The big question surrounding the GMAT is: what is a good GMAT score?
That is a difficult question because there is no magic number that is standard for everybody. The total GMAT score ranges from 200 to 800. Remember that “total score” is comprised of only the quantitative and verbal sections. The analytical writing section and the integrated reasoning section are separate scores and are treated as such. According to the GMAC (the creators of the GMAT), around 66.67% of test takers score between a 400 and a 600. The average GMAT score is 547. So with that in mind, what should be your target score? What is a good GMAT score for you? There are a couple things you need to understand before formulating your opinion on what a good GMAT score is.
How should I find out what my good GMAT score is?
The end goal of taking the GMAT for most students is to get into business school, so let’s start there. What business schools are you interested in? What business schools will you be applying to? Most schools release either their median score or a range of scores for the majority of their students. Make a list and look into each of those schools to find out what GMAT statistics they give. That should give you a better idea of what number you need to hit to give you a good chance of getting into that school.
The next thing to understand is that the GMAT score is comprised of a score and a corresponding percentile ranking. The percentile ranking shows you how many test takers from the sample size you performed better than. The percentile ranking is based on the last three years of test takers and is recalculated every summer so your percentile ranking may or may not change depending on the new data. Most schools will ask you for both the percentile ranking and the score itself so make sure that you acknowledge both types of scores.
We’ve put together a table on the corresponding score and percentile rankings based on data released from the GMAC. The period for the data they released is 2011-2013.
Total Score and Percentiles
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
| 800 | 99% | 590 | 58% | 380 | 10% |
| 790 | 99% | 580 | 54% | 370 | 9% |
| 780 | 99% | 570 | 51% | 360 | 8% |
| 770 | 99% | 560 | 48% | 350 | 6% |
| 760 | 99% | 550* | 45% | 340 | 6% |
| 750 | 98% | 540* | 42% | 330 | 5% |
| 740 | 97% | 530 | 38% | 320 | 4% |
| 730 | 96% | 520 | 36% | 310 | 4% |
| 720 | 94% | 510 | 34% | 300 | 3% |
| 710 | 92% | 500 | 31% | 290 | 3% |
| 700 | 89% | 490 | 29% | 280 | 3% |
| 690 | 87% | 480 | 29% | 270 | 2% |
| 680 | 84% | 470 | 25% | 260 | 2% |
| 670 | 83% | 460 | 22% | 250 | 2% |
| 660 | 80% | 450 | 20% | 240 | 1% |
| 650 | 77% | 440 | 18% | 230 | 1% |
| 640 | 72% | 430 | 16% | 220 | 1% |
| 630 | 71% | 420 | 15% | 210 | 0% |
| 620 | 67% | 410 | 13% | 200 | 0% |
| 610 | 64% | 400 | 12% | * Average score is 547 | |
| 600 | 61% | 390 | 11% | ||
Analytical Writing Section
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
| 6 | 92% | 3.5 | 13% | 1 | 3% |
| 5.5 | 81% | 3 | 6% | 0.5 | 3% |
| 5 | 60% | 2.5 | 5% | 0 | 0% |
| 4.5 | 44% | 2 | 3% | ||
| 4 | 21% | 1.5 | 3% |
The average score in the analytical writing section is a 4.34. This is an average between two scoring of your essay. The essay is an analysis of an argument so not only will the scorers be scoring you on your essay in itself, but also, they will be scoring you on the logic of your argument.
Integrated Reasoning Section
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
| 8 | 92% | 5 | 52% | 2 | 12% |
| 7 | 81% | 4 | 37% | 1 | 0% |
| 6 | 67% | 3 | 25% |
The average score for the integrated reasoning section is 4.33. Since this section of the test was newly instituted in 2012, the data for the percentiles is based on statistics from 2012-2013.
