The current GMAT exam, which is the admissions test that most MBA applicants choose to take, includes three sections—Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights—each of which tests different skills. The current version of the exam is two hours and 15 minutes long and includes 64 questions.
Section details are as follows, per GMAC, the organization that administers the GMAT:
| Exam Section | Number of questions | Time length |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 21 | 45 min |
| Verbal Reasoning | 23 | 45 min |
| Data Insights | 20 | 45 min |
Question types within Verbal Reasoning include Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension. The Verbal section of the exam aims to assess your ability to read and understand material, and to evaluate arguments and reason logically.
All question types within the Quantitative Reasoning section are considered Problem Solving questions. Topics covered in the Quant section include number properties, arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. This section aims to assess your knowledge of algebra and arithmetic, as well as your analytical thinking skills.
Question types within Data Insights include Data Sufficiency, Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, and Two-Part Analysis. This section aims to assess how you work with data in real-world situations.
Overall, the GMAT also tests your ability to analyze and use data, work with incomplete information, communicate, make decisions, and manage your time under pressure.
GMAT Score Breakdown
Total Scores for the current version of the exam (Focus Edition) range from 205 to 805, with scores ending in five (5). Scores on the prior version of GMAT (10th Edition) ranged from 200 to 800, with scores always ending in zero (0).
Specific section scores range from 60 to 90.
| Total Score | |
|---|---|
| Score range: 205–805 | |
| Score intervals: 10 | |
| Standard error of measurement: 30–40 points | |
| Quantitative Reasoning Score | |
| Score range: 60–90 | |
| Score intervals: 1 | |
| Standard error of measurement: 3 points | |
| Verbal Reasoning Score | |
| Score range: 60–90 | |
| Score intervals: 1 | |
| Standard error of measurement: 3 points | |
| Data Insights Score | |
| Score range: 60–90 | |
| Score intervals: 1 | |
| Standard error of measurement: 3 points | |
The GMAT is a computer adaptive test, which means that your score is calculated with an algorithm that adjusts the difficulty level of the questions you receive based on your performance as you proceed through the exam. In other words, you receive increasingly difficult test questions as you perform better and less difficult ones when you answer questions incorrectly. In this way, the exam aims to identify your precise ability level.
Your final GMAT scores take into account not just how many questions you got correct and incorrect but also the difficulty level of each question you answered. Your overall score is based on your results on all three sections, weighted equally.
What Qualifies as a “Good” GMAT Score
Two key considerations influence what would be considered a “good” GMAT score:
- Percentiles
- Average/median scores at your target schools
Percentiles
To see how your specific overall and subscores compare to those of other test takers, you can reference the latest percentiles, which are compiled by GMAC.
Percentiles reveal how your score compares with those of everyone who has taken the exam globally. Scoring at the 50th percentile means that you have scored higher than 50% of test takers. Currently, a 90th percentile Total Score would equate to about a 655, for reference. Average scores at the top U.S. full-time MBA programs (such as Harvard Business School, the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wharton, and Columbia Business School) have typically been around the 95th percentile (meaning that only the top 5% of test takers score at this level), which is approximately 675.
Sampling of GMAT (Focus Edition) Total Score Percentiles
GMAT Focus Total Score Percentiles
| Score | Mean Score | Percentile Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 805 | 0% | |
| 755 | 100% | |
| 705 | 100% | |
| 655 | 99% | |
| 605 | 93% | |
| 555 | 546.01 | 75% |
| 505 | 53% | |
| 455 | 31% | |
| 405 | 17% | |
| 355 | 8% | |
| 305 | 3% | |
| 255 | 1% | |
| 205 | 0% |
Source: mba.com by GMAC
Average/Median Scores at Your Target Schools
Be sure to also research what the average and/or median test score is at each of your target programs. Your admissions chances will be higher if your score is equal to or higher than the averages/medians at your intended schools.
You can find the test scores of enrolled students at your target programs in several places online, including in the Class Profile for each individual school. Keep in mind that you might sometimes see scores for the previous version of the GMAT.
