What You Need To Score On The GMAT

More than 7,000 programs at approximately 2,300 B-schools accept the GMAT across the world.

The exam is scored from 200 to 800. A strong GMAT score can give applicants a competitive edge when applying for an MBA program. But what exactly is a good GMAT score and what scores do the top B-schools look for?

Ilana Kowarski, reporter at US News, recently spoke to experts on what qualifies as a good GMAT score.

GOOD VS. GREAT

In general, a GMAT score between 650 and 690 is considered “good.”  

But a “great” score is usually 700 or higher. Scoring above 700 is even more critical if you’re intent on pursuing a top B-school, experts say.

“Almost any student at a top-tier school thinks of 700 as the baseline for a ‘good’ GMAT score,” Phil Strazzulla, a former venture capitalist with an MBA from Harvard Business School, tells US News. “This is viewed by admissions as essentially a neutral score where it’s not hurting you, but definitely not helping you.”

A quick look at the average GMAT scores across the top 10 B-schools shows average scores all above 720. Stanford’s 2019 class had an average GMAT of 734. NYU’s Stern had an average score of 721.

LOW SCORE?

If you didn’t score so highly on the GMAT, it isn’t the end of the world.

While the exam is important, applicants may still have a chance of admission if other aspects of their application are strong.

“If everything else you’ve got is amazing, you can have a lower score and still get into a top school,” Alexander S. Lowry, executive director of the Master of Science in Financial Analysis program at Gordon College in Massachusetts, tells US News. “But if you’ve got a weakness somewhere else, you’ve got to have a good GMAT.”

Sources: US News, P&Q, mba.com

Next Page: Virtual Interview Tips