What GMAT Focus Score Should an ORM Target for M7 MBA in 2025?

Question

Ishaan M · Accepted Answer

If you're from an overrepresented group and aiming for M7 in 2025, just being &ldquo;above average&rdquo; on GMAT Focus won&rsquo;t cut it&mdash;you need to aim close to 700 or above to stay competitive. Even though schools don&rsquo;t publish GMAT Focus averages yet, early admits in 2024 were landing in the 680&ndash;705 range.
A 700+ puts you in the safer zone for schools like MIT Sloan, CBS, and Kellogg, especially if you&rsquo;re from a background like tech, consulting, or banking, where the bar is already high. Even applicants with 680 have gotten in, but they had standout work experience or exceptional essays.
One thing that matters more now is percentile balance. If your total score is 690 but your Data Insights or Verbal section is in the 50th percentile, that might raise questions. Schools are starting to look beyond just the total score&mdash;section strength matters too.
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Aarushi S · Answer

For M7 MBA programs in 2025, an ORM (overrepresented majority) should aim for a GMAT Focus score of at least 675&ndash;685, ideally above 690 to be competitive. Since the GMAT Focus maxes out at 805, that&rsquo;s roughly the same as a 730+ on the older GMAT scale.
M7 schools like Wharton, Booth, and Kellogg have seen strong applicant pools, especially from ORM groups like Indian engineers or U.S.-based consultants. So just hitting the average won&rsquo;t be enough&mdash;you want to be at the higher end to stand out. A 695+ paired with a solid profile can make you eligible for scholarships too.
Also keep in mind that Data Insights is heavily weighted now, so scoring well in that section helps a lot. Applicants from technical or quant backgrounds should aim for close to perfect in Quant and Data to balance out slightly lower Verbal scores if needed.