ESADE MBA GMAT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

ESADE's most recent entering class has an average GMAT 10th Edition score of 660, which places admitted students in the 75th percentile according to GMAC's published percentile tables. The middle 80% range spans from 640 to 700, revealing a relatively compact distribution of scores among successful applicants. This narrower range compared to some top-tier programs indicates that ESADE has a fairly consistent profile of admitted students while still maintaining diversity in other areas of their backgrounds. For the GMAT Focus Edition, which approximately 39% of recent incoming classes have submitted, the average is 615 with a middle 80% range of 580 to 660. This competitive score profile places ESADE among Europe's leading MBA programs, and the school attracts a highly international cohort representing over 50 countries.

A competitive GMAT score for ESADE typically falls between 650 and 680, though competitiveness varies based on your overall profile and professional background. You could receive an admit with a 630 GMAT if the rest of your candidacy is exceptionally strong, or face rejection with a 700 GMAT if other elements like work experience or essays fall short of expectations. There is no official minimum GMAT score requirement at ESADE, but scores below 640 will require substantial compensating strengths in your profile to overcome the lower test result. ESADE has admitted students with scores as low as 575 and as high as 750 (in Focus Edition), but these represent outliers. If your score lands in the 650 to 670 range, you are comfortably within the typical profile. Scores below 640 demand that you demonstrate meaningful accomplishments in your career, leadership impact, or distinctive international experience that show you are ready for ESADE's rigorous curriculum regardless of your test performance.

When thinking about what qualifies as a strong GMAT score at ESADE, you should recognize that the 660 average represents a snapshot of admitted students with diverse backgrounds and experiences from over 50 countries, not a universal bar for success. A score in the 670 to 690 range puts you in excellent standing and means your GMAT performance will not be a concern when admissions officers review your file. If you land above 700, your test score becomes a clear strength, but remember that this advantage does not amplify throughout your application or make weak essays stronger. Similarly, a score between 650 and 670 is still very competitive for ESADE and signals solid quantitative ability, even though it sits slightly below the median. The minimum viable score for a realistic shot at admission is typically around 630 to 640, where you would need to make up ground through exceptional work experience (ESADE values approximately 6 years of average experience), compelling storytelling in your essays, strong recommendations, or other distinctive qualities that set you apart from hundreds of applicants. Anything below 630 creates a significant uphill battle, and you would need to demonstrate truly extraordinary professional achievements or unique perspectives to overcome that deficit in a highly competitive applicant pool.

ESADE is not test-optional and requires all applicants to submit either a GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, GRE, or the Esade Admission Test score. The school does not waive this requirement for any applicant regardless of work experience, educational background, or other qualifications, though candidates applying to the bilingual track may take the Esade Admission Test as an alternative to the GMAT or GRE. Both the 10th Edition GMAT and the Focus Edition are equally accepted, and you may also choose to submit a GRE (average scores around 160 verbal and 162 quantitative). ESADE treats all three testing options equally in the admissions process, so you should select the exam on which you can achieve your strongest possible score while maintaining balanced section performance.

Your GMAT score functions as one component within ESADE's holistic evaluation of your complete candidacy, not as a standalone predictor of admission success. The admissions committee reviews your entire profile, including your undergraduate academic performance, work experience (the class averages approximately 6 years), professional accomplishments, application essays, recommendations, leadership potential, and international experience. ESADE explicitly states that your GMAT score is one piece of their evaluation puzzle, and a high test score cannot compensate for weak essays, limited work experience, or unclear career goals. The school uses your GMAT primarily to assess whether you have developed the quantitative reasoning and analytical problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in ESADE's demanding curriculum. Your test score serves as evidence of academic readiness, but it does not determine whether you will thrive in the classroom or contribute meaningfully to the ESADE community during your 12, 15, or 18 months in Barcelona.

When evaluating your application, ESADE considers how your GMAT score fits within the context of everything else you bring to the program rather than treating it as an isolated metric. If you have a 710 GMAT but limited work experience, weak recommendations, or generic application essays, the admissions committee will not overlook these shortcomings because of your high test score. Conversely, if you have a 650 GMAT but a compelling international career narrative, evidence of leadership impact in diverse cultural contexts, strong recommendations from respected professionals, and essays that demonstrate why you specifically need ESADE at this moment in your career, ESADE will view your application favorably. This reality explains why many applicants with scores slightly below the average (like 640 to 660) gain admission, while applicants with scores above 700 receive rejection letters. Your goal is to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate whose GMAT score demonstrates that you have the intellectual horsepower to handle ESADE's analytical coursework while your other application materials show why you will flourish in the program and add value to your cohort's collaborative, values-driven learning experience.

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