GMAT Averages Exploded At The Top U.S. B-Schools In 2021 — Here’s Why

Not to deny the fact that COVID has affected everything in many ways from studies, markets, and people's lives, B-schools have their own stories to tell. 2019 and 2020 were not good years as we have been in really tough times during the covid cases' surge.

Meanwhile, when the GMAT was imploding, other alternative exams were booming, making better options at that time for candidates. In 2021, when GMAT averages dropped to another level, numerous candidates had to opt for alternative choices. 

Continue to the blog to know the reason!

GMAT scores fell at many of Europe's top schools, including Oxford and IE, dropping by double digits at some. 2020 was terrible for Graduate Management Admission Test score averages at top business schools. The concern for the future of the test grew because, including seven of the top ten schools, scores dropped at 30 of the 37 leading MBA programs in The United States.

Could GMAT-Optional be a wise choice?

If we talk about the cause, the GMAT decline, according to Paul Bodine, founder, and president of admissions consultancy Admitify, includes GMAC's recent score cancellation changes and B-schools' GMAT-optional policies. And according to him, only applicants who perform well on the GMAT will submit GMAT scores, and the scores submitted will only be high.

And according to Blackman, "Many test takers who would otherwise score much lower on the GMAT have opted to take alternative tests such as the Executive Assessment or the GRE exam". "MBA programs that tout higher average GMAT scores for marketing value are most likely simply accepting far more applicants who choose to take these other exams or submit without a test at all."

Does GMAT explosion directly indicate the GMAT strength?

Now the question arises: What changed between the 2019-2020 pandemic and the ongoing pandemic cycle of 2020-2021? So, we turned to the experts, other officials, and representatives to get an answer.

We got to know that Indiana University's Kelley School of Business reported the most significant one-year increase in GMAT average of any top MBA program: 27 points, to 679. The Kelley School's skyrocketing applications, according to Jim Holmen, director of admissions and financial aid, were the crucial factor. Indiana Kelley led all U.S. MBA programs in application growth in the last cycle, with a 61 percent increase.

Well, to think about the alternatives to GMAT could be a wise choice here. Because why not? The MBA Center can guide you through your journey to the top MBA school without GMAT scores, giving alternative options to choose the right choice for you. And you'll be in one of the top tiers B-School without GMAT scores too.

Summary

COVID has affected everything in many ways from studies, markets, and people's lives, B-schools have their own stories to tell. 2019 and 2020 were not good years as we have been in really tough times during the covid cases' surge. GMAT scores fell at many of Europe's top schools, including Oxford and IE, dropping by double digits at some. 2020 was terrible for Graduate Management Admission Test score averages at top business schools. The concern for the future of the test grew because, including seven of the top ten schools, scores dropped at 30 of the 37 leading MBA programs in The United States.

Also read: 7 Myths that we hear about the executive MBA programs