Median GMAT Scores at the Top U.S. Business Schools
| School Name | U.S. News & World Report Ranking (2025) | Median GMAT Score (10th Edition) of Full-Time Students | Median Undergraduate GPA | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) | 1 | 740 | 3.7 | 20.50% |
| Northwestern University (Kellogg) | 2 (tie) | 740 | 3.8 | 28.60% |
| Stanford University | 2 (tie) | 740 | 3.8 | 6.80% |
| University of Chicago (Booth) | 4 | 730 | 3.7 | 28.70% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) | 5 | 730 | 3.7 | 14.10% |
| Dartmouth College (Tuck) | 6 (tie) | 730 | 3.6 | 31.20% |
| Harvard University | 6 (tie) | 740 | 3.7 | 11.20% |
| New York University (Stern) | 6 (tie) | 740 | 3.7 | 25.10% |
| Columbia University | 9 | 740 | 3.7 | 20.90% |
| Yale University | 10 | 730 | 3.6 | 27.30% |
| University of California – Berkeley (Haas) | 11 (tie) | 730 | 3.7 | 25.30% |
| University of Virginia (Darden) | 11 (tie) | 720 | NA | 33.90% |
| Duke University (Fuqua) | 13 (tie) | 720 | 3.6 | 19.50% |
| University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (Ross) | 13 (tie) | 730 | 3.4 | 28.90% |
| Cornell University (Johnson) | 15 | 710 | 3.4 | 28.10% |
| University of Texas – Austin (McCombs) | 16 | 710 | 3.5 | 37.90% |
| Emory University (Goizueta) | 17 | 710 | 3.5 | 36.80% |
| Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) | 18 (tie) | 700 | 3.3 | 26.60% |
| University of California – Los Angeles (Anderson) | 18 (tie) | 720 | 3.5 | 30.70% |
| Vanderbilt University (Owen) | 18 (tie) | 710 | 3.4 | 38.40% |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Scheller) | 21 | 700 | 3.4 | 18.20% |
| Indiana University (Kelley) | 22 (tie) | 690 | 3.4 | 29.00% |
| University of Washington (Foster) | 22 (tie) | 705 | 3.4 | 38.50% |
| Georgetown University (McDonough) | 24 | 700 | 3.4 | 60.30% |
| Ohio State University (Fisher) | 24 (tie) | 690 | 3.6 | 8.60% |
| University of Southern California (Marshall) | 24 (tie) | 720 | 3.5 | 23.10% |
| Washington University in St. Louis (Olin) | 24 (tie) | 740 | 3.6 | 18.30% |
Source: U.S. News & World Report
How Schools Use GMAT Scores in the Admissions Process
Business schools look at your GMAT score, in combination with your undergraduate performance (overall GPA as well as specifics on your transcripts), to predict your ability to handle the academic rigor of their MBA program.
MBA admissions decisions are holistic and take into account many factors, including a candidate’s test score(s), academic background, work experience, leadership potential, recommender insight, extracurricular involvement, career goals, and fit with the program. GMAT scores alone will not get an applicant accepted to a program, but scoring well below the program’s average can certainly hold an applicant back and become a roadblock to acceptance. In addition, you will often be competing for a space in the class with many other well-qualified candidates who are also submitting strong test scores, so to maximize your chances, you want to score as high as possible on your test.
In the MBA admissions process, your Total Score (205–805) is the most important. This score will affect your MBA program’s class average, and the admissions committees use this score in their efforts to predict your level of success in their program. So even though you want to maximize your scores in all three sections, any number of score combinations can result in the same Total Score.
However, because the MBA is a quantitative degree in nature, a very low GMAT Quant subscore could become a red flag or concern for a candidate in a competitive application environment.
Comparing 10th Edition GMAT Scores with Focus Edition Scores
GMAC offers a Concordance Table on its website that shows the correlation between scores on the previous version of the GMAT and those on the current exam. Note that these are subject to change and that percentiles are also updated annually.
