intakes. Check them on each program page and on the school's official website before you register for a test. Program pages in this directory show the source and verification date for each fact. Browse full-time, part-time, online and executive programs, and use the comparison tool to review requirements side by side.