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

Dartmouth Tuck's Full-Time MBA class demonstrates solid performance across both GRE sections, with an average Verbal score of 162 and an average Quantitative score of 160. These scores position Tuck as one of the more selective MBA programs, though not quite at the level of the absolute elite schools like Chicago Booth or Wharton. The score range for Verbal extends from 146 to 170, while Quantitative spans from 142 to 170, showing that Tuck admits candidates across a meaningful spread of test performance. What this range tells you is that a strong GRE score matters, but it is not the sole determining factor in whether you get admitted to this school.

For Dartmouth Tuck, you should aim for a GRE score where both Verbal and Quantitative sections fall in the 155 to 165 range to position yourself as a competitive applicant. Scores below 150 on either section begin to represent a potential weakness that you will need to offset with exceptional performance in other areas of your application. The reality is that if your GRE is significantly below the average, you should consider whether retaking the exam makes sense given your timeline and other application priorities. However, Tuck has made space for test waivers in certain circumstances, and some candidates have been admitted with scores below these benchmarks if other parts of their profile were truly outstanding.

A good GRE score at Tuck is one that demonstrates competence in both verbal reasoning and quantitative thinking, but understand this important reality: earning a high GRE score alone will not get you admitted. Many applicants with GRE scores in the 165 to 170 range are rejected every year because their professional experience is not compelling, their essays do not convey a clear vision, or their recommenders cannot speak credibly to their impact and leadership. Tuck explicitly looks for candidates who are smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging, and a test score addresses only one small piece of the "smart" criterion. Your work experience, the quality of your recommendations, the strength of your essays, and your cultural fit with Tuck matter tremendously in the final admissions decision. If your GRE falls below 150 on either section, you should seriously evaluate whether retaking it is worth your time, but you should also invest considerable effort in strengthening the narrative aspects of your application.

Dartmouth Tuck is not test optional. You are required to submit either a GMAT or GRE score as part of your application unless you have been explicitly approved for a test waiver. Test waivers are available only to applicants with at least two years of post-graduate professional work experience, who are native English speakers or graduated from an English-language institution, and whose academic and professional background demonstrates sufficient quantitative reasoning and analytical capability. Tuck makes it clear that merely having some quantitative coursework or professional experience does not automatically qualify you for a waiver. The school accepts all versions of both the GMAT and GRE General Test, and they treat all formats equally in the admissions review process, so you have flexibility in which test you choose to take.

When Tuck reviews your GRE score, the admissions committee places it within a holistic evaluation of your entire candidate profile. Your test score serves as one data point that confirms you possess the intellectual foundation to handle Tuck's rigorous coursework and analytical curriculum, but it is not the primary factor that determines admission or rejection. The committee evaluates your undergraduate academic performance, your professional trajectory and demonstrated leadership, the quality of your letters of recommendation, the clarity and authenticity of your essays, and how well you articulate your fit with Tuck's values of being smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging. A respectable GRE score combined with a thin work background or unfocused post-MBA goals will not move you forward in the process. Conversely, a GRE score that is solid but not spectacular, paired with compelling professional achievements and a thoughtfully written application, can absolutely result in an admission offer.

Tuck's admissions team operates from a principle of thorough, holistic evaluation, and this means your GRE score is only one variable among many that matter. A high GRE score is a baseline that says you can handle the intellectual demands of Tuck's curriculum, but it does not differentiate you from other strong applicants in a meaningful way. What truly sets apart admitted candidates from the pool is the combination of solid academics (including your test score), genuine professional impact with clear examples of leadership growth, a well-articulated and ambitious post-MBA vision, and strong recommendations from people who know your work and can speak to your potential to contribute to Tuck's collaborative community. You should allocate your preparation time thoughtfully, spending time on the GRE but also investing significant effort into reflecting on your career narrative, your reasons for pursuing an MBA now, and how Tuck specifically will serve your goals. Both matter equally in Tuck's decision-making process.

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.