How Much Do You Need to Score In GMAT For Top MBA Programs?

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores are needed for admission to top MBA programs across the world. In the face of increased competition, the average scores have been on the rise for some years now hovering around 665 to 712 in the case of mostly European schools. In the US, it is still higher, from 670 to 737.

In such a situation, what happens to those applicants with low scores? Well, some of them may still be able to convince the admission committee to overlook the poor scores provided they are able to highlight their outstanding achievements elsewhere. The GMAT scores are only part of the selection process and admission committees tend to look at each candidate in a holistic manner and carefully evaluate their educational and professional background as also personal qualities.

At Stanford GSB, the GMAT range was 610-790, a mean of   737, the same as in the previous year. Chicago Booth had a GMAT range of 620-790 with a mean of 730 compared to 726 in the previous year, mean change being plus 4.

Over the past three years, the mean score recorded on the GMAT test was 556.04. Now, let us see how much you need to score in GMAT to gain admission to top international schools.

INSEAD’s 2017 admissions GMAT range is 600-780 with the mean at 712 as against 708 in the previous year with the year-to-year mean change at +4. However, the scores have dropped by 1 at London Business School (LBS) and by 7 at Oxford Said. GMAT range at LBS is 600-780, the mean is at 708 compared to 709 in the previous year.

For Oxford Said, the GMAT range is 580-780, mean at 685 as against 692 in the previous year, a drop of -7. Cambridge Judge did not report the GMAT range, 2017 mean was 696 compared to 690 a plus 6 increase. HEC Paris had a GMAT range of 640-740, a mean of 690 compared to 689 in the previous year, an increase by 1. Rotman School of Management, Toronto, reported a GMAT range of 500-760, mean at 665 compared to 663 in the previous year, an increase of 2.

In the US, 12 of the top 25 schools admitted candidates with a GMAT score in the 500s, including four of the top 10 schools. At four schools in the top 25, the lowest GMAT score that earned admission was lower than GMAC’s three-year average of 556.

For instance, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business reported a     GMAT range of 530-790, with a mean of 730, the same as in the previous year. Harvard Business School had a GMAT range of 580-790, with a mean of 729, the same as in the previous year.

At Stanford GSB, the GMAT range was 610-790, a mean of   737, the same as in the previous year. Chicago Booth had a GMAT range of 620-790 with a mean of 730 compared to 726 in the previous year, mean change being plus 4.

Meanwhile, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business gave admission to someone with a GMAT score of 510. The school says it looks at the candidate holistically, beyond the test scores.

However, it is to be noted that average scores continued to rise. The high scores were in the range of 780-790 for the top schools. It was 730 for Stanford GSB.