Is Your GMAT or GRE Score “Good Enough” for a Top MBA? A Practical Way to Decide

Most MBA applicants don’t fear the essays first. They fear the score.
“Is my GMAT/GRE score good enough for a top school?”

That one question creates a loop: retake, compare, panic, delay. Sometimes even strong candidates apply late because they’re chasing a number instead of building a complete application.

The truth is business schools don’t admit test scores. They admit profiles. Your score matters, but only in context. This guide will help you judge whether your score is “good enough” and when a retake is actually worth it.

The myth of a “perfect” score

One of the biggest myths in MBA admissions is that there’s a magic number that guarantees admission. There isn’t. And there’s usually no single score within the Top 50%ile band that automatically rules you out either. 

Every year, applicants with high scores get rejected, and applicants with average scores get in, because schools are evaluating fit, readiness, clarity, and impact, not just numbers.

Your test score is a signal, not a verdict. It supports your case; it doesn’t define your potential.

Why business schools ask for test scores

Top schools use standardized tests like the GMAT, GRE, and Executive Assessment for three simple reasons:

• Academic readiness: To understand if you can handle a fast, rigorous curriculum with quant, data, and casework.
• A common yardstick: It helps compare applicants across different countries, universities, grading systems, and industries.
• Class balance: Schools admit a range of scores to build a strong, diverse cohort. That’s why they publish averages and not cut-offs.

What “average score” means

A published “average score” is not a minimum. It’s the middle of a range.

If a school’s average is high, it doesn’t mean everyone is clustered at that number. It means some students scored above it and others below it and admissions evaluated each score in combination with the full profile.

So the real question isn’t: “Am I above the average?”
It’s: “Does my score make my profile feel academically safe?”

Scores are reviewed in context, not in isolation

Admissions teams read your score alongside:

• your academics (university attended, coursework, grades)
• your work experience (companies, roles, progression, analytical exposure)
• your industry and function (diversity matters here)
• your location and applicant pool (The Indian GEM candidates conundrum is true)
• your overall story (goals, leadership, impact)

A candidate who has already shown strong analytical capability through academics or work may not need a “sky-high” score to look academically ready.

On the other hand, if your transcript is inconsistent or light on quantitative exposure, your test score becomes a more important proof point.

At LilacBuds, we often see applicants over-focus on “the overall number” when the real admissions concern is simpler:
Will this person thrive academically on our campus and do they have the foundational quant skills we look for?

If your profile already answers that convincingly, admissions usually moves on to bigger questions like leadership, contribution, clarity, and fit.

Past academics matter more than people like to admit

There’s a popular myth that your undergraduate performance “doesn’t matter” if your test score is strong. In reality, your academics are your longest performance record.

• If your undergrad track record shows consistency, discipline, and solid quantitative ability, a slightly lower test score often doesn’t alarm admissions.
• If your academics are uneven, the test score matters more because it becomes the cleanest academic signal.

Your work experience can strengthen the case too, especially if you’ve handled complex projects, done analytical roles, or delivered measurable outcomes.

Sectional scores can matter as much as the total

Total score matters, but sectionals can shape the academic readiness story, especially Quant.

• If your overall score is “okay” but your quant performance is strong, that can meaningfully improve how your profile is read.
• If quant is weak for a quant-heavy track, that’s where doubts appear, regardless of how good the total looks.

This is why broad comparisons to averages can be misleading. Sometimes a balanced score (or strong quant) plus a coherent profile beats a slightly higher total score with a weak sectional.

Case studies: how this plays out in real profiles

Mini case 1: Strong profile, “not perfect” score

An Indian candidate had clear leadership growth at work, came from a finance profile and had a small international stint too. She had good recommendations, and a well-reasoned post-MBA plan. Her score was below the school’s typical average, but her profile felt encouraging. We advised her to not retake the GMAT and invest that time in essays and interview preparation. Outcome: She got interviews from 3 of the Top 10 schools in the world and admits to two of them, all because the overall profile felt coherent and credible.

Mini case 2: The retake that actually mattered

Another applicant with fewer than average years of experience, came from a traditional GEM background. He had a consistent academic record from a reputed Indian college, but the GMAT Quant and DI score gave a weaker signal of readiness. For him, the retake wasn’t about perfection but about credibility to his story. A meaningful improvement (especially in quant) made the profile academically safer, and the rest of the application got evaluated on merit. He finally got admitted to a T20 school and even ISB in India.

Mini case 3: The “High Score” trap

An applicant from an over-represented industry applied with a near-perfect GMAT score of 715. On paper, his academic readiness was indisputable. However, he focused so heavily on achieving that score that his application and his essays were generic, his post-MBA goals were vague (“I want to do strategy consulting”), and he failed to demonstrate the leadership growth completely. So despite the elite score, he was waitlisted and eventually rejected by all three M7 programs he applied to, which he was hopeful for.

The Lesson: A great score gets your foot in the door, but it doesn’t walk you through it. At top-tier schools, a high score is a “check-the-box” for academic capability; it doesn’t compensate for a generic professional identity.

Should you retake? Use this simple rule

Retake if:

• Your score (or quant) is clearly below the typical range for your targets and
• You have a realistic improvement plan (not just hope) and
• You can retake without pushing your application late or compromising essays and recommendations

Think twice if:

• You’re chasing a small bump for peace of mind (10 points wont change the outcomes or your shortlist significantly)
• The retake will steal time from essays, recommendations, networking, or interviews which are also equally important
• Your profile already shows academic readiness through grades + analytical work

In many cases, a sharper narrative, stronger recommendations, and confident interviews create more lift than a minor score increase.

Focus on overall fit instead of perfect numbers

Successful MBA applicants don’t win by being perfect. They win by being credible.

Your score is “good enough” when it does two things:

1. signals academic readiness
2. doesn’t become the weakest link in your story

Once that’s achieved, obsessing over the number often causes more harm than benefit.

Experts Insight: Is your score good enough?

Your score is usually “good enough” when it supports your story and doesn’t create an obvious academic risk.

This is likely good enough for you if:

• Your score is reasonably close to your target schools’ typical range
• Your academics/work already show you can handle quant and rigor
• Your application is strong on clarity, leadership, and impact

You should seriously consider a retake if:

• Quant (or another key area) is weak for your intended track & post-MBA goals
• Your transcript doesn’t show academic consistency (big drops in GPA)
• Your score will be the clear “weakest link” in an otherwise competitive pool

Best next step: shortlist 5–7 target schools and evaluate your score in context and not against internet opinions.

How LilacBuds can help

If you’re stuck in the “retake or apply?” loop, our MBA consultants can help you assess your score in context of your target schools and your profile and tell you, honestly, whether to retake or move forward. We have given 100’s of applicants very clear and pertinent advice on how to plan retake attempts and which rounds to target based on their readiness.

If you share your target schools, academic background, work profile, and current GRE/ GMAT score breakdown, we can help you build a practical plan: apply now, retake with a purpose, or pivot strategy with timelines that don’t sabotage your deadlines.