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Here is a brief outline of the article:
What is a Good GMAT Score?
Self-Assessment
Identify Your Target Business Schools
Research Your Target Business Schools
Refine the List of Target Business Schools
Arrive at a Good GMAT Score for You
What is a Good GMAT Score?
A strong GMAT score is typically above 700 for admission to top-tier business schools. An excellent score surpasses 740, while a score of 550 and above is considered average.
A good GMAT score serves as an indication of your intellectual aptitude and preparedness for academic challenges. Scoring well assures admission committees of your potential not only to gain entry but also to successfully navigate the demanding MBA program. The GMAT holds the highest weightage in your MBA application for this reason.
Achieving a high GMAT score is a reliable predictor of your performance in the initial year of business school. While the average score for all test-takers from 2019 to 2021 is 574.51 according to GMAC, determining what constitutes a good GMAT score involves more than a simple benchmark of 574.
Individual goals vary, making a standardized answer to the question of a “good GMAT score” impractical. In the competitive landscape of business school applications, a high score distinguishes you from your peers.
Follow this 5-step process, and you’ll be able to identify the best GMAT score for you:
- Self-Assessment:
- Take a diagnostic test to identify your current score.
- Utilize a Verbal and Quantitative Diagnostic Quiz.
- Assess your profile based on pre-MBA industry, nationality, gender, average GPA, and average age.
- Establish a baseline to understand your starting point.
- Example: If your diagnostic test yields a score of 450 with two months until the application deadline, consider the feasibility of reaching a 700+ score and plan accordingly.
- Identify Your Target Business Schools:
- Align your career goals with specific business schools.
- Tailor your choices based on your desired field; for instance, Wharton for Finance or Booth for Consulting.
- Research Your Target Business Schools:
- Investigate the average score of the last year’s incoming class.
- Examine the overall class profile of the previous year.
- Refine the List of Target Business Schools:
- Categorize schools based on fit:
- Reasonable ones (match your profile and score).
- Optimistic ones (a stretch but with a chance).
- Safety nets (high likelihood of admission).
- Categorize schools based on fit:
- Arrive at a Good GMAT Score for You:
- Consider the competition level in your candidate pool.
- Evaluate the average score of the last incoming class.
- Factor in potential scholarships and analyze the Return on Investment (ROI).
Example: If you’re an Indian Engineer with 4-5 years of experience targeting a top 10 business school, and your baseline score is 680, aim for a score 30+ points higher than the maximum average of your target schools. For Stanford GSB with an average score of 737, aim for 764 and above to stand out. Adjust your target if time constraints necessitate refining your list to Business Schools ranked 6 to 15, where a good score might be 750 and above.
