Checked 29 September 2026. Class figures are each school's latest published cohort (they differ by year and by statistic). Eligibility, weights and dates are for the 2027-28 intake as read on 29 Sep 2026; schools revise them each cycle.
"What GMAT score do I need for ISB or an IIM one-year MBA?" has one hard floor, three sets of published class benchmarks and one programme with no GMAT benchmark at all. Only IIM Calcutta publishes a hard minimum: the 50th percentile on GMAC's latest table, which today is a Focus 565. ISB, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Lucknow set no minimum and publish class statistics instead, and those statistics are not the same kind of number: ISB gives a median and an average, IIMA and IIMB give averages, IIMB's newest figure does not say which GMAT edition it is on, and IIML publishes no GMAT figure at all. This guide puts every published number side by side with its exact label, then the rules that decide eligibility before any score is read.
ISB class profile; IIMA PGPX brochure 2026-27; IIMB news, 25 Mar 2026; IIMC MBAEx admission policy 2027-28 and GMAC Aug 2026 concordance.
GMAC's article on top programmes (10 Jun 2026) gives ISB "an average GMAT score of 672 for the current cohort". ISB's own class profile for the Class of 2027 agrees: GMAT Focus average 672, median 675. Average and median are different statistics, so quote whichever the school prints, with its cohort. A median means at least half the class scored at or below it, and at least half at or above.
What each programme publishes
| Programme | Cohort | GMAT figure (official) | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISB PGP | Class of 2027 (and 2026) | Class of 2027: Focus average 672, median 675, range 575-795; Classic average 720, median 723, range 640-780; GRE average 325, median 325, range 309-337. Class of 2026: Focus median 675 (Verbal 83, Quant 86, DI 81), middle 80% 625-715 | Class of 2027: 839 enrolled (46% women); average age 26 (21-42); average experience 4.10 years (2-18) |
| IIM Ahmedabad MBA-PGPX | 2025-26 | GMAT 692 average; GMAT Focus 642 average; GRE 322 average | 157 students; average age 31 |
| IIM Bangalore EPGP | 2026-27 (and 2025-26) | Average 704 (2026-27; edition not stated). Range 640-760 (2025-26) | 75 students (2026-27); 28% women; average age 29; 6.8 years average experience |
| IIM Calcutta MBAEx | Batch Profile 2026; AY2026-27; 2024 (historical) | Batch Profile 2026: average 696, highest 760 (edition not stated). AY2026-27 batch average "above the 85th percentile". 2024 batch: average 691. Minimum: 50th percentile | 90 students, 25+ industries (Batch Profile 2026); 2024: 77 students, average age 31.5, 8.6 years average experience |
| IIM Lucknow IPMX | 2027-28 intake | None published; no minimum | About 110 seats |
Sources disagree
Two other published figures that do not agree with themselves
- IIM Ahmedabad's PGPX brochure 2026-27 says in its foreword that "the average GMAT score is above 700"; the cohort panel in the same brochure shows GMAT 692 and GMAT Focus 642.
- ISB's FAQ says "the GMAT scores range from 530 to 780" in the current class; its class profile for the Class of 2027 gives a Focus range of 575-795 and a Classic range of 640-780.
We print the cohort panel and the class profile in the tables, because they are labelled with a cohort and an edition. The brochure foreword and the FAQ may describe a different year.
School figures are official; percentiles are our lookup on GMAC's Aug 2026 concordance. IIMB (704) and IIMC (696, 691) are left off because they do not state the edition; IIML publishes none.
Your GMAT score and profile against the five programmes
Enter a GMAT total on the current (Focus) scale and your profile as on 31 March 2027, the date four of the five programmes use. The tool first applies each school's hard rules (test-centre score, experience, age, academic marks), then places your score against what each school publishes. A rule you fail is shown first, because a strong score does not cure it. ISB counts its 24 months to enrolment rather than 31 March 2027, so the ISB line only warns.
Hard rules are the schools' own; the score comparison is our reading. An average or a median is not a cut-off: a median means at least half the class scored at or below it. IIMC's academic check covers Class X, XII and graduation; it also applies 60% to any higher degree, which the tool does not ask about. IIMC's GMAT points use its published formula with the 565 floor; the other schools publish no formula.
