Meridean Overseas
Updated On 29 November 2023 & Read Time 8 minutes
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Embarking on a journey toward higher education and professional growth often begins with conquering the GMAT, the Graduate Management Admission Test. But what truly defines a good GMAT score? The question echoes in the minds of ambitious individuals seeking admission to top-tier business schools worldwide.
In this blog, we will delve into a good GMAT score and its significance in shaping your academic and career trajectory. Whether you're a seasoned test-taker or a curious novice, this exploration promises to ignite your curiosity and illuminate the path to success.
Discover the art of decoding the GMAT score. Uncover the essential components of this numerical representation of your abilities, including the Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Assessment sections. By now, you must be thinking, what are we waiting for right? Well, nothing. Let’s get this interesting read started right away.
Table of Contents
The GMAT total score goes highest up to 800 marks. Depending on the desired business schools, a good GMAT score can vary from person to person. Consequently, we must first realise that the term "good" is subjective. One business school may accept a particular score, while another may not accept it.
A score of 700–740 is considered good on the GMAT, and 740 or more is considered exceptional. The top 30 US business schools in 2022 had an average GMAT score of 711. 665 to 733 is the range. The best business schools in Europe have similar average scores ranging from 638 to 709. GMAT averages for the best MBA programmes in Canada and Australia vary from 520 to 780 and 600 to 695, respectively.
The total GMAT score percentile rating for students who took the exam is shown below, along with the individual quant, verbal, integrated reasoning, and AWA percentile rankings. Let us take a look.
Percentile |
Scores |
99% |
760 to 800 |
98% |
750 |
97% |
740 |
96% |
730 |
94% |
720 |
91% |
710 |
88% |
700 |
85% |
690 |
82% |
680 |
80% |
670 |
77% |
660 |
73% |
650 |
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The GMAT exam has four sections that a student needs to cover. Let us take a look at the GMAT scoring pattern given below.
Quantitative – scored between 0 and 60
Verbal – Scored between 0 and 60
Integrated Reasoning – Scored between 1 and 8
Analytical Writing Assessment – Scored between 0 and 6
The GMAT score tables below show the percentile rankings of each of the sections based on their scores.
Score |
51 |
46 |
40 |
35 |
30 |
25 |
20 |
15 |
10 |
Percentile Ranking |
99% |
99% |
90% |
74% |
56% |
37% |
21% |
9% |
2% |
Score |
51 |
46 |
41 |
36 |
31 |
26 |
21 |
16 |
10 |
Percentile Ranking |
97% |
53% |
34% |
22% |
14% |
8% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
Score |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Percentile Ranking |
90% |
79% |
64% |
47% |
31% |
17% |
8% |
0% |
Scores |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
Percentile Ranking |
87% |
56% |
18% |
4% |
1% |
1% |
0% |
The mean scores for Quant and Verbal are 41.3 and 27.51, respectively. On the other side, for integrated thinking, test takers between 2019 and 2021 received an AWA score of 4.65 and 4.43, respectively.
When a score of 46 is obtained, you can see a significant difference between the Verbal and Quantile percentile rankings. You will be categorised as falling under the 99th percentile in the Verbal portion if you score 46 in both the Verbal and Quantitative sections, but you will only reach the 53rd percentile in the latter. This difference suggests that more students perform well in the quantitative component than in the verbal section.
More than 550, or a 38% percentile ranking, is required to achieve the total GMAT average score (574.51) as stated by GMAC. The typical GMAT range, however, is between 634 and 734 if you're hoping to get into one of the best US business schools.
Sections of the GMAT |
Average Score |
Verbal Section Score |
27.51 |
Quantitative score |
41.3 |
Integrated Reasoning score |
4.65 |
Analytical Writing Assessment score |
4.43 |
GMAT Total Score |
574.51 |
The following points are some factors to consider to determine a good GMAT score.