Quant Score and Percentiles
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
| 60 | 97% | 39 | 43% | 18 | 6% |
| 59 | 97% | 38 | 41% | 17 | 5% |
| 58 | 97% | 37 | 40% | 16 | 4% |
| 57 | 97% | 36 | 36% | 15 | 4% |
| 56 | 97% | 35 | 33% | 14 | 4% |
| 55 | 97% | 34 | 31% | 13 | 3% |
| 54 | 97% | 33 | 30% | 12 | 2% |
| 53 | 97% | 32 | 27% | 11 | 2% |
| 52 | 97% | 31 | 24% | 10 | 2% |
| 51 | 97% | 30 | 22% | 9 | 1% |
| 50 | 88% | 29 | 20% | 8 | 1% |
| 49 | 79% | 28 | 19% | 7 | 1% |
| 48 | 74% | 27 | 16% | 6 | 0% |
| 47 | 68% | 26 | 15% | 5 | 0% |
| 46 | 66% | 25 | 13% | 4 | 0% |
| 45 | 63% | 24 | 12% | 3 | 0% |
| 44 | 58% | 23 | 11% | 2 | 0% |
| 43 | 56% | 22 | 9% | 1 | 0% |
| 42 | 51% | 21 | 8% | 0 | 0% |
| 41 | 49% | 20 | 8% | ||
| 40 | 47% | 19 | 7% | ||
The average for this section is a 38.03. You’ll see based on the percentile rankings that scores below 7 and above 50 are difficult to obtain.
Verbal Score and Percentiles
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
Score |
Percentile Ranking |
| 60 | 99% | 39 | 89% | 18 | 17% |
| 59 | 99% | 38 | 85% | 17 | 15% |
| 58 | 99% | 37 | 83% | 16 | 12% |
| 57 | 99% | 36 | 81% | 15 | 10% |
| 56 | 99% | 35 | 76% | 14 | 9% |
| 55 | 99% | 34 | 71% | 13 | 7% |
| 54 | 99% | 33 | 69% | 12 | 5% |
| 53 | 99% | 32 | 66% | 11 | 4% |
| 52 | 99% | 31 | 61% | 10 | 3% |
| 51 | 99% | 30 | 58% | 9 | 2% |
| 50 | 99% | 29 | 56% | 8 | 1% |
| 49 | 99% | 28 | 51% | 7 | 1% |
| 48 | 99% | 27 | 46% | 6 | 0% |
| 47 | 99% | 26 | 43% | 5 | 0% |
| 46 | 99% | 25 | 38% | 4 | 0% |
| 45 | 99% | 24 | 36% | 3 | 0% |
| 44 | 98% | 23 | 32% | 2 | 0% |
| 43 | 96% | 22 | 30% | 1 | 0% |
| 42 | 96% | 21 | 26% | 0 | 0% |
| 41 | 93% | 20 | 22% | ||
| 40 | 90% | 19 | 19% | ||
The average score on the verbal section is a 27.04. Scores between 0-6 are difficult to get, as is anything above a score of 45.
Now you should be able to understand which scores correspond to which percentiles and what scores and percentiles mean. If you get a 29 on the verbal section, you’ve done better than 56% of the test-takers in the last three years. Understanding what scores and percentiles mean is the first step.
Now, what qualifies as a good GMAT score for the best business schools?
The best way to develop a target score is to make a list of business schools you are looking at and finding out the GMAT scores that correspond to them.
We’ve compiled a list of the top business schools and their 2014 average GMAT scores. You can look for a full list on the US News website.
Business School |
Average 2014 Score |
| Stanford GSB | 732 |
| Wharton (University of Pennsylvania) | 728 |
| Harvard | 726 |
| Booth (University of Chicago) | 724 |
| Stern (New York University) | 721 |
| Yale School of Management | 719 |
| Haas (University of California-Berkley) | 717 |
| Columbia Business School | 716 |
| Tuck (Dartmouth) | 716 |
| Anderson (UCLA) | 715 |
| Sloan (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) | 713 |
| Kellogg (Northwestern University) | 713 |
| Darden (University of Virginia) | 706 |
| Ross (University of Michigan) | 702 |
| Johnson (Cornell University) | 692 |
| McDonough (Georgetown) | 691 |
| Fuqua (Duke) | 690 |
| Tepper (Carnegie Mellon) | 687 |
You will notice that most of these schools fall in between the 680 and the 730 range. That’s not to say that getting a score below 680 will mean that you won’t get into these schools or getting above a 730 will guarantee entry into these schools. The GMAT score is only a part of your business school application. Getting a good or bad score will not make or break your whole application, it is just a piece of the whole package.