Excerpt from GMAC’s GMAT Score Concordance Table
| GMAT Exam (10th Edition) | GMAT Exam (Focus Edition) | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | 805 | 100.00% |
| 790 | 805 | 100.00% |
| 790 | 795 | 100.00% |
| 790 | 785 | 100.00% |
| 780 | 785 | 100.00% |
| 780 | 775 | 100.00% |
| 780 | 765 | 99.90% |
| 780 | 755 | 99.90% |
| 770 | 755 | 99.90% |
| 770 | 745 | 99.70% |
| 770 | 735 | 99.60% |
| 760 | 735 | 99.60% |
| 760 | 725 | 99.20% |
| 760 | 715 | 99.00% |
| 750 | 715 | 99.00% |
| 750 | 705 | 98.20% |
| 750 | 695 | 97.70% |
| 740 | 695 | 97.70% |
| 740 | 685 | 96.20% |
| 730 | 685 | 96.20% |
| 730 | 675 | 95.30% |
| 720 | 675 | 95.30% |
When to Take the GMAT and How Long to Prepare for It
GMAT scores are valid for five years, so even if you are not planning to apply to business school for several more years, taking the exam sooner rather than later can be beneficial. Create a time frame for studying for and taking the exam that works with your professional and personal schedule.
Most candidates spend two to four months preparing for the GMAT. You might consider taking a preparation course and/or working with a tutor, which can help strengthen your quantitative and verbal foundations and maximize your score.
A thorough prep course will provide the following:
- Foundational content you must review to do well on test day (e.g., number properties, algebra)
- Specific strategies for approaching each question type and for times you get stuck
- Realistic practice in the form of full-length computer adaptive exams to ensure that you are ready for the actual test experience
Test Prep Tips to Maximize Your GMAT Score
Follow these tips to give yourself the best chance of achieving your target GMAT score:
- Give yourself two to four months to prepare (on average, top scorers prepare for more than 80 hours).
- Set a study plan and stick to it (e.g., two to three hours a day, four or five days a week, for two or three months).
- Take five to eight full practice exams before test day.
- Do not study the day before the test; give yourself a mental break.
Read tips on how to create your ideal GMAT study plan.
Retaking the GMAT
Retaking the GMAT is not something you need to avoid, because business schools will use your highest score when evaluating you for admission. We therefore recommend that you consider retaking the exam if you feel you can improve your score and/or you scored below your desired target for your intended business schools.
Taking the exam more than once is relatively common. Be aware that you must wait 16 days between exams, and build that into your timeline as you plan ahead. You can take the exam up to five times in a 12-month period.
Alternatives to the GMAT
The vast majority of business schools require applicants to take either the GMAT or the GRE exam and submit their score as part of their application. The GMAT has historically been the exam taken by most applicants to MBA programs and some specialized master’s degree programs in finance, management, and other business disciplines. However, schools generally do not have a preference between the two exams (GMAT or GRE), so you should take the one on which you feel you would score higher and would therefore help present you in the strongest possible light as an applicant.
We recommend taking a free online practice exam (available on each respective test developer’s website) early in your test preparation process to assess your comfort level with both exam options and generate a rough starting score, and then use that experience to determine which test to focus on. Note that some candidates actually take both exams to see which one they ultimately perform better on (the subject areas covered by the two tests overlap substantially).
A small but growing number of full-time MBA programs also accept a third admissions exam, the Executive Assessment (EA). The EA was created by the same organization that produces the GMAT and was initially intended for candidates applying for Executive MBA (EMBA) programs. The EA is accepted as an alternative to the GMAT or GRE at several elite U.S. full-time MBA programs, including Columbia Business School, NYU Stern, UVA Darden, Duke Fuqua, Texas McCombs, and Georgetown McDonough.
View a full list of programs that accept the EA, according to GMAC.
If you have taken practice exams for the different tests and are still unsure as to which one to focus on, or if you just need additional advice related to your test preparation, contact us to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants, who can offer valuable input on your situation. We offer these complimentary advice consultations on a weekly basis across multiple time zones.
GMAT/GRE Test Waivers
Some MBA programs offer test waivers for applicants who either cannot take an exam or feel they have sufficient evidence to otherwise demonstrate their quantitative, analytical, and verbal reasoning skills. If you are considering applying for a test waiver, you must review the specific requirements outlined by the school in question, because policies tend to vary widely. In general, you will need to provide evidence that proves your abilities via past academics, work experience, and/or certifications or other graduate degrees.
Read more about test waivers and who should consider them.
Check out our list of top U.S. programs, test requirements, and waiver offerings. (Note that this information is subject to change; always review each school’s policy for the most up-to-date info on its requirements and options.)
Hear more advice on determining which test to take for MBA applications.
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