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

IESE's incoming MBA class demonstrates strong performance on the GRE, with a median GRE Verbal score of 156 and a median GRE Quantitative score of 161. These medians position IESE among Europe's most selective MBA programs, and you should recognize that scoring at or above these levels is necessary to remain competitive in a pool with a 26% acceptance rate. The school accepts GRE scores across the full range from 143 to 170 on both sections, reflecting the reality that IESE evaluates candidates holistically rather than through a rigid scoring cutoff. However, the concentration of admitted students near the median signals that strong quantitative and verbal performance is expected from serious contenders.

Understanding what constitutes a good GRE score at IESE requires context that goes beyond the numbers themselves. You should aim to score a total GRE around 320 or higher to position yourself as a credible candidate, with both your Verbal and Quantitative sections ideally at 155 or above. Scores below 150 on either section begin to create concerns about your ability to handle IESE's rigorous case method curriculum and quantitative coursework, though a genuinely exceptional profile in other areas can still overcome this barrier. The reality is nuanced: achieving a GRE score of 165 on both sections does not guarantee admission, but falling significantly below the median makes your path to acceptance considerably more difficult unless you bring other extraordinary qualifications to the table.

A good GRE score for IESE is one that demonstrates you possess the intellectual capacity to thrive in a data-intensive and analytically demanding MBA program, but here is what truly matters: a high GRE score alone will not secure your admission to this school. Many applicants with stellar GRE scores of 165 or above are rejected because the rest of their candidacy does not support their test performance, or because they cannot articulate a compelling vision for their post-MBA career. IESE views your GRE score as evidence that you can keep pace with the academic material, not as the primary differentiator that determines whether you gain admission. If your GRE falls substantially below 150 on either section, you should seriously consider retaking the exam because such a score will require you to excel in every other dimension of your application, but you should simultaneously focus on strengthening your professional narrative, clarifying your career goals, and securing recommenders who can speak authentically about your impact and leadership potential.

IESE MBA is not test optional, period. The GMAT or GRE is absolutely mandatory for all MBA applicants without exception. IESE does not waive the test requirement under any circumstances, regardless of how impressive your work experience, undergraduate credentials, or leadership background may be. The school explicitly states that a valid standardized test score must be received as part of the admissions process before your application can move forward for a final committee decision. The school accepts the GRE General Test (both the standard and shorter versions), the GMAT Classic Edition, and the GMAT Focus Edition, and all versions are treated equally in the review process.

When IESE reviews your GRE score, the admissions committee examines it within the broader context of your entire profile as an applicant. Your test score helps IESE verify that you possess the foundational analytical and verbal skills needed to succeed in the program, but it is not the deciding factor in whether you receive an admission offer. The committee looks at your undergraduate GPA and the prestige of your university, your professional trajectory and the seniority you have reached, your video essays and written responses to understand your personality and motivations, your interview performance and how you communicate, and your letters of recommendation to see if leaders can attest to your impact. If you score well on the GRE but your professional story is thin, your essays lack clarity about why you want an MBA and what you plan to do afterward, your recommenders cannot provide specific examples of your leadership, and your interview reveals weak communication or limited critical thinking, you will not be admitted. Conversely, if your GRE score is solid but not outstanding, a compelling narrative about your career progression, a clear post-MBA vision, and strong letters of recommendation that verify your abilities and potential can absolutely move you forward in the admissions process.

The school is explicit in its commitment to holistic admissions, and this means your GRE score is evaluated as just one component among many. A high GRE score serves as a threshold that says you can handle the intellectual demands of the curriculum, but it does not separate strong applicants from weaker ones in IESE's highly competitive pool. What actually sets admitted candidates apart is the combination of solid academic credentials and test performance, significant professional experience with clear examples of leadership and measurable impact on your organization, a well-articulated vision of your career goals and why IESE specifically will help you achieve them, and strong letters of recommendation from people who have worked with you and can speak to your abilities in concrete terms. You should invest as much time and energy into crafting your essays, preparing for your interview, and working with your recommenders as you spend preparing for the GRE, because both dimensions of your application matter enormously to IESE's decision makers and together they paint the picture of who you are as a candidate and a future leader.

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