Should MBA Candidates Skip The GMAT? Not So Fast, Says New Research

College admissions are on the decline due in part to changing demographics and changing public impressions about college. In this context, prospective college students may question the value of the MBA degree and graduate management education (GME) generally. At the same time, as more business schools shift toward test-optional or test-free admissions, many MBA candidates are asking whether it’s worth investing energy in standardized tests like the GMAT.

New industry research makes the answer clear: GME, specifically the MBA and the GMAT, remains one of the most productive pathways available for cultivating and demonstrating the skills that employers most value, both today and in the future. 

CRUCIAL COMPETENCIES

Business practices worldwide are changing at an extraordinary speed, but what has stayed the same is employers’ demand for core skills such as critical reasoning and strategic thinking. According to GMAC’s 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey, these abilities continue to be highly attractive to employers across industries and regions. The majority of recruiters surveyed this year (64% of whom represent Global Fortune 500 companies) identified problem-solving, strategic thinking, and communication among the top six skills they consider most critical, both now and in the next five years.

Employers also report a growing emphasis on adaptability, emotional intelligence, and data literacy, especially as organizations navigate the integration of artificial intelligence. The 2025 survey shows that the value employers place on AI and data skills has increased significantly from 2024.

With its unique balance of problem-solving, communication, and data analysis, the MBA is an excellent course of study to achieve this range of hard and soft skills. This may be why MBA enrollment is projected to grow through 2030, bucking the trend of reduced overall higher ed enrollment. MBA graduates report a range of significant benefits, including higher lifetime earnings, better communication and leadership skills, and enduring relationships that provide support and work opportunities.

The GMAT, meanwhile, is an invaluable tool to gauge readiness for the MBA and practice the skills that GME refines. It not only serves as a trusted admissions standard but also strengthens the very capabilities—critical thinking, data interpretation, and analytical reasoning—that drive classroom and workplace success.

When preparing for and taking the GMAT, candidates are immersed in precisely the higher-order reasoning that employers are looking for. The GMAT exam’s Data Insights section, for instance, requires analytical fluency and evidence-based decision-making abilities that business leaders rely on when interpreting data and solving complex organizational challenges. 

In other words, simply by studying to excel on the GMAT, business school candidates are taking an important step to gaining the foundation for their business education. There is no wonder that in the above-mentioned survey of global corporate recruiters, the share of those who almost always or sometimes consider the GMAT scores of job seekers rose over the years, from 25% in 2020 to 64% in 2025.

LASTING VALUE FOR EMPLOYERS & CANDIDATES 

The survey findings indicate that although test-optional admissions are popular at the moment, employers still place a high value on reliable signals that prospects can meet the needs of their organizations. If two job candidates are being evaluated side by side, and only one has a good GMAT score, a recruiter is likely to give that achievement the weight it deserves, regardless of admissions trends. 

What’s more, the GMAT remains a differentiator in competitive admissions environments. Business schools consistently report that submitting a GMAT score demonstrates commitment and readiness for graduate management education. For candidates, this translates into greater opportunities. For schools, it provides a research-backed measure of potential academic and professional success. Together, the GMAT and GME form a continuum of skill development that begins with dedication and culminates in applied leadership.

FUTURE-PROOFING TALENT IN AN AI ECONOMY

As artificial intelligence reshapes the business landscape, technical proficiency alone will not define success. Employers increasingly prioritize human skills (e.g., communication, adaptability, and ethical reasoning) alongside technological fluency. The GMAT prepares candidates to meet this balance. Through its integrated reasoning and critical thinking components, the exam develops the candidate’s ability to navigate risk, synthesize data, and make sound judgments in ambiguous environments.

The 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey shows AI tool proficiency ranks number one in the minds of employers intending to hire business school graduates in the next five years. However, they also emphasize that strategic decision-making remains an essential complement to technical know-how. Again, the GMAT is an ideal tool to develop this balance. And as MBA programs increasingly incorporate AI, analytics, and innovation management into their curricula, graduates emerge better equipped to lead teams, interpret data responsibly, and drive strategic outcomes.

A TEST FOR TODAY AND FOR TOMORROW

While the admissions landscape continues to evolve, the MBA and the GMAT remain deeply relevant. They make up a developmental journey that, regardless of any institution’s entry requirements, strengthens the same skills business schools teach and employers prize.

At a time when the global economy is so volatile and the job market so filled with uncertainty, I encourage aspiring business leaders not to disregard the MBA or GMAT: these are globally trusted, research-driven signals of ability, commitment, and potential. Rising MBA enrollments reinforce what employers and graduates alike already know: the degree continues to deliver exceptional value in an increasingly complex, data-driven economy. More than ever, taking the GMAT and pursuing an MBA is a way to sharpen your thinking and prepare to lead in a data-driven, AI-enabled world. 

---

Adam Witwer is chief product officer at the Graduate Management Admission Council, which administers the Graduate Management Admission Test worldwide.

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.