What is a Good GMAT Score? Guide for MBA Success

What Is a Good GMAT Score?

The Graduate Management Admission Council recently published a breakdown of GMAT Focus Edition scores to help you assess your test scores for the current GMAT and the previous 10^th Edition results:

• Exceptional GMAT Total Scores: 655 or higher (91^st percentile or above, ideal for top-tier programs like Harvard Business School).
• Above-Average GMAT Total Scores: 625 to 645 (80^th to 89^th percentile, competitive for many schools like some of the best MBA programs in the US and the best MBA programs in Canada).
• Average GMAT Total Scores: 565-615 (52^nd to 78^th percentile, sufficient for less competitive programs and the easiest MBA programs to get into).

How is the GMAT Scored?

Each section (Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights) contributes equally to your total score. The updated scale ensures that:

• A score of 705 is around the 98th percentile
• A score of 655 places you in the 91st percentile
• A score of 625 is near the 80th percentile

Percentiles are updated annually based on a rolling cohort of test-takers from the past five years.

GMAT Score Report: What You Need to Know

Your official GMAT Score Report provides a detailed analysis of your performance, making it an invaluable tool for understanding your strengths and areas for improvement. Available in your mba.com account within 3 days of completing your exam, the report includes much more than just your total and section scores.

One of the major benefits of the current GMAT edition is that you only send scores to schools after you’ve reviewed your results. This eliminates the need to cancel scores since programs cannot access your score unless you choose to share it. However, once a score is sent to a school, it cannot be retracted.

By leveraging the detailed insights in your GMAT Score Report, MBA acceptance rates, and MBA rankings, you can strategically plan your next steps, whether retaking the exam or refining your application approach.

GMAT Score Report Insights

• Detailed Score Breakdown: Access your total score, section scores, and percentile rankings for a complete performance summary.
• Knowledge Area Insights: Review your performance in specific topics and question types to identify strengths and areas for growth.
• Pacing Analysis: Evaluate your time management compared to expected averages, including data on review activity.
• Competitiveness Metrics: Compare your percentile rankings with those of other applicants to the same programs over the past five years.
• Program Comparisons: Understand how your scores stack up against others who sent their results to your target schools.
• Section Performance Highlights: Get detailed performance insights for Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Data Insights to pinpoint areas needing improvement.
• Time Management Trends: Analyze your pacing, time spent on questions, and adjustments made during the test for actionable improvements.
• Comprehensive Summary: Leverage clear charts and visuals to better understand your competitiveness and test-taking strategy.

What is a Good GMAT Score?: GMAT Sections and Scores

The GMAT Focus Edition has been redesigned with three core sections that test essential skills for business school success: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights, with the previous Analytical Writing Assessment section removed. This streamlined format makes the exam more focused and allows test-takers to concentrate on the areas that matter most to MBA programs.

• Quantitative Reasoning: The average score is about 78. A strong score is typically 80 or higher, placing you in the 88th percentile or above.
• Verbal Reasoning: The average score is around 79. A score of 80+ usually ranks in the 90th percentile or higher.
• Data Insights: The average score is approximately 74. A strong score of 80 or higher falls between the 86th and 98th percentiles.

Overall, the total score range for the GMAT Focus Edition is 205 to 805.

Quantitative Reasoning

This section tests your ability to solve math problems using logic and data sufficiency. Key skills: algebra, arithmetic, geometry.

Verbal Reasoning

This section focuses on grammar, reading comprehension, and critical reasoning.

Data Insights

This section tests data analysis via graphs, charts, and multi-source reasoning. Replaces Integrated Reasoning.

Get a head start on your MBA resume with these expert tips!

How to Get the Best GMAT Score for Your Goals

A strong GMAT score should exceed the average score at your target school by 10–20 points. For instance, if a school’s average is 635, aim for 645–655+ for a competitive edge.

Set a Target GMAT Score

Start by researching the total score averages for your desired schools. Many competitive programs look for total scores in the 615 to 675 range. If you are applying to a highly prestigious and competitive school, like Kellogg Business School or Stanford Business School, pay very close attention to the median GMAT score of the most recently admitted class and aim for a score that, at a minimum, meets that number but ideally, exceeds it. 

