Average GMAT Scores

May 16, 2025

If you're studying hard for the GMAT, you're probably also looking at how well others score too. It's only natural, particularly as it gets closer and closer to test day and you're trying to navigate dense reading material and complicated quant questions. The GMAT is a challenging test for a reason—it's intended to pinpoint those with a high aptitude to perform under pressure. How well do you perform in pressure-packed situations compared to your peers and colleagues? Knowing how your GMAT average score relates to the average scores of others is a first step in realistically understanding your business school admission odds, chances, and opportunities. 

This article will present a plethora of data about average GMAT scores, not only general averages, but averages by school/program, country, and region. This is intended to help you and your course of study as you strive to achieve a top score. While we don't want to focus too much on other test takers' performance, we do want to keep in mind the competition in the application pool. Let's begin by delving into the fundamentals of GMAT scoring.

GMAT Average Scores: The Basics

In order to better understand GMAT averages, let's first look at how the exam is scored. The GMAT's scoring system was changed when the revamped Focus edition of the test replaced the previous 10^th edition in February 2024. Particularly in light of this major revision, it's good to become familiar with the scoring structure and rubric to have in the back of your mind while sitting for the exam.

Average GMAT Score by School

Determining the average GMAT score for your chosen school is of paramount importance. First and foremost, it allows you to size up your competition. By knowing the average GMAT scores of all students in the business program, you're able to gain better insight into its standards and expectations. Naturally, this can help or hurt you, depending on your GMAT score. If your score is higher than the program average, you clearly have a leg up in admissions; if it's lower, you will have to rely on other components of your application to get the same attention. In the end, it's all a balancing act.

Let's look at some elite schools and their average GMAT scores (10^th edition and Focus edition score conversion), with data also shown at the bottom of the chart for top schools that only provide median scores. While we don't have room to list all the scores, this will give you an idea of what they are and hopefully inspire you to investigate on your own for other schools.

Bridging the gap between an MBA program's average GMAT score and your own takes careful concentration, time, energy, and focus. While it may seem daunting in the beginning with such a large and intimidating number as a baseline score, it will hopefully motivate you to keep stretching further into your potential for better test day strategies and subsequent results. Is your school not here? More than likely, its average is published on the school's website or can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section. Rest assured you aren't the only one looking for the answer to this important question!

Fluctuations in GMAT Averages by School

Let's take a look at several U.S. business schools that had the most fluctuation in their GMAT average scores (10^th Edition) in both drop-offs and gains between the years 2019 and 2024. What a difference six years can make! (Please note: This information was taken from a Poets & Quants article titled, "2024's High & Low GMAT Scores at the World's Leading MBA Programs.")

Biggest Average GMAT Score Drop-offs at Top U.S. Business Schools

Biggest Average GMAT Score Gains at Top U.S. Business Schools

Many factors can contribute to average score gains, such as school visibility and enhanced curriculums, reputations, and scholarship opportunities. If your school doesn't publish gains and decreases in averages, you can do the math yourself if you're willing to put in the time. It might not be bad practice for the Quant section, particularly if you can do it without a calculator!

Average GMAT Score by Country

While the GMAT is in English, it truly is a global exam in many respects since students from all over the globe sit for it annually for b-school admission. Schools around the world accept the GMAT as a building block of a prospective student's application profile. Let's examine demographics of GMAT test takers, particularly by region or citizenship.

This 2024 testing year data from GMAC shows information for both the 10^th edition and the Focus edition, which was introduced in November 2023. The previous test could be taken until February 1, 2024, so the number of exams taken of each GMAT version is shown and their percentile rankings provided.

According to this information, the top GMAT scores came from Australia and the Pacific Islands for both versions of the test, followed by the United States, and Western Europe for 10^th edition test takers, and by Central & South Asia and East & Southeast Asia for those who took the Focus exam. How do you factor into your region's average? With diversity important in b-schools around the world, it's important to know how you line up when it comes to your own average and country. 

The Takeaway

Knowledge is power. Knowing these important statistics will help you have a better understanding of your performance and score and how it factors into applications and the admissions process. Keep in mind that studying is paramount to enhancing your overall average, which in turn opens doors into MBA programs that can be real game changers in the world of business and commerce. Decide which plan makes the most sense for you and optimize your study with mock exams to track your progress and projected score as you get closer and closer to exam day.