A good score on standardized tests like the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is very important if you want to get into a top business school. But how high does your score need to be to stand out in a pool of applicants who are all trying to get the same job? This blog will talk about what a good score is for the GRE and GMAT and what the average scores are that top business schools accept.
GMAT Scores for the Best Business Schools
Business schools all over the world, especially for MBA programs, accept the GMAT the most. Along with your application essays, work experience, and recommendation letters, a good GMAT score can greatly improve your chances of getting into a top business school.
What is a Good GMAT Score?
The business school you are applying to usually has a good GMAT score. But most of the time, getting a score above 700 is seen as competitive for the best business schools.
Average GMAT Scores for the Best Business Schools:
|
School of Business |
Average GMAT Score |
|
Harvard Business School |
730 |
|
Stanford Graduate School of Business |
733 |
|
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania |
730 |
|
MIT Sloan School of Management |
728 |
|
Columbia Business School |
730 |
|
INSEAD |
709 |
|
London Business School (LBS) |
700 |
|
University of Chicago Booth School of Business |
730 |
|
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management |
724 |
|
UC Berkeley Haas School of Business |
725 |
Score Range: For top schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton, a good GMAT score is usually between 710 and 740. But a score of 700 or higher is considered good enough to get into many top schools.
A score above 700 is usually a good score that will make you competitive for the top 10 business schools, but this may not be the case for all schools.
What GMAT score do you need to be competitive?
Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT Sloan, and Columbia are the top five B-Schools. Aim for a score of 720 or higher.
Aim for 700 or higher at the top 10 B-Schools (Chicago Booth, Kellogg, INSEAD).
For the top 20 B-Schools (LBS, Haas, NYU Stern), you should aim for a score of 650 to 700.
A higher GMAT score can help, but business schools also look at other parts of your profile, like your work experience, leadership potential, and academic background.
GRE Scores for the Best Business Schools
More and more top MBA programs are accepting the GRE in recent years. A lot of business schools now accept both GRE and GMAT scores. Some applicants even choose the GRE over the GMAT because it is accepted by more graduate programs, including MS and PhD programs in fields other than business.
What is a Good Score on the GRE?
Most business schools want GRE scores of at least 320, and the best ones want scores of 325 or higher. Business school applications usually put more weight on quantitative reasoning, but a strong verbal reasoning score can also help you stand out.
Average GRE Scores for the Best Business Schools:
|
School of Business |
Average Total GRE Score |
Average GRE Math Score |
Average GRE Verbal Score |
|
Harvard Business School |
328 |
165 |
162 |
|
Stanford Graduate School of Business |
328 |
166 |
162 |
|
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania |
325 |
165 |
160 |
|
MIT Sloan School of Management |
325 |
165 |
160 |
|
Columbia Business School |
325 |
165 |
160 |
|
INSEAD |
321 |
160 |
160 |
|
London Business School (LBS) |
320 |
160 |
160 |
|
University of Chicago Booth School of Business |
325 |
165 |
160 |
|
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management |
325 |
165 |
160 |
|
UC Berkeley Haas School of Business |
325 |
165 |
160 |
Score Range: For top business schools, a good GRE score is usually between 320 and 330. For Harvard and Stanford, try to get 325 or higher. For some top programs, 300–320 can still be competitive.
Top 10 B-Schools: To get into the top 5, you need a GRE score of at least 325. To get into the top 10, you need a score of at least 320.
What is a good GRE score for you?
For the best 5 B-Schools (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT Sloan, and Columbia), try to get at least 325.
For the best business schools (like Chicago Booth, Kellogg, and INSEAD), you should aim for 320–325.
Aim for 310–320 if you want to get into one of the top 20 B-Schools (LBS, Haas, NYU Stern).
Important Differences Between GMAT and GRE for Business Schools
|
Feature |
GMAT |
GRE |
|
Target Audience |
Mostly for MBA programs |
For MBA, MS, and PhD |
|
Test Duration |
3.5 hours |
3 hours and 45 minutes |
|
Test Sections |
Verbal, Quantitative, AWA, and IR |
Quantitative, verbal, and analytical Writing |
|
Scoring Range |
200 to 800 (Total Score) |
260–340 (Total Score) |
|
Quantitative Section |
More Data Interpretation |
More advanced mathematics |
|
Verbal Section |
More focused on critical thinking |
More focused on vocabulary and Reading comprehension |
|
Acceptability |
Preferred by business schools |
Accepted by business schools, STEM, and humanitiesprograms |
What Test Should You Take?
If you only want to apply to MBA programs or graduate programs in business, and you want to get into the best business schools, choose GMAT.
If you want to apply to a wider range of graduate programs than just business (like STEM, humanities, or social sciences), or if you want more freedom in which graduate programs you can apply to, choose GRE.
In conclusion
A good GMAT or GRE score can help your application to top business schools a lot, but it is only one part of your overall profile. Business schools will look at more than just your test scores. They will also look at your work history, your potential as a leader, your essays, and your letters ofrecommendation.
In general:
A GMAT score of 700 or higher is best for top business schools, but a score of 650 or higher is good enough for many highly ranked programs.
A GRE score of 325 or higher is a good goal for top schools, and scores between 320 and 325 are competitive for most of the top 10 business schools.
It's important to look into the specific requirements for admission to the business schools you're interested in and pick the test that best fits your strengths and goals.
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