Writing the GMAT exam helps you get ready for a career in business management. So, if you are looking to pursue an MBA soon, this article has been written with you in mind.
This article has been written to help you understand what GMAT percentiles mean and how it affects you in your career pursuit.
So, let’s get started but before we do, here’s the table of content for an overview of what to expect in this article.
What Are GMAT Percentiles and How Do They Work?
The word ‘percentile’ isn’t so much of a regular word and this makes the whole question a bit dicey to answer. But not to worry, I’ll answer every bit of your questions.
So, what exactly do these percentiles denote?
Percentiles in the GMAT exam represent the percentage of test takers you outperformed in the exam. If you scored in the 75th percentile, you outperformed 75% of the other students. The remaining 25% had a score that was equal to or greater than yours.
A high percentile score indicates that you outperformed the majority of people on the GMAT. A low percentile score indicates that you performed poorly in comparison to the majority of test-takers.
Your GMAT percentiles are calculated using data from students who took the GMAT within the last three years.
Let’s say you took the GMAT in 2012, your percentiles may have changed now from when you first received your official result report. Because percentiles are updated once a year, they may vary slightly over time.
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Should Business Schools Use GMAT Percentiles?
Your application is evaluated based on both scores and percentiles. Schools commonly use your GMAT score report as the first component of their evaluation, even if they don’t publish a cutoff score. The committee may require a particular score before proceeding with your application.
Percentiles show how your GMAT score compares to the population of other test-takers. High percentiles signal elite colleges that you tested better than the majority of other applicants.
Most top business school students have overall scores in the 90th percentile or higher. Let’s look at the GMAT scores and percentiles you need to get into business graduate school.
What GMAT Score Do You Need to Get into Business School?
Business schools, once again, do not have a rigid cutoff for scores or percentiles. Rather, they emphasize the importance of a holistic admissions procedure. They assess your past education, work experience, essays, and recommendation letters in addition to grades and test scores.
However, your GMAT results are still significant in determining whether or not you have the reasoning skills necessary to succeed in a business school classroom. Scores are frequently utilized as a launching point; if your scores are too low, a committee may not pay much attention to the rest of your application.
The average GMAT score is roughly 552 for all exam takers. Students with a GMAT score of 700 or higher, which corresponds to the 89th percentile, are more likely to be accepted into top business schools.
Accepted students at major business schools such as Harvard Business School and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School average around 720 on the GMAT. Let’s take a look at the GMAT scores and percentiles of accepted students at America’s top 15 business schools.
Also Read: MCAT vs GRE in 2024: Overview, Similarities, Differences
How to Calculate Your Target GMAT Percentiles
Because percentiles change year to year, achieving a goal GMAT score is more important than a target GMAT percentile. You should research the GMAT requirements of the institutions you intend to apply to.
Most colleges publish accepted students’ average GMAT scores. Each school’s website has this information. If you can’t find it, you can contact the admissions office directly. Using the chart above, you can find the average score’s percentile.
After studying business schools, familiarize yourself with the GMAT and its scoring. Create a study plan that will help you reach your goals and impress admissions committees. If you need help improving your GMAT score (or just want extra coaching), check out PrepScholar GMAT’s complete online course. It’s a cost-effective choice for those seeking an MBA.
What your percentiles mean and how to get high percentiles
Your GMAT score report will not only tell you how you did on the test but also how you did in comparison to others. Your percentiles for total and section results show how much better you did than the average test-taker.
The Graduate Management Admission Council analyzes the figures every summer, so your percentiles may change. You won’t notice much change. However, during the last 15 years, average scores have climbed while percentiles have drifted down.
The average quantitative score has risen, making it tougher to get a high percentile. To get into the 80th or 90th percentile today, you need a very high math score.
Businesses know that percentiles change throughout time. They care about your GMAT scores. However, they do look at percentiles to see how competitive your scores are.
As you study for the GMAT, look into the typical GMAT scores and percentiles of admitted students at your target business schools. You can study your colleges and set GMAT targets. With a thorough test prep plan and timed practice exams, you may start working towards your target results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about GMAT scores and percentiles:
Your MBA application will be close to consideration if you have a good GMAT score. As a result, a good GMAT score is determined by your MBA profile.
The average GMAT score for business schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton is 730. If you want to apply to elite business schools, a GMAT score of at least 730 is recommended. An excellent GMAT score is determined by the average GMAT score of the B-school you’re considering as well as your personal profile.
Basically, you should score 760 or above on the GMAT to get a 99 percentile.
GMAT 700 means you have an 88-percentile score.
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