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

The ESADE MBA program attracts applicants with strong GRE performance, with an average Verbal score of 160 and an average Quantitative score of 162. These averages reflect a competitive applicant pool, placing ESADE among Europe's top business schools where test performance matters but is evaluated in the broader context of your overall candidacy. While ESADE does not publicly release the full middle 80% score range for GRE, the consistency of these averages across recent incoming classes indicates that successful applicants typically cluster around this competitive band, competing against a highly international cohort from over 50 countries.

A good GRE score for ESADE is one that demonstrates your ability to handle the program's quantitative and analytical coursework, but landing at or even above the average does not guarantee admission to this school. You should target a GRE score around 155 to 165 on both Verbal and Quantitative sections to position yourself as a credible candidate within the typical range of admitted students. This is equivalent to a combined total of approximately 310 to 327, which places you in a competitive position. Scores significantly below 155 on either section begin to raise flags about your analytical readiness for ESADE's rigorous curriculum, making it harder for your application to move forward unless other parts of your profile are truly exceptional.

What truly matters is understanding that a strong GRE score alone will not get you into ESADE, no matter how impressive your test performance is. Many applicants score at or above the average but still face rejection because their professional narrative lacks depth, their essays do not clearly articulate their career vision, or their work experience does not demonstrate meaningful leadership impact. ESADE views your GRE score as evidence that you can survive the academic rigor, not as a primary differentiator between admitted and rejected candidates. If your GRE falls below 155 on either section, you should consider whether retaking makes sense for you, but more importantly, you should invest heavily in strengthening the other elements of your application, particularly your work experience narrative and your essays that connect your past to your future.

ESADE is not test optional. You are required to submit a GRE score, a GMAT score (either the classic or Focus edition), or the ESADE Admission Test as part of your application without exception. The school does not waive the testing requirement for any applicant, regardless of work experience or educational achievements. ESADE treats all three testing options equally, meaning your choice of exam should be based purely on which one allows you to demonstrate your strongest performance rather than strategic considerations about which format the school prefers.

When ESADE's admissions committee reviews your GRE score, they examine it as one component of a holistic evaluation that includes your academic credentials, professional background, work experience, essays, letters of recommendation, and interview performance. Your test score serves as a quick signal that you have the intellectual capacity to handle the MBA coursework, but it does not separate strong candidates from weak ones in a competitive applicant pool where most admitted students have similar test performance. The admissions team is looking at the totality of who you are as a professional and as a person, and they want to see evidence that you will contribute meaningfully to classroom discussions, bring diverse perspectives from your career, and thrive in ESADE's collaborative learning environment. A solid GRE score removes a potential obstacle from your application, but it does not create momentum toward admission.

ESADE explicitly takes a holistic approach to admissions, which means your GRE performance is just one ingredient in the recipe for acceptance. A high GRE score is a threshold achievement that tells admissions officers you can keep pace academically, but it does not serve as a differentiator between you and other qualified applicants. What actually sets admitted candidates apart is the combination of solid academics (including your test score), substantial work experience with concrete examples of leadership and professional growth, a well-articulated post-MBA career strategy, strong recommendations from people who know your work, and essays that tell a compelling story about why you want to pursue your MBA now and why ESADE is the right fit for your goals. Spend as much time crafting your application narrative and developing your recommender relationships as you spend preparing for the GRE, because both will have a much greater impact on the admissions decision.

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.