Estimated ROI on the GMAT score
Average Score of the last incoming class
The score required for a Scholarship
Profile of previous year’s class
There are many top business schools worldwide in different countries renowned for their programs and teaching methods. Below, we have created separate GMAT score tables for other countries and regions to give you a better understanding of the GMAT scores depending on the top universities in that country. Let’s check them out.
Name of the Business School |
GMAT Score (2024) |
Stanford Graduate School of Business |
737 |
The Wharton School |
733 |
Booth School of Business |
732 |
Harvard Business School |
730 |
MIT Sloan School of Management |
730 |
Kellogg School of Management |
729 |
Columbia Business School |
729 |
UC Berkeley (Haas) |
729 |
Dartmouth Tuck |
726 |
Yale School of Management |
725 |
Name of the Business School |
GMAT Score |
Melbourne Business School |
695 |
MGSM Macquarie |
680 |
Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) 2020 |
670 |
University of Sydney |
600 or above |
University of Queensland Business School |
600 |
Name of the Business School |
GMAT Score |
INSEAD |
710 |
London Business School |
708 |
HEC Paris |
690 |
Oxford (Saïd) |
690 |
Cambridge (Judge) |
687 |
IESE Business School |
681 |
IMD |
680 |
SDA Bocconi |
665 |
IE Business School |
650-770 |
Mannheim |
600+ |
Name of the Business School |
GMAT Score |
University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management |
678 |
McGill University – Desautels Faculty of Management |
675 |
Western University – Ivey Business School |
660 |
York University – Schulich School of Business |
660 |
Queen’s Smith School of Business |
654 |
UBC Sauder School of Business |
650 |
HEC Montreal |
630 or above |
Sobey School of Business |
590 |
Concordia University – John Molson School of Business |
580+ |
Alberta School of Business |
550+ |
In conclusion, a good GMAT score is not just a ticket to prestigious business schools but a testament to your dedication, intelligence, and aptitude for success in the world of business and management. It is a key that unlocks doors to scholarships, networking opportunities, and a global community of driven professionals. While preparing for the GMAT exam and choosing the university, keep the information along with the universities mentioned above in mind. We know you’ll do great, and wish you all the luck!
We hope you enjoyed reading about what a good GMAT score is and gained many great insights. If you’d like to know more about how to study abroad at any of the renowned business schools, contact our expert country counsellors at any branch of Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC), who’ll help you in every step of your study abroad journey.
Visit our website for free online counselling, or contact us at application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011 for personalised support.
Q1. What is the significance of a good GMAT score?
Ans. A good GMAT score is important because it can significantly impact your chances of admission to graduate business programs, such as MBA programs. A strong GMAT score showcases your aptitude and readiness for the academic rigour of these programs and can make your application stand out among other candidates.
Q2: What is considered a good GMAT score?
Ans. A good GMAT score can vary depending on the specific business school and program you are applying to. Generally, a score above 650 is considered competitive and can increase your chances of admission to reputable business schools. However, top-tier programs may expect scores above 700 or even higher. It is important to research the average GMAT scores of your target schools to understand better what score range is considered competitive.
Q3: How does the GMAT score range work?
Ans. The GMAT score range is between 200 and 800. The score is determined by your performance on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the exam, with each section scored between 0 and 60. The scores from these sections are combined to give you a total GMAT score between 200 and 800. The Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning sections are scored separately and do not contribute to the total score.
Q4: Can a lower GMAT score impact my chances of admission?
Ans. While a lower GMAT score may not necessarily eliminate you from consideration, it can impact your chances of admission to competitive business programs. Business schools often consider GMAT scores and other factors, such as GPA, work experience, and letters of recommendation. However, a strong GMAT score can strengthen your overall application and compensate for weaknesses in other areas.
Q5: Can I retake the GMAT to improve my score?
Ans. Yes, you can retake the GMAT to improve your score. The GMAT allows you to take the exam multiple times, with a waiting period of 16 days between attempts. If unsatisfied with your initial score, you can study and prepare for the exam again to aim for a higher score. Most business schools consider your highest GMAT score, so retaking the exam and achieving a better result can positively impact your chances of admission.
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