Create a GMAT Study Plan

A well-structured study plan aligned with your GMAT test date is your roadmap to success. Allocate at least 2 to 3 months to your GMAT prep, depending on your baseline skills and availability. Begin with a diagnostic test to identify strengths and weaknesses, then distribute your study time strategically across sections. For example, if Data Insights is your weak point, devote additional time to interpreting graphs and multi-source reasoning.

Regularly doing GMAT sample questions improves familiarity with question types, sharpens problem-solving skills, enhances time management, builds test-taking stamina, and boosts your confidence for exam day.

Use GMAT Study Resources

The right materials can make a significant difference in your preparation. The GMAT Official Guides include high-quality, representative questions, but they lack individualized support or guidance. This is where a GMAT tutor can help by tailoring strategies to your strengths and weaknesses, providing personalized feedback, and keeping you accountable throughout your study journey.

Build Section-Specific Skills

Each GMAT section assesses specific skills essential for business school success, and mastering them requires targeted preparation. By honing specific strategies and practicing purposefully, you will build the skills needed to get good scores across all areas of the test.

Quantitative Reasoning Study Tips

To excel in Quantitative Reasoning, focus on strengthening foundational math skills, including algebra, geometry, arithmetic, and basic statistics. These topics form the core of the section, so ensure you’re comfortable solving equations, working with ratios and percentages, and interpreting geometric shapes.

Pay special attention to data sufficiency questions, a unique GMAT question type where you determine if the information provided is sufficient to solve a problem rather than solving it directly. Practice breaking down problems to identify what’s being asked and eliminate unnecessary calculations.

Review error patterns to identify weak areas, such as trouble with fractions or word problems, and allocate extra study time to those topics.

Verbal Reasoning Study Tips

The Verbal Reasoning section requires strong critical reading and analytical skills. Start by practicing reading comprehension, focusing on identifying the main ideas, tone, and purpose of passages. Aim to summarize paragraphs in a few words to test your understanding.

For critical reasoning, learn to analyze argument structures, identify assumptions, and evaluate the strength of evidence presented. Familiarize yourself with common logical flaws, such as causation vs. correlation, and practice spotting them in arguments.

In sentence correction, focus on grammar rules like subject-verb agreement, parallelism, modifiers, and idiomatic expressions.

Develop a systematic approach for eliminating wrong answer choices and practice improving speed and accuracy under timed conditions.

Data Insights Study Tips

The Data Insights section combines quantitative and reasoning skills, requiring you to interpret and analyze complex datasets like graphs, tables, and charts. Practice data visualization interpretation, focusing on understanding trends, outliers, and relationships. Multi-source reasoning questions require synthesizing information from multiple formats (e.g., a chart and a paragraph) to draw logical conclusions.

To prepare effectively, work on breaking down multi-step problems into manageable parts. Pay attention to time management, as these questions often involve multiple steps. Use practice tests to identify common pitfalls, such as misinterpreting graph scales or overlooking key details in a table. To boost confidence, familiarize yourself with tools like calculators provided during this section, ensuring you know when and how to use them efficiently.

Manage Test-Day Stress

A calm and prepared mindset can significantly enhance your GMAT performance, whether you’re taking the test virtually or at a testing center.

If you’re testing online, ensure your internet connection and device are reliable, and arrange backups if possible. Set up in the quietest place in your home, inform others not to disturb you, and have all the necessary materials, such as writing tools, whiteboard or paper, water, snacks, or glasses—within reach to avoid unnecessary interruptions.

For in-person tests, confirm your test time and plan your commute the night before to arrive at least 30 minutes early. Bring your ID and any required documents.

Regardless of the format, prioritize rest over last-minute studying; while a quick glance at sample questions is fine, focus on staying relaxed. On test day, stay hydrated, eat a balanced meal, and use mindfulness techniques like deep breathing to maintain composure and focus under pressure.

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting