A 790 GMAT Score opens doors to admission in world-leading business schools. This comprehensive guide will help you navigate its significance.
- Understanding the GMAT Scoring System: Break down the components contributing to a 790 GMAT score.
- Is 790 a Good GMAT Score?: Analyze the implications a 790 score has on your B-school applications.
- 790 GMAT Score Percentile: Understand the student profile scoring in the 99th percentile.
Equip yourself with the knowledge behind what a 790 GMAT score means for your future.
Understanding the GMAT Scoring System
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a comprehensive examination aimed primarily at those who wish to gain admission into business school programs such as an MBA. This global standard test plays a significant role in the admission process, and understanding how it is scored can significantly benefit your preparation and push your acceptance chances higher.
Breaking Down the GMAT Score
The GMAT score ranges from 200 to 800 and is split into four primary sections that each contributes towards your final score:
- Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA): Here, you’ll argue on a given topic and critique a given argument, testing your argumentative and critical thinking skills.
- Integrated Reasoning (IR): This tests how effectively you can utilize data from multiple sources to solve complex problems.
- Quantitative Reasoning (QR): This measures your ability to understand, analyze, and draw conclusions from numerical data in quantitative problems.
- Verbal Reasoning (VR): This measures your skill in assessing reasoning and reading comprehension in written material.
The score that most people generally refer to as their GMAT score is a combination of QR and VR sections, ranging from 200 to 800. However, it’s important to note that your IR and AWA scores are also reported, albeit separately. Achieving a score as high as 790 again is no easy feat and should be celebrated. It places you in the elite realm of top performers worldwide.
Is 790 a Good GMAT Score?
An emphatic yes! would be the direct response to the question. A score of 790 is not just good; it’s astronomical! You’re not only in the top 10 or even top 5 percent of all test-takers, but you’re in the top 1 percent, placing you in the 99th percentile worldwide.
Comparing with Global Averages
To emphasize the value of a GMAT score of 790, let’s take a moment to compare it with the global averages. As established by the Graduate Management Admission Council, the global average score for the GMAT tends to sit around 570. In contrast, your score of 790 dwarfs this average demonstrating how exceptional you’ve performed on the test.
Relevance in Top Business Schools
For a prospective applicant aiming for Ivy League institutions or establishments of similar repute like Stanford, Havard, or Wharton, a 790 GMAT score is a substantial asset. For instance, in the Stanford Graduate School of Business 2023 incoming class, the average GMAT score was 738. Therefore, a 790 score would place you considerably above the average and ensure you’re on the competitive edge.
Is 790 a Bad GMAT score?
There are very few circumstances under which a 790 GMAT score could be considered bad. For example, even in the fiercely competitive realm of top-tier business schools, a 790 score is likely to put you in the running.
Incorporating Other Admission Factors
However, it’s important to integrate the concept that a GMAT score, no matter how high, is not the be-all and end-all for business school admissions. It is among a myriad of factors that admissions committees look at while evaluating applicants. Other factors include, but aren’t limited to:
- Undergraduate GPA: Your undergrad grades demonstrate your academic diligence over several years, indicative of your scholarly capabilities.
- Work Experience: Top business schools often look for applicants with solid work experience relating to their field of study.
- Personal Statement and Essay: A well-crafted personal statement can paint a more rounded picture of the individual beyond the academics, highlighting your motivation, goals, and commitment to the chosen path.
Hence, while a 790 GMAT score is an unquestionable asset, it’s quintessential to balance it out with strong components in other areas of the application.
790 GMAT Score Percentile
While a 790 GMAT score places you squarely in the 99th percentile, let’s delve into that a little bit more to understand what it means exactly.
Making Sense of the Percentile
The percentile is a measure of your performance relative to all of the other test-takers. So, when you’ve scored 790, you’ve outperformed 99% of all other test takers. It’s like being in a room of 100 people and knowing you’ve done better than 99 of them – a humbling yet thrilling thought.
The Profile of a High Scorer
Those scoring in the highest percentile are usually highly-prepared, academically-strong, and strategic test-takers. They have harnessed impeccable timing strategies, developed a strong understanding of the test pattern, and embodied a perfect blend of accuracy and speed in their approach to the test.
How Hard Is it to Get a 790 GMAT Score?
The path to obtaining a 790 score on the GMAT isn’t peppered with roses. It demands rigorous study, a brilliant preparation strategy, and an abundance of perseverance.
Hours of Preparation
According to estimates from the Graduate Management Admission Council, on average, successful candidates study for about 120 hours in total for the GMAT. However, aiming for a score of 790 would likely require more intensive and extensive preparation.
Mastering the Test Content
An in-depth understanding of the topics covered in the test is necessary. For example, for Quantitative Reasoning, topics like algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and word problems need to be mastered while for Verbal Reasoning, you need to become proficient at reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction.
Harnessing the Exam Strategy
Beyond just knowledge of the subject matter, high scorers strategize and plan. They become adept at time management, understand the patterns in questions, know when to guess and move on, and gain the ability to remain collected under pressure. Such strategic exam orientation plays a crucial role in pushing your score past the 700 mark and into the 99th percentile.
Access to High-Quality Study Resources
Finally, having the right preparation materials significantly bolsters your exam preparation. Utilizing high-quality resources like Official Guide for GMAT, Manhattan Prep resources, or online platforms like Magoosh and e-GMAT provide copious practice questions, study plans, and mock tests vital for comprehensive preparation. Practice, as they say, makes perfect, and in the case of a 790 GMAT score attempt, practice could make all the difference.
In conclusion, attaining a 790 GMAT score is strenuous but not impossible. With dedication, rigorous study routines, strategic planning, and the right resources, this score is reachable. However, it’s essential to remember to balance GMAT prep with other crucial parts of your business school application.
790 GMAT Score to GRE
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is also commonly required for admission to graduate programs. This has led to a widespread inquiry among students whether their GMAT scores correlate with GRE scores. Thankfully, this transferral of scores is possible due to conversion tables readily available.
Converting From GMAT to GRE
A conversion table or formula can be used to transpose GMAT scores into GRE scores. According to the GRE to GMAT score conversion chart 2023, a near-perfect GRE score of 338 is approximately equivalent to a GMAT score of 790. This equivalence might vary slightly from year to year as ETS and GMAC periodically update conversion tables, but the similarity remains close.
Choosing Between GMAT and GRE
In recent years, more and more graduate programs (including MBAs) have started accepting both GMAT and GRE scores. Therefore, the decision of whether to take the GMAT or GRE hinges on multiple factors:
- Your Strengths: GMAT Quantitative section is generally regarded as more challenging than GRE, whereas GRE’s Verbal section is notorious for its difficult vocabulary. Analyze your strengths and pick the exam accordingly.
- Preferred Schools: Some institutions have a preference, albeit hidden, for either of the two tests. Researching your target universities and understanding their preferences can guide your choice.
Remember that, while it’s beneficial to know the conversion between GMAT and GRE scores, you should focus on the test that best fits your aptitude and the requirements of your targeted schools.
Should You Report or Cancel a 790 GMAT Score?
GMAT allows test-takers to see their scores before deciding to accept or cancel them. This facility might lead some candidates to ponder the usefulness of retaining or rescinding a 790 GMAT score.
Considerations for Cancelling Scores
There may be circumstances when cancelling scores might be worth considering, such as if you believe your performance doesn’t reflect your true capabilities or preparation. However, it’s challenging to conceive circumstances where a 790 GMAT score would compel cancellation. This score is the zenith that GMAT aspirants often dream of.
Debunking Myths
A few folkloric rumors churn among GMAT takers, like “Business schools might think you’re too academically oriented if you have a very high GMAT score.” But in reality, that’s mostly mythical. Admissions committees understand the GMAT for what it is – a gauge of your academic aptitude. A high GMAT score cannot overshadow substantial achievements in other arenas of your application.
