Different business schools have different expectations of test takers.
That all depends on what business school you want to go to. At the end of the day, a good GMAT score is the one that gets you into the business school of your choice. Let’s look at GMAT scoring in more detail to figure out what that means for you.
GMAT scoring basics
GMAT scores are used by business schools as a common metric that can compare all candidates for admission and determine their ability to perform well in business school and beyond. On the GMAT, you will receive five scores:
- An overall score, ranging from 200 – 800
- A Quantitative subscore, ranging from 0 – 60
- A Verbal subscore, ranging from 0 – 60
- A score for your Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), ranging from 0 – 6
- An Integrated Reasoning (IR) subscore, ranging from 1 – 8
AWA and IR scoring
Your essay will be given a separate score on a 0 – 6 scale by two different graders—a human and a computer called the “e-rater.” Your essay is graded wholistically, taking into account content, writing style, and grammar. If the two grades agree, that score will be assigned. If they are markedly different, a third grader, a person, will read the essay to determine the grade.
Your IR section will be given a separate score on a 1 – 8 scale. Most Integrated Reasoning questions require more than one response, and there is no partial credit given.
Percentile rank
Each of these scores is accompanied by a percentile ranking. This ranking highlights what proportion of test takers scored lower than you on the test. If you received a ranking of 75, you did better than 75% of GMAT test takers. This number shows business schools exactly where you fell with respect to other candidates who took the test.
What makes a great score?
Though the median score is around 540 (approximately two-thirds of all GMAT test takers score between 400 and 600), the average GMAT score for those accepted to the top business schools is often close to 700 or higher. Business school admissions is extremely competitive—a 709 is in the 92nd percentile.
The score you shoot for depends on your own expectations and goals. Research the average GMAT scores of your target schools and then develop a prep plan to achieve it.
The game plan
Here are some guidelines on how to set a solid goal for achieving your target GMAT score:
- Do your research. What’s the average GMAT score of accepted students at the schools you’re interested in? Most schools will provide their minimum score requirement or an average score range for admitted students. Once you’ve done your research, use these numbers to build your list of prospective business schools.
- Prep with specific goals in mind. Are you trying to compensate for your GPA or qualify for financial aid? Then you’ll definitely want to aim for a higher than average GMAT score. Once you’ve researched your MBA programs of choice, set a target score and try to hit it.
- Build confidence. Know that the GMAT is a standardized test that you can study for and, with enough practice, conquer. The GMAT asks the same types of questions on each administration of the test, so if you know the content and have strategies in place to tackle the material, you can see significant improvement.
Is your GMAT score where it needs to be? Find out by signing up for one of our Free GMAT Practice Test options.
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