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

IESE's admitted class has an average GMAT 10th Edition score of around 690, with an acceptance range spanning from 580 to 750, demonstrating that the school welcomes students with varying test score profiles. When you look at the GMAT Focus Edition, the average equivalent score is approximately 605, with a corresponding range of 545 to 715. The wide spread in IESE's accepted range reveals that test scores alone do not determine your admission outcome, as the school takes a deliberately holistic approach that weighs many factors equally. This means you could find success with a score in the 680 to 710 range if your professional background, essays, recommendations, and leadership potential are compelling. Conversely, applicants with scores above 730 can still face rejection if their overall candidacy lacks depth or clarity about their MBA goals. IESE is ranked 3rd globally and 1st in Europe by Financial Times, making it highly competitive, but the diversity of scores in the admitted class underscores that exceptional candidates come from different GMAT performance levels.

A competitive GMAT score for IESE typically falls between 680 and 720, though your demographic background and professional industry will influence what constitutes truly competitive for your specific profile. If you score in the 700 to 720 range, you are solidly positioned within the profile of admitted students, and your GMAT becomes a non-issue in the admissions evaluation. You could receive an admit with a 660 GMAT if your work experience demonstrates significant leadership impact or you come from an underrepresented background, or face rejection with a 750 GMAT if your essays lack clarity or your professional trajectory seems unfocused. There is no stated minimum GMAT score requirement at IESE, but realistically, scores below 580 will require extraordinary compensating strengths in your profile to overcome what admissions officers would view as a significant weakness. If your score lands between 650 and 700, you remain competitive but should expect to strengthen other parts of your application. Scores below 650 create substantial headwinds, and you would need to demonstrate truly exceptional professional achievements or bring a perspective (such as coming from an underrepresented industry or region) that the admissions committee values highly.

When evaluating what qualifies as a strong GMAT score at IESE, remember that the 690 average masks considerable variation among admitted students, reflecting the school's commitment to building a diverse class from multiple professional backgrounds and regions. A score in the 700 to 740 range positions you very favorably and signals to admissions officers that you possess strong quantitative and analytical capabilities to succeed in IESE's case-based curriculum. If you achieve a score above 740, your GMAT becomes a genuine strength in your application, but this advantage alone will not overcome weak essays, limited work experience, or an unclear career narrative. The school is explicit that test scores represent only one component of a holistic evaluation. A competitive but not exceptional score in the 670 to 690 range is still very realistic for admission if you bring other strengths, such as 6 or more years of professional experience, evidence of leadership in a consulting or finance role, or a unique professional angle that differentiates you from other applicants. The practical minimum for a realistic admission shot is approximately 650, where you would need strong recommender letters and essays to demonstrate fit. Anything below 650 creates a genuine disadvantage that demands truly standout professional accomplishments or a distinctive background story to overcome.

IESE is not test-optional and requires all applicants to submit either a GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, or GRE score as a mandatory part of the application package. The school does not waive this requirement for any applicant, and test scores are non-negotiable during the admissions process. Both the 10th Edition GMAT and the Focus Edition are equally accepted and treated identically in the evaluation process. You also have the option to submit a GRE instead if you prefer, and IESE will evaluate your GRE score using the percentile tables published by the testing agencies. The school accepts scores from both online and test center versions of these exams, and does not accept scores older than five years. If you have taken the exam multiple times, IESE will consider your best score, so there is no penalty for multiple attempts.

Your GMAT score functions as one piece of IESE's holistic evaluation of your complete candidacy rather than as a primary predictor of admission success or failure. The admissions committee reviews your entire profile, including your work experience (average 5.4 years), professional accomplishments, leadership potential demonstrated in your career, your undergraduate academic record, recommendations from current or former employers, and your essays and video responses that reveal your character and fit with IESE's values-based leadership philosophy. IESE explicitly states that your GMAT score is just one component of their evaluation, and a strong test score cannot compensate for an unfocused career narrative, weak recommendations, or generic essays that fail to articulate why you specifically need an IESE MBA at this point in your career. The school uses your GMAT primarily to verify that you have developed the quantitative and verbal reasoning skills necessary to handle the analytical demands of the curriculum, including finance, statistics, and case-based learning. Your test score serves as evidence of academic readiness and intellectual rigor, but it does not predict whether you will thrive in group projects, contribute meaningfully to classroom discussions, or benefit from the international, diverse cohort that IESE cultivates.

When the admissions committee evaluates your application, they consider how your GMAT score fits within the larger context of who you are as a candidate rather than weighing it as an isolated metric of your qualifications. If you have a 750 GMAT but only two years of work experience, limited evidence of leadership, or an essay that merely states you want an MBA without explaining why IESE specifically, the admissions team will not overlook these weaknesses because of your high test score. Conversely, if you have a 670 GMAT but a compelling professional narrative showing progression into increasingly senior roles, strong recommendations highlighting your impact on teams and business results, and essays that demonstrate deep engagement with IESE's curriculum and values, the committee will view your application favorably. This reality explains why many applicants with scores around 680 to 700 gain admission while some applicants with scores above 750 receive rejection letters. Your goal is to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate whose GMAT score demonstrates you possess the intellectual horsepower to handle IESE's analytical coursework while your other application materials show why you will contribute meaningfully to the program and add value to your classmates' learning experience.

AdmitStudio users who find success at top MBA programs tend to approach their applications as a clear, cohesive professional story, not a checklist of prestigious roles, promotions, or achievements. Rather than trying to impress admissions committees with everything they have done, they focus on explaining why they made key career decisions, what they learned from those experiences, and how those lessons shaped their short- and long-term goals. Their essays help admissions officers quickly understand the applicant’s career trajectory, leadership potential, and sense of purpose within just a few minutes of review.

AdmitStudio users who are successful also use their essays to connect and reinforce the rest of the application, not repeat it. The essays highlight a few core themes, such as leadership, impact, self-awareness, and growth, while the résumé, recommendations, and short answers quietly support those same themes with concrete evidence. By aligning every part of the application around a consistent narrative, these applicants stand out not because they try to appear perfect, but because they are intentional, reflective, and clear about who they are and where they are going. Admissions officers come away with a strong sense of how the applicant will contribute to classroom discussions, team-based learning, and the broader MBA community.