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

Chicago Booth's Full-Time MBA Class of 2027 demonstrates strong performance across GRE sections, with an average GRE Quantitative score of 163 and an average GRE Verbal score of 161. These averages place Booth among the most competitive MBA programs in the country, requiring exceptional test performance to stand out in the admissions process. The 80% score range for Quantitative falls between 156 and 169, while the Verbal range spans from 155 to 167, illustrating the caliber of candidates Booth attracts each year.

Achieving a strong GRE score at Booth means understanding what truly competitive looks like at this level. You should aim for a GRE score in the 160-170 range on both Quantitative and Verbal sections to position yourself as a credible candidate. Scores below 155 on either section begin to raise questions about your analytical readiness for Booth's rigorous curriculum, though this does not automatically disqualify you if other elements of your profile are exceptional. The reality is that with a 32.6% acceptance rate, you are competing against applicants with strong academics, relevant work experience, and often advanced professional achievements, making every component of your application critical.

A good GRE score for Chicago Booth is one that demonstrates both quantitative rigor and verbal clarity, but here is what matters most: scoring well on the GRE alone will not get you admitted to this school. Many applicants with GRE scores in the 165-170 range are rejected because their overall profile does not convince the admissions committee they will thrive in Booth's analytical environment or contribute meaningfully to the class. Booth views your test score as just one piece of evidence that you can handle the academic material, not as a primary factor that determines your fate. If your GRE is below 155 on either section, you should carefully evaluate whether retaking the exam makes sense, but you should also strengthen other areas like your professional story, your reasons for pursuing an MBA, and your leadership narrative.

Chicago Booth is not test optional. You are required to submit either a GMAT or GRE score as part of your application unless you are a current or former University of Chicago undergraduate student with a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher, which qualifies you for a test waiver. Booth clearly emphasizes the importance of standardized test scores and does not waive this requirement for any other applicants, regardless of work experience or other achievements. The school accepts the GRE General Test, the shortened GRE, the GMAT Classic, and the GMAT Focus Edition, and all formats are treated equally in the admissions review process.

When Booth reviews your GRE score, the admissions committee examines it within a holistic assessment of your entire profile. Your test score helps the school confirm that you possess the intellectual foundation to succeed in a data-driven MBA program, but it is not the deciding factor in whether you receive an admission offer. Booth looks at your undergraduate academics, your professional trajectory, your leadership potential, your career goals, and how well you articulate your motivations for attending the school. If you have a strong GRE score but your work experience is thin, your essays are unfocused, or your recommenders cannot speak to your impact, you will not be admitted. Conversely, if your GRE score is respectable but not outstanding, a compelling narrative about your career ambitions and demonstrated leadership can move you forward in the process.

The school explicitly states that it takes a holistic approach to admissions, and this means your GRE score is evaluated in context with everything else you bring to the table. A high GRE score is a threshold that says you can keep up academically, but it does not separate strong applicants from weaker ones in Booth's competitive applicant pool. What actually differentiates admitted candidates is the combination of solid academics (including your test score), exceptional work experience with clear examples of leadership and impact, a well-articulated post-MBA career vision, and strong letters of recommendation that verify your abilities. You should spend as much time crafting your essays and working with your recommenders as you spend preparing for the GRE, because both matter enormously to Booth's decision makers.

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.