Content Writer at Study Abroad Exams
GMAT cutoff for MBA in the USA is important for many aspirants as the top MBA schools are looking for candidates who secure good scores. GMAT score ranges between 650-690 and a score of 700 or higher is great as it can help you get into your dream B-school. However, to qualify with a strong GMAT score depends both on the competitiveness of the MBA program, and his or her demographic profile, according to business school admissions experts.
GMAT aspirants can expect to receive a GMAT score that ranges from a minimum of 200 to a maximum of 800, which is a perfect score. MBA hopeful candidates can set their target GMAT score based upon the average score accepted by their programs of interest.
GMAT Score and Percentile
A perfect score of 800 can compensate for any weaknesses that you have in the non-score portions of a business school application. Generally, scores of 650 and above would ordinarily qualify someone for consideration at the top 20 business grad programs, but any score in the 600s might suffice for a top 50 program.
The score and percentile table below can give you an idea of it:
| Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 760-800 | 99% |
| 750 | 98% |
| 740 | 97% |
| 730 | 96% |
| 720 | 94% |
| 710 | 91% |
| 700 | 88% |
| 690 | 85% |
| 680 | 82% |
| 670 | 80% |
| 660 | 77% |
| 650 | 73% |
GMAT Score Requirements for top MBA colleges in the USA
To enroll in an MBA programme in the USA there is a lot of information that you’ll need to find before you decide to apply, and things that you need to do. Test scores matter for every application, especially for schools in the U.S.A.
If you’re applying for an MBA programme in 2021, and are wishing to attend one of the best business schools in the U.S.A., you will have to give the GMAT test to enroll in any MBA programme.Most schools in the U.S.A. don’t officially set a minimum GMAT score for their programmes, but, many schools will tell you which scores, on average, students had to receive in order to be admitted to their program in previous years.
The table below shows the average score that you need to get admission in top B-school:
| Business School | Average GMAT scores(2020) | Average GMAT Score(2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford Graduate School of Business | 733 | 737 GMAT(average) |
| The Wharton School – University of Pennsylvania | 730 | 732 GMAT(average) |
| Booth School of Business | 730 | 730 |
| MIT Sloan School of Management | 724 | - |
| Sloan School of Management – Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 720 | 724 GMAT(average) |
| Kellogg School of Management – Northwestern University | 727 | 730 |
| MIT Sloan School of Management | 720 | 727 |
| Dartmouth Tuck | 720 | 723 |
| Haas School of Business(US Berkeley) | 727 | 725 |
| Yale School of Management – Yale University | 720 | 730GMAT(average) |
| Columbia Business School – Columbia University | 726 | 727GMAT(average) |
| The Fuqua School of Business – Duke University | 710 GMAT(average) | 695GMAT(average) |
| Tuck School of Business | 730GMAT(average) | 717GMAT(average) |
| UCLA Anderson School of Management | - | 715GMAT(average) |
| University of Virginia, Darden | 703GMAT(average) | 712GMAT(average) |
| The University of Texas at Austin - McCombs School of Business | 703GMAT(average) | 700GMAT(average) |
Business schools in USA that accept candidates with lower GMAT scores
The table mentioned below provides the information that will give you a clear idea about the GMAT accepting colleges in the world and the average GMAT cut-needed to get admission into MBA programs. TheGMAT cutoff might change as per intake so the MBA aspirants are advised to cross-check the GMAT scores by visiting the official website before applying there.
| Business School | Average GMAT scores |
|---|---|
| University of South Florida (Tampa, FL) | The candidates with 5 or more years of managerial experience may request a GMAT/GRE waiver |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Not mentioned |
| Hult International Business School (San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA; New York City, NY) – Accepts Hult Business Assessment Test instead of GMAT | It accepts Hult Business Assessment Test rather than GMAT |
| Harvard Extension School (Cambridge, MA) | Not mentioned |
| Kogod School of Business (Washington, DC) – possible GMAT waiver | Possible GMAT waiver |
GMAT scoring
Many students are so focused on the end result, that they lose sight of what scorers are actually looking for and how each section is scored. This can provide you with continued insight into your own score, as well as a deeper understanding of how you can enhance our own test-day strategies.
If you are planning to apply for an American MBA in the top Business school in the U.S.A, this list can be helpful to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your profile. After identifying your weak spots, you can go to work and improve them.
There is no rigid list of things colleges look for when they review an application. They look for skills and talents in the applicant, rather than focus on one or two aspects. Keeping that in mind- the criteria that the admission officers use to shortlist candidates, are some points which summarize the main factors for getting admitted to the University of your Choice.
- Academic Profile
- High cumulative GPA
- Above average performance in quantitative or business-oriented courses
- GMAT score above the school’s average
- Undergraduate degree from a school with an excellent academic reputation
- Career Progress
- Clear evidence of career progress
- Visible progress made in achieving career goals
- Employer is known to have very high standards for hiring
- Excellent references/recommendation letters
- Plenty of evidence of managerial potential
- Leadership Portfolio
- Evidence of leadership at work
- Evidence of leadership outside of work
- Self-awareness of leadership capabilities and development needs
- Career Goals
- Defined career goals
- Career goals reflect a sense of purpose: passion, meaning, and significance
- Admissions committee can connect the dots between prior skills/experiences and post-MBA career goals
- Convincing motivations for pursuing an MBA
- Career goals reflect a global perspective
- Other Qualities
- Evidence of self-awareness
- Evidence of maturity/life-experience
- Balanced personality
- International/cross-cultural experience
- A great fit with the school’s culture
| Score | Range | How it’s calculated | Average Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total score | 200-800 and reported in 10 points increments | Math and Verbal Section results | 556.04 |
| Quantitative Score | 0-60 and reported in one-point increments | This is based upon:
| 39.4 |
| Verbal Score | 0-60 and reported in one- point increment | This score is based upon:
| 26.86 |
| Integrated Reasoning | 1-8 and reported in one-point increments | Based on number of questions answered correctly | 4.23 |
| AWA(Writing) | 0-6 and reported in half-point increments | Average of scores assigned by two readers. | 4.44 |
The entire MBA Application Process involves Evaluation Factors, Importance, and Weightages.
| MBA Application Factors | Weightage |
|---|---|
| GMAT Total Score | 16 |
| GMAT Quant Percentile | 6 |
| Essay questions | 15 |
| Admission interview | 12 |
| Undergraduate GPAs | 10 |
| Recommendations | 8 |
| Employer’s brand | 7 |
| Undergraduate college | 6 |
| Extracurriculars | 6 |
| Length of work experience | 5 |
| International experience | 3 |
| Undergraduate major | 2 |
| Languages | 1 |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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