The rules that come before the score
| Programme | Experience | Other hard rules | Minimum score | How the score is used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISB PGP | Minimum 24 months full-time before enrolment | Test-centre GMAT (10th or Focus) or GRE; score no older than 5 years from the round deadline | None | One part of a holistic review |
| IIM Ahmedabad MBA-PGPX | 4 years full-time after graduation, as on 31 Mar 2027 | Minimum age 25 on 31 Mar 2027 (no upper limit); test-centre GMAT/GRE within 5 years; Focus accepted; apply once across two rounds | None published | Shortlist for essays and interview |
| IIM Bangalore EPGP | 5 years full-time after graduation, as of 31 Mar 2027 | Bachelor's with 50% (45% SC, ST, PwD); GMAT or GRE valid on the last date of application; no at-home score | None published | Not published |
| IIM Calcutta MBAEx | 5 years full-time after graduation, as on 31 Mar 2027 | Full-time bachelor's (15 years of study); at least 60% in Class X and Class XII; at least 60% at graduation and any higher degree, or at least 50% in CA, ICWA, CS or FIAI. GMAT only, test centre, taken on or after 1 Aug 2023 (36 months) | 50th percentile on the latest concordance (565 Focus, 600 Classic) | 25% of the composite; points = (score - minimum) / (805 - minimum) |
| IIM Lucknow IPMX | 4 years full-time after graduation, as on 31 Mar 2027 | Bachelor's with 50%; test-centre GMAT/GRE valid till the last date of application; highest valid score counts | None | 30% of the final score; also used to shortlist for WAT and interview |
IIM Calcutta is the one programme whose use of the score can be reproduced. Its composite gives 25% to GMAT, 30% to the personal interview, 15% each to work experience and the written ability test, 10% to academics and 5% to diversity. GMAT points are (A − minimum accepted score) / (B − minimum), where B is 805 on the Focus scale. With the minimum at 565, a 645 earns 0.333 and a 705 earns 0.583 (our arithmetic). Its experience points peak for 85 to 108 months of work and taper either side, which is why a very strong score does not by itself carry an application. IIM Lucknow gives GMAT/GRE 30%, with 30% for academic and professional profile, 10% for the writing test and 30% for the interview, but publishes no formula for turning a score into points.
Round dates for the 2027-28 intake
| Programme | Rounds (official) | Test-date rule |
|---|---|---|
| ISB PGP | Round 1: 20 Sep 2026 (closed). Round 2: 6 Dec 2026. Round 3: 17 Jan 2027 | Unofficial score accepted if you tested on or before the round deadline; official report within 3 weeks |
| IIM Ahmedabad MBA-PGPX | Round 1: portal from 6 Jul, applications closed 2 Sep 2026, shortlist 11 Sep, final selection 16 Oct 2026. Round 2: portal from 3 Sep, applications close 23 Nov 2026, shortlist 4 Dec, essays 4-6 Dec, interviews Dec 2026-Jan 2027, final selection 22 Jan 2027 (timeline graphic on the admission page) | Earliest accepted test: 2 Sep 2021 (Round 1), 23 Nov 2021 (Round 2) |
| IIM Bangalore EPGP | Round 1: 15 Jun-17 Aug 2026 (closed), interviews 5-6 Sep, offers 21 Sep. Round 2: 19 Aug-25 Nov 2026 (5 pm IST), application fee Rs 7,000, interviews 12-13 Dec, offers 24 Dec 2026, acceptance by 4 Jan 2027. IIMB labels every date "tentative" | Score valid on the last date of application for the round |
| IIM Calcutta MBAEx | Round 1: applications Aug-Oct 2026, interviews 31 Oct-1 Nov, results 16 Nov 2026. Round 2: applications Oct-Dec 2026, interviews 19-20 Dec, final results 11 Jan 2027 | Score on or after 1 Aug 2023 |
| IIM Lucknow IPMX | Phase 1: closed 2 Sep 2026. Phase 2: 17 Oct 2026 or 30 Nov 2026. Phase 3: 1 Dec 2026 or 20 Jan 2027 | Score valid till the last date of application |
Sources disagree
ISB and IIML each print two different schedules
- ISB's eligibility page says "Applications for the PGP Class of 2026-27 are closed" and that the Round 1 deadline for the Class of 2027-28 "will be announced soon", while the same page lists deadlines of 20 September 2026, 6 December 2026 and 17 January 2027.
- IIM Lucknow's selection-process text says forms are due by 2 September, 17 October and 1 December 2026; its admission-schedule text on the same page says phase 2 closes on 30 November 2026 and phase 3 on 20 January 2027.
Plan to the earlier date in each case until the school clarifies. The tools on this page use the earlier date.
