What is a good GMAT score? Many students take the exam and wonder what their score means and if they did well.
Knowing what a good score is will also give you a goal to shoot for when studying and preparing for the GMAT.
Summary: We cover everything you need to know about the GMAT score in our guide. If you want to improve your score, think about purchasing one of the best GMAT prep courses.
What is a Good GMAT Score?
A good GMAT score is a score that places you in the top 10%. If you have a GMAT score of 710 or higher, you should consider that a great score.
- Excellent GMAT Score: 710+
- Above Average GMAT Score: 650-700
- Average GMAT Score: 550-640
- Below Average GMAT Score: Less than 550
As with any test score, what is defined as “good” depends on your expectations and goals. If you want to get a top score, use our free GMAT practice tests to prepare.
GMAT Score Range
To better understand your score, it is helpful to know more about the GMAT score range. The GMAT is scored on a scale from 200-800.
How is the GMAT Scored?
The GMAT total score (200-800) is made up of the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections of the exam.
Each of those two sections are scored on a scale from 6 to 51. Those two scores are then scaled to give you your GMAT total score between 200 and 800.
The GMAT is adaptive which means that the questions become easier or harder based on how you answer them.
Since the exam is adaptive, the exam is not graded on the number of questions answered correctly. It is graded based on the difficulty level of the questions you answer.
What About the Scores from Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing?
The scores from these 2 sections are not included on the GMAT total score. They are scored in the following manner:
- Integrated Reasoning: 0-8
- Analytical Writing Assessment: 0-6
To be honest, MBA programs care a lot more about your composite GMAT score, which does not include these two sections. These sections are still important, but not as important as verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning.
GMAT Percentiles
Many students like to see how they stacked up to the competition. This is where GMAT percentiles come into play. The table below outlines GMAT scores and what percentile they fall into.
| GMAT Composite Score | Percentile |
| 800 | 99% |
| 750 | 98% |
| 700 | 88% |
| 650 | 73% |
| 600 | 56% |
| 550 | 39% |
| 500 | 27% |
| 450 | 17% |
| 400 | 10% |
| 350 | 6% |
| 300 | 3% |
| 250 | 2% |
| 200 | 0% |
GMAT Subsections
| Score | Verbal | Quantitative |
| 51 | 99% | 96% |
| 50 | 99% | 85% |
| 49 | 99% | 74% |
| 48 | 99% | 67% |
| 47 | 99% | 61% |
| 46 | 99% | 58% |
| 45 | 99% | 55% |
| 40 | 90% | 39% |
| 35 | 76% | 26% |
| 30 | 58% | 17% |
| 25 | 39% | 10% |
| 20 | 23% | 6% |
| 15 | 10% | 3% |
| 10 | 3% | 1% |
Source: GMAC.com
Average GMAT Score
An average GMAT score is a score that puts you in the 50th percentile. According to GMAC, the average GMAT composite score was 574.51. Here is a breakdown of average scores by section:
- Analytical Writing: 4.43
- Integrated Reasoning: 4.65
- Verbal Reasoning: 27.51
- Quantitative Reasoning: 41.3
- Total Score: 574.51
Please note that the verbal and quantitative reasoning scores above are the raw scores before they are scaled. You can learn more about the exam by reading our GMAT overview article.
Factors to Consider for a Good GMAT Score
Since everyone will have some different definition of a good score, we have put together some factors you should consider when defining a good score.
- Does this score get you into the school / program of your choice?
- Does this score get you any scholarship money?
- Does this score align with the amount of study hours you put in?
Finding Your Goal GMAT Score
A great way to determine what a good GMAT score for you is to find your goal score. You can use the following 3 steps to find your goal score:
Step 1: Determine the Schools You Want to Apply To
Every school will have different score requirements. By narrowing down an initial list of schools you may want to apply to, you will have a better idea of what score you will need.
Step 2: Do Research on the GMAT Scores for Those Schools
Many of these schools will publish their data on GMAT scores from previous students. MBA programs use this as a badge of honor to show how prestigious their programs are.
You just need a general idea of what scores your school or program uses. This will give you a benchmark to work towards.
Step 3: Nail Down Your Goal Score
It is best to aim for a lofty goal. This will help you be more motivated throughout the study process.
We recommend looking at the 75th percentile scores from the schools on your list. If you can score in the 75th percentile for their MBA score, you will give yourself a very competitive shot at getting admitted.
If you fall a bit short of that 75th percentile, you will still have a fighting shot and can consider other programs if necessary.
Improving Your GMAT Score
If you want to improve your GMAT score, there are a couple of different things you can do and focus on.
See What Your Struggled With
Assuming you already took the exam, dive into your score report. Find where you struggled the most and focus on those areas.
This will help you study more efficiently if you are planning on taking the exam again.
Take a Practice Test
Taking practice exams is a great way to prepare for the upcoming exam. Practice questions will help you become more familiar with the exam and be better prepared.
Practice exams with answer explanations will also help you learn why an answer was correct or incorrect. This will help you discover new ways to solve problems and save time when taking the actual exam.
You can use our GMAT practice test to start practicing.
Invest in Alternative Prep
Maybe your first prep program did not work. No worries, there are a ton of prep programs out there. Our team reviewed the best GMAT prep courses to help users find the best fit for them.
These courses can be looked at like an investment You will pay some money up front, but will reap the rewards when you get into the program of your choice and graduate with your MBA.
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