For most students aspiring to get an MBA degree, the business school entrance process is always taxing. This is because of the difficulty that comes with juggling your personal life and meeting up with the school’s admission requirement, which GMAT score is a major prerequisite.
No one wants to prepare for the GMAT in a mediocre way, to avoid coming to re-take the exam next year. Of course, everyone wants to get a good GMAT score.
Truth is, a good GMAT score won’t give you all the leverage you need, but a high score will. That means re-taking the GMAT exam isn’t dependent on whether you have a good GMAT score but on your ability to score the highest.
Now, the question is, what is the highest GMAT score? How is it calculated? And how can you get it?
In this article, I answered all the above questions. Also, I further explained more about GMAT from the business schools’ side of view.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in properly. To get started, let me refresh your mind on what the GMAT means!
What is GMAT?
GMAT which stands for Graduate Management Admission Test is a computer-adaptive test that lasts 3 hours and 7 minutes. It is one of the major requirements you must present when applying for a business school admission in any country.
The test is divided into four sections: verbal, quantitative, integrated reasoning, and analytical writing (AWA).
What Does a Good GMAT Score Look Like?
When you take the GMAT test, you can score a bad score, a good score, or even a high score, which is everyone’s dream.
A good GMAT score for you depends on the business school you’re applying to.
Let me shock you a bit, there is nothing like ” If I can score above 700 I’m good to go” You can get as high as 760 and still won’t be considered for admission, just like someone with a low score.
What you should do is look up the average GMAT scores for the business school you want to attend.
Note, if you have unique experiences or are from an under-represented group, a lower score may be sufficient, but if you are from an over-represented group, you may need a higher score.
So, you’ll be doing yourself well if you make an honest assessment of whether your experiences are actually unique.
With that, you can set your GMAT test goal and know the level of effort to put. Keep in mind, if you currently have a good score, a GREAT score will improve your chances of receiving merit-based scholarships.
Understanding GMAT score ranges and average GMAT scores
You should also consider the class average GMAT scores and GMAT score ranges of the business schools you intend to apply to before taking the GMAT.
Looking at the statistics for admitted students at various business schools can help you figure out where you should be aiming.
Most business schools will list the average GMAT scores for their admitted students. Some will also give you a range of GMAT scores.
What is the minimum GMAT score required for Harvard? The MBA class of 2023 at Harvard Business School has a typical GMAT score of 730, with scores ranging from 590 to 790.
This indicates that, while the majority of Harvard MBA applicants scored above 700, at least one student with a GMAT score of 590 was accepted.
Meanwhile, the 2023 MBA class at Stanford Graduate School of Business has an average GMAT score of 738, the highest class average GMAT score among MBA programs, and a GMAT score range of 610-790.
The class average GMAT score for most well-known business schools is between 660 and 710, therefore a decent GMAT score for those schools will lie somewhere in that range.
What does the GMAT mean to business schools?
Business schools highly regarded the GMAT, because they use it to compare individuals from various industries and specialties. They can also use the GMAT as a predictor of MBA program academic achievement.
The GMAT is an important aspect of your business school application, but it is only one part of it.
Acceptance is not contingent on a good GMAT score. Most applicants have a ‘excellent’ GMAT score, and top programs are quite competitive.
Business schools value diversity in the classroom, so your application may be more or less competitive depending on how similar or different you are from other applicants, and schools frequently consider regional average GMAT scores when evaluating your application.
What is the GMAT’s scoring system? Percentiles for Quantitative, Verbal, and GMAT
The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test, so the level of difficulty of questions changes based on your answers to prior questions.
The exam will become more difficult as you properly answer more hard questions, and easier than you incorrectly answer questions, but your final score will be determined by the difficulty level of the questions and the number of questions correctly answered.
The verbal section, the numeric section, integrated reasoning, and an analytical writing evaluation make up the GMAT. While business schools have access to results from each part, your final score of 800 is based only on your verbal and quantitative scores.
You’ll be given a breakdown of your verbal and quantitative scores (ranging from 0 to 60), which will be converted to a score out of 800. It’s worth noting that the verbal element has a somewhat higher weighting in this total score.
Both the standard test center GMAT and the GMAT Online Exam employ the same scoring system.
What Is the GMAT’s Highest Score?
The highest GMAT score is 800. Getting this score is not impossible. You can get a GMAT score of 800 if you work hard enough.
Scores on the GMAT vary from 200 to 800, with two-thirds of test-takers scoring in the 400-600 area. It’s quite rare to achieve the maximum GMAT score of 800.
Each business school has its own policy on how the GMAT is used in MBA applications. Some may demand a minimum GMAT score in both the verbal and quantitative sections; others will require a minimum GMAT score in both the verbal and quantitative sections.
As a general rule, top-ranked MBA programs will demand you to take either the GMAT or the GRE and present competitive scores in order to be accepted. Most MBA applicants choose the GMAT.
To determine what a decent GMAT score is for your MBA application, you must first understand how the GMAT is assessed, as well as GMAT ranges and average GMAT scores for top MBA schools, in order to determine what kind of score your chosen school requires.
How You Can Get Highest GMAT Score
Here, I’ve put down some preparation techniques that can help you score a very high score on your GMAT test.
Do a lot of prep work.
Even if you start out great in your initial practice exams, you’ll need to put in a lot of prep time if you want to get the highest GMAT score.
Concentrate on your flaws.
Find out your limitations and work on them. Take note of your deficiencies when you go over your practice tests. Do you struggle with geometry or trigonometry? Do you find the Verbal section’s Critical Reasoning or Sentence Correction questions more difficult? The only way to shoot for an 800 is to focus on your weak regions.
Ensure that you are strong in both the Verbal and quantitative reasoning.
To get a flawless GMAT score, you’ll need good scores on both the Quant and Verbal sections, as I previously stated.
Examine official GMAT practice test questions.
Break down difficult question types into their constituent elements, especially if you’re having trouble with them. Which part of the question perplexes you the most? Find an explanation for the solution and compare it to your own train of thought.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be fixated on earning an 800 GMAT score. A 720 or higher will get you into practically any business school, and a 750 or higher will be deemed excellent at even the most prestigious MBA programs.
If you want to achieve an 800, however, you need to arrange your GMAT preparation properly. Spend a lot of time studying, focusing on your weaknesses, breaking down question types to see where you’re going wrong, and making sure you’re doing well in every GMAT section.
Reference
- Prepscholar.com – highest GMAT Score
- Menlocoaching.com – GMAT Score
