The GMAT scores are important for an MBA admission, but why? Several MBA admissions experts suggest that the GMAT score is an indicator of a candidate’s suitability for an MBA program. While B-schools assess the MBA applications holistically, a high GMAT score significantly improves admission odds and chances of securing a seat in top MBA programs.
Now comes the question: What is the required GMAT score for admission into top MBA courses? Let’s get an answer to this question in this blog.
Check out the MBA courses with the highest GMAT scores.
GMAT or Graduate Management Aptitude Test is a standardized test used by b-schools for admissions into management programs and other MBA courses. GMAT has 800 marks and consists of four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. The composite GMAT score depends on the performance in all these sections. As a leading test for admissions to business schools, the GMAT exam measures your academic readiness for the rigorous MBA courses.
In this blog:
1. What GMAT score to aim for top MBA courses?
2. GMAT Score Ranges for MBA Courses at Top B-Schools
3. Why are the GMAT scores important for MBA courses?
4. What are the GMAT scores for top MBA courses?
What GMAT score to aim for top MBA courses?
The GMAT exam score ranges from 200 to 800 marks. However, due to the high influx of applications every year, the top business schools like Harvard, Stanford, and the likes, select applications with a GMAT score of 700 and above.
Note: B-schools tend to get flexible with the GMAT scores for the students with extra-ordinary profiles.
Learn about the GMAT 2022 Exam dates and fees in India.
GMAT Score Ranges for MBA Courses at Top B-Schools
This table helps you determine the GMAT score you need to get into your dream school.
School | Lowest GMAT | Highest GMAT | Average GMAT | Location |
Yale* | 680 | 760 | 720 | United States |
Wharton | 620 | 790 | 722 | United States |
Stanford | 600 | 790 | 733 | United States |
MIT Sloan* | 680 | 760 | 720 | United States |
London Business School | 600 | 800 | 700 | England |
Kellogg | 640 | 770 | 727 | United States |
INSEAD*^ | 670 | 750 | 710 | France |
HEC Paris | 580 | 760 | 690 | France |
Harvard^ | 620 | 790 | 730 | United States |
Duke Fuqua*^ | 660 | 740 | 700 | United States |
Dartmouth Tuck | 590 | 780 | 720 | United States |
Columbia | 580 | 780 | 726 | United States |
Chicago Booth | 600 | 780 | 724 | United States |
CEIBS* | 640 | 740 | 667 | China |
* = ranges based on middle 80%
^ = median rather than average GMAT
Source – BusinessBecause
Note: The scores mentioned above are only indicative, and you need to score well above the average GMAT score to increase your admission prospects. A good GMAT score for your target b-school will be at least 20 points higher than the average GMAT score of the previous year’s incoming class.
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Why are the GMAT scores important for MBA courses?
The GMAT is a crucial aspect of your MBA application for several reasons. A few include:
- For b-schools, your GMAT score reflects that you can handle the academic rigors of the MBA course.
- A high GMAT score helps you offset low GPAs, increasing your admission chances.
- B-schools are a costly affair, and a high GMAT score can increase your chances of getting a scholarship.
- Employers in the top industries also factor in the GMAT scores at recruitment.
What are the GMAT scores for top MBA courses?
Top b-schools consider applicants with high GMAT scores for their MBA courses. For fall 2020 intake, the Stanford Graduate School of Business reported the highest average GMAT score at 733, which crossed the mark of 96th percentile. Stanford has been dominating the area with the highest average GMAT scores since 2016 and recorded an average score of 737 in that year.
The highest average GMAT scores of the ten MBA programs exceeded 710 (as reported by U.S. News), putting them above the 91 percentiles. Moreover, 724 was the average score among these ten institutions, sitting between 94 and 96 percentiles. The 2022 U.S. News Best Business Schools rankings place these ten MBA programs (with the highest GMAT scores) within the top 15 MBA programs.
Getting into one of the top MBA courses can be a life-altering experience. With scores as high as 790 on their GMAT, Jamboree students have found their way to top business schools. Book a free fifteen-minute session with our MBA experts and get started with your MBA journey.