The Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT is a computer-based standardized test which tests your analytical, verbal, reading & quantitative capabilities to seek admission to graduate management like an MBA program. GMAT was developed by Graduate Management Admission Council in the year 1953. The test comprises of total 3 hours and 7 minutes and has over 650 centres in 114 countries.  

While the GMAT is an essential component for full-time Master’s programs at various universities. In comparison to the other aspects of the Master’s application, such as essays, recommendations, and interview preparation, candidates dedicate 60-70% of their effort and time to obtaining a high GMAT/GRE score to maximize their chances of acceptance to the top business schools.    

There are colleges which don’t require the GMAT test, so to get an application waiver, most schools require that students have significant professional experience, usually five to ten years. A good rule of thumb is that if you know you want an MBA then you should take the GMAT as early as possible. Once you’ve taken it and received your score, you can decide if it’s worth retaking or if there are other options available to you.  

As far as what kind of score you’ll need to qualify for a waiver, it depends on the school. For example, Harvard Business School does not offer waivers. On the other end of the spectrum are schools like Babson College which consider GMAT waivers on a case-by-case basis and will likely offer one if your GMAT score is below 500 (which is considered low).  

Although, a lot of business school doesn’t necessarily require GMAT in the UK, USA, Canada, Europe and many other locations. Some of these colleges come in the top 100 schools for the master’s program by financial times.   

Is GMAT Necessary to Study MBA Abroad?  

A lot of schools urge students to take the GMAT when it’s not necessary. There are many universities across the globe which you can target without taking this test, allowing the students to receive MBA without taking the GMAT.   

If there’s a student who’s unable to score good marks on GMAT and doesn’t want to take it again or doesn’t have a lot of time to prepare for it all over again and appear for the test, they can try out their luck in the business schools that do not require GMAT where the primary focus will be on an overall assessment of the candidates.  

Top MBA Universities in The USA Without GMAT  

There are a whole lot of schools which provide you MBA program without any GMAT requirements. Don’t worry, schools which don’t necessarily ask for GMAT aren’t bad, some of these schools’ rank in tier 1 and are very well reputed! Some of these schools are:  

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)  

Fortune MBA program rank: No. 8  

• University of Washington (Foster)  

Fortune MBA program rank: No. 18  

• Michigan State University (Broad)  

Fortune MBA program rank: No. 31  

• Fordham University (Gabelli)  

Fortune MBA program rank: No. 38  

These are some of the top universities in the USA you can find which don’t necessarily focus on the GMAT score.  

Should You Take The GMAT?  

While the test is somewhat important, the whole test relies on you. It depends if you have the time to take up the test or not. If you think you have a good amount of time on your hands, of course, give it a shot and take the test right out! 

But in case, you don’t have time to spend on it don’t sweat it out, you can always try out the colleges mentioned above!  

Some of the key elements required for a business school which provides an MBA without GMAT are:  

• Work Experience  
• Interviews 
• Essays  
• GPA  
• Letter of Recommendation  
• Resume / CV  
• Test Scores (IELTS, GRE)  

Conclusion 

If you have the GMAT score, then your chances of getting into a competitive university are higher than if you don’t. But if your GMAT score is low or if it has been more than 5 years since you took the test, then it may be time to consider other options.