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

The National University of Singapore MBA program has an average GMAT 10th Edition score of 670 for the full-time program, placing it among Asia's most competitive business schools. The full score range spans from 600 to 780, which reflects considerable diversity in admitted candidates. This 180-point spread demonstrates that while GMAT is important, the school actively admits qualified professionals across a broader spectrum of test scores rather than using a narrow band as the primary filtering mechanism. For context, NUS ranks 27th globally by Financial Times standards and first in Asia by QS metrics, making it a highly selective program that attracts talented applicants from over 30 nationalities.

When targeting NUS MBA, you should aim for a GMAT score in the range of 650 to 700 to position yourself as a competitive applicant. Scores above 700 strengthen your candidacy considerably and put you well within the competitive pool at this prestigious institution. However, you should understand that a 720 GMAT score does not guarantee admission if your work experience is limited, your essays lack clarity about your goals, or your recommenders provide lukewarm endorsements. While there is no official minimum GMAT requirement published by NUS, the admissions office indicates that a score of 600 and above serves as a reasonable benchmark for serious consideration. Scores below this threshold would require truly exceptional compensating factors in your profile, such as remarkable entrepreneurial achievements, leadership impact in your current role, or unique personal circumstances that demonstrate your readiness for the program despite the lower test score.

A strong GMAT score for NUS MBA typically falls in the 680 to 730 range, where you will be competitive against the vast majority of applicants in the admitted class. Achieving a score above 720 positions your test performance as a clear strength rather than a concern, yet this advantage does not extend to other application components or substitute for weaker professional experiences. The median GMAT Focus Edition score is 615, which translates roughly to a 665 to 675 equivalent on the Classic GMAT scale, so you now have flexibility in which format you choose. If your score lands between 650 and 690, you remain quite competitive, though you should ensure your essays demonstrate genuine motivation for the NUS MBA specifically and for career growth in Asia. The absolute minimum viable score for a realistic admission shot would be around 620 to 630 on the GMAT Focus Edition or 670 on the Classic GMAT, below which you would face substantial headwinds and would need to present an extremely compelling professional narrative and exceptional achievements to overcome that deficit.

NUS MBA is a test-required program for all full-time applicants, and the school does not offer blanket waivers based on work experience alone for the full-time MBA track. The only exception is for part-time MBA applicants with more than 8 years of full-time work experience, who may apply without a test score on an exceptional basis if they possess strong academic records and perform well during the interview process. You may submit your choice of GMAT (either the Classic 10th Edition or new Focus Edition), GRE, or Executive Assessment (EA) score, and all three testing options are treated equally in the admissions evaluation. Your test score must be valid for at least one month after your application submission date, and you should send your official scores using the designated school code for the NUS MBA program you are applying to.

Your GMAT score serves as one component of NUS MBA's comprehensive evaluation of your application, not as a standalone determination of admission success. The admissions committee holistically reviews your undergraduate academic performance, the quality and progression of your professional work experience (average is 6 years), your essay responses, your professional recommendations, and your personal background and achievements. NUS MBA explicitly considers factors such as your career trajectory, leadership potential, unique perspectives you bring from your background, and clarity of your post-MBA goals, meaning a high test score cannot compensate for a weak professional profile or generic application essays. The school uses your GMAT to verify that you possess the quantitative reasoning and analytical capabilities necessary to succeed in its demanding curriculum and to keep pace with your peers in the classroom. Your score demonstrates academic readiness, but it does not predict whether you will thrive in group projects, contribute meaningfully to class discussions, or achieve the career outcomes you envision after the program.

When the admissions committee evaluates your application, they view your GMAT score in context alongside everything else you bring to the NUS community rather than as an isolated metric. If you have a 730 GMAT but only two years of work experience with minimal leadership accomplishments, modest grades from your undergraduate degree, or essays that fail to articulate a clear vision for your MBA and career, your application will face serious challenges despite the strong test score. Conversely, if you scored a 680 GMAT but have six years of professional experience with documented career progression, meaningful leadership contributions in your organization, strong recommendations that speak to your potential, and compelling essays that explain why NUS specifically aligns with your aspirations for growth in Asia-Pacific business, the admissions committee will likely view your profile favorably. This reality explains why many applicants with GMAT scores between 660 and 690 gain acceptance, while some applicants with scores above 720 face rejection letters. Your objective is to present yourself as a well-rounded professional whose GMAT score demonstrates intellectual capacity to handle NUS's rigorous analytical coursework while your entire application narrative shows that you will make the most of the MBA experience and contribute positively to the learning environment of your cohort.

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.