What Is a Good GMAT Score?

A good GMAT score is one that’s competitive for the MBA programs you’re targeting. There’s no universal cutoff: a score that meets or exceeds the median at your target schools is a good score for you, even if that same number would fall short at a more selective program. 

That’s why the best way to judge your GMAT score is against your target schools, not against an absolute number. 

How GMAT Scoring Works

The GMAT total score ranges from 205 to 805, and every total score ends in a 5. It’s derived from three equally weighted sections, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights, each scored on a 60–90 scale. 

Your total score also comes with a percentile ranking, which shows how you performed relative to other recent GMAT test-takers and is the best way to judge how competitive your score is. For context, a 645—which GMAC considers equivalent to a 700 on the previous GMAT—falls around the 87th percentile, a 655 is roughly the 90th percentile, and a 555 sits near the middle of the distribution. 

Before we begin, here’s a complete breakdown of the scoring system and percentile rankings, if needed.

So What Counts as a Good Score for You?

Start with your target programs. Most business schools publish the GMAT score ranges of their admitted students, so the simplest way to set your target is to find those ranges and aim to score within, or above, them. A score at the median makes you competitive; a score above it strengthens your application. 

But your GMAT score is only one part of your application. A strong score won’t rescue a weak application, and a modest score won’t sink a strong one. We’ve seen applicants with below-median scores earn admission on the strength of their experience, essays, and recommendations, and we’ve seen applicants with exceptional scores get rejected. For more on how much weight the number really carries, see: Does the GMAT Matter?

If your score is competitive for your target programs, it’s a good score—full stop. And if it’s a little lower than you’d hoped, that doesn’t automatically put you out of the running, as we explain in How Low GMAT Scores Might Help Your MBA Application.

Do You Need a High GMAT Score?

It depends entirely on your goals. The most selective programs draw heavily from the upper percentiles, so if your heart is set on a top-five program, a higher score certainly helps. But plenty of excellent business schools, including many part-time and Executive MBA programs, admit strong candidates with mid-range scores. 

Chasing a “perfect” score you don’t actually need is one of the most common ways applicants lose months of valuable study time. For a different perspective on how much your GMAT score really matters, see: Our Best Students Prove That the GMAT Is Meaningless.