Average GMAT Focus Scores in Top 20 | 2024 - 2025

Question

Scoring high is essential if you want to stand out at a leading business school. At most of the top 20 U.S. programs, applicants usually need to be at least 665 or above to remain competitive. That said, even these schools occasionally admit candidates with scores closer or slightly below 645. It’s also worth remembering that schools’ preferences shift from year to year. For programs ranked between 30 and 50, the typical range falls in the upper 500s to low 600s, though there are always exceptions on both ends.

Program	10th%	Average	90th%
Average GMAT Focus Scores
Stanford**	585	685	785
Wharton***	505	675	785
Kellogg**	575	675	775
Booth	635	675	745
Sloan	645	675	705
HBS**	485	675	785
Stern	645	675	705
Haas	615	675	745
Tuck	615	675	705
Columbia	645	675	705
Yale SOM	645	675	715
Darden	615	665	695
Fuqua*	615	665	705
Ross	615	665	705
Marshall	615	665	705
Johnson*	605	655	705
Tepper	595	655	695
Goizueta	615	655	685
Anderson*	585	655	705
Foster	605	655	685
McCombs	615	645	685
Kenan-Flagler	585	645	685
Kelley	575	635	685
Owen	585	635	675
HEC	545	635	695
IESE**	545	615	695
Rotman	585	615	665

PFB our last score chart:
Expected Average GMAT Focus Scores in the Top 20

I have used my magic crystal ball to see the future and I saw these GMAT Focus scores!
Almost... these are converted from the latest Average GMAT Classic scores since no MBA program is yet to publish their focus scores and I am expecting that most will not do so at least until late next year when the class data comes out or perhaps not even for a year, so until then, this is the most fallible precise guide we have. Will these change? Most likely - people seem to be scoring differently on the Focus than they have done on Classic, but we do not yet know how exactly. Only after there is a meaningful applicant volume, would we know. For now, this is what you can EXPECT.

It is really weird not to see any 700's in the average

* Indicates that the median score used instead of the average.

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GMAT-Club-Forum-im2c0dm5.png [ 324.43 KiB | Viewed 42984 times ]

* Indicates that the median score used instead of the average. GMAT-Club-Forum-im2c0dm5.png

sgpk242 · Answer

What does the single * denote?

bb · Answer

This was the median score used instead of the average.

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sayan640 · Answer

Can we have similar data for B schools located in other geographies ?

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swethasnist · Answer

Would be great if we can we have similar data for indian B schools.

Thanks in Advance

bb · Answer

Do they release this information? The problem with European and Asian schools is that they do not publish much of similar information and do not have the same transparency as the US MBA programs unfortunately

YOLO1234 · Answer

I believe these scores include GMAT classic scores as well, if they do not, then chances of a lot of people with GMAT FE scores of 655 are in jeopardy.

bb · Answer

There are FOCUS ONLY. 👀

There are three scores for every school. There is the 10th percentile, there is the average and then there is the 90th percentile.

Make sure you don’t conflate those three by accident. However, these are the expected GMAT focus scores for the next application season.

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YOLO1234 · Answer

Woww!! Okay...

Since these are expected and if the expected holds, that changes everything. Will have to rethink how I look at my own applications.

THanks for the clarification though. Really appreciate it!!

playthegame · Answer

Hello, thanks this table is helpful. How do read the 10th%ile, meaning does this mean 10% of applicants are below that score? Same for 90%ile I am unable to find a way to read it. I have 5 free score reports to send and I am wondering how to make the best use for that.

Hello  bb , would you be able to help understand the 10th%ile and what it means thank you.

Thank you!

bb · Answer

Hi. Basically the higher score (90th percentile) is the upper border of the middle 80% admitted people. This means that if your score is equal or higher, you will be in top 10%, that means you will be a very attractive applicant or at least stand out.

The 10th percentile it’s pretty much the bottom low score. So if your score is close to that one, you’re in trouble and you need a lot of other redeeming graces to help you even get an interview invite.

so it’s top 90% tile and bottom 10% tile.

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playthegame · Answer

ok great thank you that helps and makes me feel a little better based on my 645.

ARINGO · Answer

If you are applying to  HBS  or  MIT  with a GMAT Focus Score, you should be aware of their policy:
 HBS : Note on the GMAT Focus: Writing is an essential component of the MBA program. Therefore, to be admitted to HBS all students must have an official writing assessment. You can satisfy this with a valid GRE, GMAT 10th Edition, or English language test score. If you only submitted the GMAT Focus, which lacks a writing section, HBS will contact you at the interview stage about taking the separate GMAC Business Writing Assessment. If you wish to take the GMAC Business Writing Assessment before knowing your interview status, you will be able to do so beginning July 2024. Because the written application has opportunities to showcase your writing abilities (e.g. essays, short answers), you will not be at a disadvantage if you do not include the GMAC Business Writing Assessment before you are invited to interview.

MIT : The Admissions Committee is also interested in assessing the writing abilities of anyone who is admitted to MIT Sloan’s MBA program. For anyone who submits a GMAT (Focus Edition) or is granted a test waiver, the Admissions Committee may require that you take the GMAC Business Writing Assessment. If you took the GMAT (10th Edition) or the GRE and have a valid AWA score, that will satisfy this requirement. If the Admissions Committee requires you to take the GMAT Business Writing Assessment, we will contact you after interview invitations are sent.

Hoehenheim · Answer

Is it? Why would you say that?
 
 What is most interesting to me is how the top competitive programs like HBS, Wharton have the widest ranges and Sloan, Stern being rather specific about their cohort. Speaks volumes about what the programs expects from you.

I've always wondered what the profiles and essays of the <10th percentile admits of top schools would've been...

muddassirmoolji · Answer

Could You please post the Same for English Programs as well. LBS / Oxford Said / Cambridge Judge

ThatIndianGuy · Answer

Hi  bb  can you share for schools such as NUS, IE, ESADE as well. Thanks in advance

bb · Answer

Hi. Unfortunately the European and Asian programs are very opaque. They do not share or report any of their upper and lower limit scores. (Let me know if I am off).

Eg. Even finding the averages for LBS or INSEAD is a process in its own and it’s not published specifically or officially, but rather vaguely and I haven’t seen a change for years. It’s even harder for the schools you’ve mentioned that seem to share vague claims for their scores. I’d love to do it but I just haven’t been able to find data for them for GMAT or GRE.

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user1937 · Answer

Hi  bb . Do you think it needs to be updated post the renewed percentiles from GMAC on August 29, 2024?

bb · Answer

I think an update is an order. changes were minimal but it’s just still be more accurately reflected plus some other improvements can be made.

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bb · Answer

Yale just released their latest class data. Average GMAT has gone up from 665 to 675 (720 --> 730)
Also, their 80% (middle) group has shifted up quite a bit:

Class of 2025: 615 - 705
Class of 2026: 645 - 715

https://som.yale.edu/programs/mba/admis ... ss-profile

Average GMAT Focus Scores in Top 20 | 2024 - 2025

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