What do I need to score in the GMAT?

Last updated: 5 Jun 2006

The simple answer is that you need to score the best you can in the GMAT and should prepare accordingly.

Business schools do not usually set minimum score on the GMAT as a requirement for entry into their MBA programs. This is because your GMAT score will just be one factor amongst many, such as your work experience, your university grades, your application essays and possibly an interview, that they will use to assess your suitability for their program.

Harvard Business School say,

"The average GMAT score for the class entering in fall 2004 was 707. However, the Admissions Board hopes that all applicants will recognize the following: that the range of GMAT scores is very broad, that there is no "minimum" score requirement, and that the GMAT is just one piece of data among the many used to evaluate an application"

Harvard Business School FAQs

London Business School say,

"Our average [GMAT score] for the 2005 intake is 680 for both non-native and native English speakers. However, the GMAT is just one of several admission criteria. Just as a high score does not guarantee admission, a below average score does not eliminate a candidate. "

London Business School FAQs

So scoring much lower on your GMAT than their average intake will increase your reliance on these other factors to make you shine in comparison to other candidates for the same MBA program.

Conversely scoring higher on the GMAT than their average intake is likely to make you look like a better candidate in comparison with other applicants.

Next page: Why prepare for the GMAT?