How hard is it to score above a 700 for the GMAT?
If you reference the total score table above with the percentile rankings, you’ll notice that a 700 corresponds to 89%. That means that you would have to do better than 89% of the test takers from the last three years in the math and verbal sections combined. So how hard is it to get a 700? Well, ask yourself how hard it is to score better than 89% of all recent test takers.
There are a couple of things that you need to look at when formulating your strategy, your plan of attack.
1. What is your target score?
Set a realistic target for yourself based on the business schools you are interested in.
2. What is your current score? What are you getting on your practice exams?
Take at least one diagnostic of practice CAT to find your base score. How close are you to your target score? Which sections are your weak sections? Which are your strengths?
3. How much time do you have before test day?
If there’s a large difference between your current score and your target score, you should buffer in enough time for practice and preparation. It depends on each student, but try to have at least 4-6 months of rigorous study. If you can’t stick to a rigorous study schedule, budget in more time. If you have less than three months, you need to double down on studying and stick to a strict, rigorous schedule.
4. How much time do you have before business school applications are due?
You want to be able to take the exam, at least, one more time in case you aren’t able to achieve your target score. It is best practice to leave enough room for at least one more test between your first GMAT and the application due date as a back-up test date.
What if I can’t hit 700 but I’m almost there?
We’ve all been there; it’s the metaphorical 23-mile mark on the marathon. We’re almost there, but we’re not quite there yet. What should you do if you’ve exhausted all options but you can’t seem to hit that 700? The answer is right in front of you. You need to analyze your practice test results deeper. Which section is your weakest section? Focus on that. What types of problems are you getting wrong? Are you understanding the question correctly? Are you doing the problem wrong? Are you misunderstanding the answer? By going the extra mile during training, you’ll be able to get that much further on the real thing.
Okay! I’m ready now. What should be my next steps in GMAT prep?
1. Prepare your business school timeline
Which year are you applying? Which round are you thinking of applying? How does that impact the time you have to prepare for the GMAT? You don’t want to be working on your essays and application during the same time you’re studying for the test.
2. Prepare your GMAT preparation timeline
Now that you have your business school timeline set, how much time do you have to prepare for the GMAT? Can you do a more rigorous schedule or are you too busy right now? Understand the total effort needed and how much time to budget for yourself in preparation for the exam.
3. Sign up for your test
The only way to make it official is to sign up online. If you’re a morning person try to take a morning exam. If you’re an afternoon person, take the afternoon exam. Try to set up everything in your favor so that you can just concentrate on the test.
4. Take a diagnostic
The only way to prepare is to know what you’re dealing with. By taking a diagnostic, not only will you have your current state and future state, but also you’ll be able to map out your progress and note which study methods work and which don’t.
5. Map out your GMAT prep strategy
Now work on your plan of attack. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What sections do you need to focus on? Put together your strategy and be agile as you learn new things about the exam.
How many times can I take the GMAT?
You can take the GMAT up to five times in a 12-month period and every 16 days, so it is entirely up to you how many times you end up taking the exam. That being said, your schools will have access to all your scores, so best keep that to a minimal number. Most people take the exam 2-4 times.
When should I take the GMAT?
GMATs are administered at any time during the year and are taken at independent test centers. Usually, test centers administer the exam two times a day. When you sign up for the test, you can choose your test facility and their respective schedule to sign up for your slot.
Remember that your score is only valid for five years. If you want to send a score that is older than five years old, you will have to contact the GMAC service in your region to order the report at an additional cost. The reports may be sent to your schools, but they will have a note that the scores are older than five years old and to proceed in concurrence with their standards. Only under exceptional circumstances should you try to send an old score. Schools are likely to disregard your old scores as being outdated.
Now you can start practicing!
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