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

The Indian School of Business's Class of 2026 demonstrates an average combined GRE score of 327, with the full score range spanning from 306 to 336 across admitted students. This indicates that ISB, while highly selective and competitive, shows more flexibility in its GRE requirements than many other top-tier MBA programs, accepting candidates across a 30-point spread rather than clustering tightly around a narrow band. The presence of admitted students with scores as low as 306 suggests that ISB weighs multiple factors heavily in its admissions decision, and a lower GRE score does not automatically disqualify you if your overall profile demonstrates exceptional professional achievement or leadership potential.

A competitive GRE score for ISB means aiming for the 320 to 335 range to position yourself as a strong candidate, though the school's willingness to admit students below 320 shows there is meaningful flexibility in how it evaluates test performance. You should target a combined score of 325 or higher to feel confident in your test performance, but recognize that scoring in the 310 to 320 range does not eliminate your chances if other elements of your profile are compelling. A score below 306 would be unusual among admitted candidates and would require an extraordinarily strong professional background or demonstrated impact to overcome, but the data shows that scores in the 306 to 310 range have been accepted, meaning exceptional candidates with lower test scores are not automatically rejected by the admissions committee.

Receiving a high GRE score at ISB does not guarantee admission, as many applicants scoring in the 330 to 336 range are rejected because their professional experience, leadership narrative, or fit with the program does not meet ISB's standards for its cohort. ISB uses your GRE score to verify that you can handle the analytical rigor of the curriculum, but the wide range of admitted scores from 306 to 336 demonstrates that the school prioritizes other factors more heavily in determining who gets admitted. The school seeks individuals with substantive leadership potential, demonstrated drive to excel, and the motivation to create meaningful contributions during and after the program. If you have a GRE score of 332 but your work experience shows minimal impact, your essays lack clarity about your career direction, or your recommender cannot attest to your leadership abilities, you will not receive an offer. Conversely, if your GRE score is 315 but you have led significant initiatives, articulate a compelling post-MBA vision, and your recommender speaks powerfully to your influence and analytical ability, you have a genuine pathway to admission.

Indian School of Business is not test optional. You must submit either a GMAT (Classic or Focus Edition) or a GRE score from an approved test center before you apply to the PGP program, and the school will not waive this requirement under standard circumstances. The only limited exception is for applicants in ISB's Early Entry Option program, who can apply without a score initially but must submit a valid score if shortlisted for admission. Test center scores are mandatory, meaning online or at-home test formats are not accepted by ISB, reflecting the school's commitment to standardized testing as a core component of your academic profile.

When ISB reviews your GRE score, it is evaluated as one piece of a much broader holistic assessment that includes your undergraduate academic performance, your work experience and demonstrated leadership through specific examples, your professional recommendations, your essays that reveal your motivations and self-awareness, and your interview performance if you advance to that stage. Your GRE score helps the admissions committee confirm that you possess the intellectual rigor and analytical capability to navigate the curriculum, but it does not determine whether you receive an admission offer because the school actively considers multiple dimensions of your candidacy. If you have a GRE score of 330 but your essays lack focus, your recommender cannot point to concrete examples of your leadership or impact, and your work experience appears passive or undifferentiated, you will not be admitted. Conversely, if your GRE score is a solid 318 but you have demonstrated clear leadership through specific initiatives with measurable outcomes, articulate a compelling post-MBA vision aligned with ISB, and your recommender attests powerfully to your influence and analytical capabilities, you can advance successfully through the process.

ISB explicitly follows a holistic admissions philosophy, which means the admissions committee does not rely heavily on any single metric, including your GRE score, to make decisions. A high GRE score in the 330 to 336 range signals strong analytical performance, but it does not separate competitive applicants from less competitive ones because many admitted students across the full 306 to 336 range bring diverse test performances to the table. What actually differentiates candidates who receive offers is the combination of solid academics plus an acceptable GRE performance (not necessarily outstanding), work experience that demonstrates concrete leadership impact through specific examples and outcomes, a well-articulated vision for how an MBA at ISB will accelerate your career trajectory, recommendations from people who can authentically speak to your professional strengths, and essays that reveal genuine self-awareness and motivation for the program. You should invest significant effort in crafting a compelling professional narrative, securing strong recommendations, and developing thoughtful essays, because these elements often carry more weight in ISB's decision-making process than achieving the highest possible GRE score.

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.

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