Reporting Your Score
Given the potential benefits a 790 score brings and the absence of valid reasons for cancellation, it can be confidently stated that a 790 GMAT score should be reported.
790 GMAT Score Colleges
With a robust 790 GMAT score under your belt, you’re uniquely positioned to target top-ranked business schools. Here’s a look at potential colleges where an applicant with a 790 score would be highly competitive:
- Stanford Graduate School of Business
- Harvard Business School
- Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
- Columbia Business School
- Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern
You’ll notice that these schools are world-renowned for their MBA programs; they also happen to be among the ones with the highest average GMAT scores. If you’ve achieved a score of 790, you’re clearly a cut above the average scores at these establishments, highlighting your competitiveness.
790 GMAT Score Scholarships
One of the potential upsides for students with high GMAT scores, like 790, is the potential availability of scholarships. Many grad schools use GMAT scores as one of their criteria for awarding scholarships. This is because a high GMAT score is indicative of a student’s academic prowess and commitment.
Types of Scholarships You Can Consider
There’s a wide assortment of scholarships that high-achieving GMAT scorers can consider. Some prominent ones include:
- Merit-Based Scholarships: These are offered based on a student’s academic or extracurricular achievements.
- Need-Based Scholarships: These cater to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate high academic potential.
- School-Specific Scholarships: Each school generally provides several scholarships with varying eligibility criteria.
- Country-Specific Scholarships: These are available for students from specific countries.
How a 790 GMAT Score Bolsters Your Scholarship Chances
One point to understand here is that having a 790 GMAT score certainly boosts your chances of receiving scholarships. A high score can potentially tip the scales in your favor, especially in the case of merit-based scholarships. Nevertheless, ensure to invest ample time in your scholarship applications, as it’s a separate complex process that requires thoughtful preparation.
GMAT Scores 200 to 800
| 200 | 210 | 220 | 230 | 240 |
| 250 | 260 | 270 | 280 | 290 |
| 300 | 310 | 320 | 330 | 340 |
| 350 | 360 | 370 | 380 | 390 |
| 400 | 410 | 420 | 430 | 440 |
| 450 | 460 | 470 | 480 | 490 |
| 500 | 510 | 520 | 530 | 540 |
| 550 | 560 | 570 | 580 | 590 |
| 600 | 610 | 620 | 630 | 640 |
| 650 | 660 | 670 | 680 | 690 |
| 700 | 710 | 720 | 730 | 740 |
| 750 | 760 | 770 | 780 | 790 |
| 800 |
Conclusion: Embracing Your GMAT Score & Planning Your School Journey
Embrace your GMAT score and use it as a stepping stone to your dream business school. A score of 790 not only shows academic prowess but also speaks volumes about your commitment, hard work, and hunger for success.
Cultivating a Holistic Application
While a 790 GMAT score presents an unequivocal advantage, it is just one facet of your b-school application. Schools are looking for well-rounded candidates displaying excellence in academic prowess, leadership skills, experiential pedigree, and personality traits.
- Work Experience: Understand that your work experience can differentiate you in a pool of high academic achievers.
- Recommendation Letters: Secure strong recommendations that highlight your unique professional and personal attributes.
- Personal Essays: Craft compelling narratives that portray your passion, motivations, life experiences, and career goals.
- Interviews: Prepare meticulously for interviews and demonstrate your passion, clarity of thought, interpersonal skills, and leadership potential.
Strive for a well-rounded application by equally paying attention to all elements. This approach will support the invaluable 790 GMAT score and put you at an excellent vantage point in the race to top-ranked business schools.
Remember to enjoy the application journey and trust the process. Your 790 GMAT score is a testament to your potential to accomplish great things and a massive leap towards realizing your business school dreams. Stay confident and seize your moment!