What is a Good GMAT Score? The Definitive Guide to Hitting Your Target

If you're gearing up for business school, the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) feels like the ultimate gatekeeper. Everyone talks about the magic number, but the truth is, defining a "good" GMAT score is rarely simple. It's highly subjective and depends entirely on one factor: where you want to go.

I remember working with a client, let's call him Alex. Alex scored a solid 680 on his first attempt. He was ecstatic. Statistically, 680 is a very strong score, placing him well above the national average. He thought he was guaranteed a seat at any top 10 school.

Reality check time. When we looked at the median scores for his dream schools—Harvard, Stanford, Wharton—we saw those numbers consistently hovered between 730 and 740. Suddenly, 680 wasn't a ticket; it was a baseline. For Alex, a good score required another 50 points of dedicated study. For someone else aiming at a top-tier regional program, that 680 might be an excellent, competitive score.

This article will break down what a good GMAT score truly means for *you*, how to use percentile rankings, and why context is absolutely critical.

Deconstructing the GMAT: Understanding the Score Structure

Before we define "good," we need to understand the playing field. The GMAT measures your abilities across four main sections, but the main composite score—the one everyone talks about—is based on only two.

The total GMAT score operates on a scale from 200 to 800. This is your primary number. It is calculated based on your performance in the Quantitative Reasoning (Quant) and Verbal Reasoning (Verbal) sections.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what those scores actually mean in real terms:

• The Maximum Score: 800 (Achieved by less than 1% of test-takers).
• The Minimum Score: 200.
• The Global Average GMAT Score: Typically hovers around 560 to 565.
• The Average Score for Accepted Students (Top 50 Schools): Generally 650+.

The other sections—Integrated Reasoning (IR) and Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)—are scored separately and are usually secondary considerations for admissions committees, though poor performance can raise flags.

The most crucial aspect of evaluating your performance isn't the raw score, but the GMAT percentile rank. This tells you what percentage of other test-takers you scored higher than. For example, a 700 score usually places you in the 88th percentile or higher, meaning you outperformed 88% of test-takers worldwide.

Context is King: Defining Your Target GMAT Score

A score of 700 is generally considered the benchmark for serious applicants. However, simply hitting 700 might only be sufficient for certain schools. To determine a genuinely "good" score, you must research the schools you plan to apply to. Admissions committees benchmark you against their accepted student profile from the previous year.

We can categorize scores based on the typical tiers of business schools:

1. Top Tier Elite Schools (M7 and T10)

These are the global heavyweights: Harvard (HBS), Stanford (GSB), Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Sloan, Columbia, and others consistently ranked in the top ten. Their standards are incredibly high, and the sheer volume of applicants is immense.

• Competitive Score Range: 720 to 760+
• Median Score Expectations: Typically 730 or higher.
• Why this range is necessary: If your score is below the median of these schools, your professional profile (work experience, GPA, essays) must be truly exceptional to compensate. A score in the high 700s (750-760) moves from "competitive" to "distinctly advantageous."

2. Top 11-25 Highly Selective Programs

These schools are still world-renowned and exceptionally difficult to gain entry to, including schools like Yale, Duke (Fuqua), Dartmouth (Tuck), and NYU (Stern).

• Competitive Score Range: 690 to 730.
• Median Score Expectations: Often sit right around the 700 or 710 mark.
• The Sweet Spot: If you score 700 or 710, you are right in the sweet spot, demonstrating strong quantitative and verbal aptitude necessary for their rigorous curriculum.

3. Top 26-50 Strong Regional/National Programs

These are outstanding, high-quality programs that offer excellent career opportunities but have slightly broader acceptance ranges.

• Competitive Score Range: 640 to 680.
• Median Score Expectations: Usually between 650 and 670.
• Scholarship Potential: Scoring at the higher end of this range (e.g., 680 or 690) may significantly increase your chances of receiving scholarship money, as you are a strong candidate compared to their average admitted student.

Actionable Tip: Do not rely solely on generalized rankings. Go to the official website for each school on your list and find their "Admitted Class Profile" from the most recent cycle. That median score is your absolute minimum target score.

Beyond the Total Score: The Importance of Quant and Verbal Balance

While the overall 200-800 score is the headline, admissions committees look closely at the sub-scores for Quantitative (Q) and Verbal (V). These sectional scores range from 6 to 51.

Why does the balance matter? Because the composite score can mask weaknesses.

Imagine two candidates:

• Candidate A: Total 700 (Q48, V38)
• Candidate B: Total 700 (Q42, V46)

Both have a 700, but their profiles are very different. Candidate A is exceptionally strong in math and average in verbal. Candidate B excels at verbal but is just above average in math.

If you are applying to an MBA program known for its heavy finance and data analytics focus (like Wharton), Candidate A’s strong Quantitative score (Q48) might be viewed much more favorably, even if the total is the same. Conversely, if you have a weak undergraduate GPA in quantitative subjects, the admissions committee will need a high GMAT Quant score to prove you can handle the coursework.

What Constitutes a Competitive Sub-Score?

A score in the 80th percentile or higher for either Quant or Verbal is generally considered competitive for top programs. This usually translates to:

• Quantitative: Q47 or higher.
• Verbal: V38 or higher.

Your goal isn't just to maximize the total; it’s to build a balanced profile that mitigates any weaknesses in your academic or professional background. If you’ve spent five years in accounting, a slightly lower Quant score might be okay because your work experience covers that competency. If you studied liberal arts, that high Quantitative score is absolutely vital.

When is a Score Considered "Not Good"?

A "not good" score isn't necessarily below average; it's simply a score that makes your application uncompetitive for your target schools. If the median GMAT score for your desired program is 700, and you score 640, that score is likely to hurt your application severely, regardless of how strong your essays are.

Scores below 600, while still above the global average, usually signal to top-tier schools that the applicant might struggle with the demanding academic pace. These scores often require serious damage control and a compelling explanation elsewhere in the application.

The Bottom Line: How to Determine Your Absolute Target

Finding a "good GMAT score" boils down to three simple, yet critical, steps:

1. Create Your Target School List

List the 5-10 MBA programs you are most interested in. Be realistic about your professional profile and experience.

2. Identify the Median Score

For each school on your list, find the published median GMAT score for their most recent admitted class. Don't look at the range; look at the 50th percentile (the median).

3. Set Your Buffer Goal

A truly *good* score should be at least 20 points above the median of your top three target schools. Why the buffer? Because achieving a score slightly above their median signals strength and flexibility, allowing the admissions committee to be more lenient if your GPA or work history needs a boost.

If the median for your dream school is 730, your target score should be 750. That 750 (a 98th percentile score) is objectively a "good GMAT score" because it maximizes your chances at the highest level of competition.

Ultimately, the GMAT is just one data point. A phenomenal score cannot save a weak application, but a weak score can certainly sink an otherwise strong one. Aim high, prepare smartly, and focus your efforts on hitting the specific metric your dream school demands.