If you’re planning to submit an application to a prestigious business school, attaining a strong GMAT score is of utmost importance. So, what precisely qualifies as an impressive score? Typically, a favorable GMAT score falls within the range of 700 to 740, with a score of 740 or higher being deemed excellent. The mean GMAT score for the top 30 business schools in the United States for the year 2022 stands at 711, spanning from 665 to 733. Similarly, the average score for leading business schools in Europe hovers around 676, with a range extending from 638 to 709. When examining the top MBA programs in Canada, the average GMAT score range falls between 520 and 780, while in Australia, it falls between 600 and 695.
A commendable GMAT score can differ from one individual to another and is contingent on the specific business schools you’re targeting. Thus, it’s crucial to grasp that ‘strong’ is a relative term. A score that may be considered strong for one business school might not necessarily meet the criteria for another.
Consequently, one way to identify a strong GMAT score is by examining the mean GMAT score of the incoming class at your desired business school. However, this is just one facet of the process.
What is a good GMAT score?
| What is a good GMAT Score | Score |
| Average GMAT Score | 550+ |
| Good GMAT score | 700+ |
| Excellent GMAT score | 740+ |
An impressive GMAT score serves as a clear indication of your strong intellectual capability and academic preparedness. By achieving a high GMAT score, you not only demonstrate to admission committees your potential to gain admission but also to thrive within the demanding MBA program. This is one of the primary reasons why the GMAT carries the most significant weight in your MBA application.
Consequently, attaining a high GMAT score serves as a reliable predictor of your performance during the first year of business school. According to GMAC, the average score for all test takers between 2019 and 2021 stands at 574.51. So, would a commendable GMAT score be above 574?
Not necessarily. The answer to the question, “What constitutes an excellent GMAT score?” is not one-size-fits-all, as everyone has distinct aspirations and objectives.
When you submit your application to a business school, you are in competition with your peers. Consequently, a superior score can set you apart. As highlighted by Ariba, an INSEAD MBA student, “You soon realize that many business schools maintain an international quota. So, if you have a multitude of applicants from, for instance, India, with impressive applications, one way to differentiate among them is through the GMAT.”
Hence, to determine how high you should aim on the GMAT, it is essential to grasp the concept of GMAT percentile ranking. This metric provides insight into how your performance on the exam compares to that of other test takers. For instance, an 88th percentile ranking signifies that your total score equals or surpasses that of 88% of your peers, while it falls below that of 11% of other GMAT test takers.