What the programmes cost
| Programme | Fee (official) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| ISB PGP | Programme fee Rs 34,48,000 plus GST (shared accommodation, single-instalment payment), covering admission, commitment and tuition fees, plus a refundable security deposit of Rs 20,000. The FAQ adds that the Rs 3,00,000 admission fee (plus taxes) is paid on accepting an offer | 2027-28 |
| IIM Ahmedabad MBA-PGPX | Rs 34.15 lakh (single accommodation) or Rs 36.20 lakh (married housing), plus the international immersion programme. Coaching sites report a higher 2026-27 figure that we could not find on an IIMA page | 2025-26 batch |
| IIM Bangalore EPGP | Tuition Rs 26,50,000; international immersion indicative Rs 5,50,000; housing and mess extra. 2026-27 fee "will be updated" | 2025-26 |
| IIM Calcutta MBAEx | Not found on an IIMC page we could open | - |
| IIM Lucknow IPMX | Rs 26,00,000 plus refundable caution money Rs 20,000 plus alumni membership Rs 5,000; application fee Rs 5,000 | 2027-28 |
How to read these numbers for your own application
Our reading, not the schools'
- A median or an average is not a cut-off. At least half of ISB's Class of 2027 scored at or below its 675 median, and its Focus range went down to 575.
- Classic and Focus numbers look close but are different scales: IIMA's 692 (Classic) and 642 (Focus) describe the same cohort.
- IIMB's 704 does not say which scale. Its 2025-26 range (640-760) reaches 760, which is above anything below 765 on the Focus scale and fits a Classic range, but the brochure does not say so.
- Experience, age and (at IIMC) Class X, XII and degree marks decide eligibility regardless of the score. The four IIMs count experience to 31 March 2027; ISB counts its 24 months to enrolment.
- Only a test-centre score counts at all five. An at-home score, however high, has to be replaced.
ProSyllabus has no GMAT practice quizzes yet, so this guide does not point you to any. GMAC's own free Official Starter Kit on mba.com includes two full-length practice exams scored the same way as the real test.
ProSyllabus is an independent study site, not part of GMAC or of any school named here. Every rule is quoted or summarised from GMAC (mba.com, gmac.com, support.mba.com) and the schools' own admission pages; they decide every individual case.
What GMAT score do I need for ISB?
ISB sets no minimum. Its Class of 2027 had a GMAT Focus average of 672, a median of 675 and a range of 575 to 795. The Class of 2026 middle 80% was 625 to 715.
What is the GMAT cut-off for IIM Calcutta MBAEx?
The 50th percentile on GMAC's latest concordance table, which is 565 on the Focus scale and 600 on the Classic scale. The score must be from 1 August 2023 or later and from a test centre, and IIMC separately requires 60% in Class X, Class XII and graduation (or 50% in CA, ICWA, CS or FIAI).
What is the average GMAT at IIM Ahmedabad PGPX?
For the 2025-26 cohort the brochure gives a GMAT (Classic) average of 692 and a GMAT Focus average of 642. The same brochure's foreword says the average is above 700.
What is the average GMAT at IIM Bangalore EPGP?
IIMB reported an average of 704 for the 2026-27 batch of 75 students, without saying which GMAT edition. The 2025-26 range was 640 to 760.
Does IIM Lucknow IPMX publish a GMAT cut-off or average?
No. It sets no minimum, weights GMAT/GRE at 30% of the final score and counts the highest score taken in the valid period.
Does IIM Calcutta MBAEx accept the GRE?
Its 2027-28 admission policy lists only the GMAT. The other four programmes accept GMAT or GRE.
How much work experience do the one-year MBAs need?
ISB 24 months before enrolment; IIMA and IIML 4 years; IIMB and IIMC 5 years, counted to 31 March 2027 at the four IIMs.
Is there an age limit for IIM Ahmedabad PGPX?
A minimum age of 25 on 31 March 2027 (born on or before 31 March 2002). There is no upper age limit.
How much weight does the GMAT carry at IIM Calcutta?
25% of the composite score, computed as (your score minus the minimum accepted score) divided by (805 minus the minimum).
Do these schools accept an online GMAT?
No. ISB and all four IIM programmes accept only test-centre scores.
Sources
- official — ISB — PGP class profile: Class of 2027 (839 enrolled; GMAT Focus average 672, median 675, range 575-795; Classic and GRE figures) and Class of 2026 (Focus middle 80% 625-715; section medians)
- official — ISB — PGP eligibility and requirements (test-centre score only; 24 months' experience; Round 1/2/3 deadlines; GMAT code N2D-J5-01)
- official — ISB — PGP FAQs (no online or home-based scores from the April 2025 intake; no minimum score; admission fee Rs 3,00,000 plus taxes)
- official — ISB — PGP fees and scholarships (2027-28 programme fee Rs 34,48,000 + GST, shared accommodation, single instalment; refundable security deposit Rs 20,000)
- official — IIM Ahmedabad — MBA-PGPX admission, 2027-28 batch (age 25, 4 years' experience, test-centre GMAT/GRE only, earliest accepted test dates; round timeline graphic: Round 1 closed 2 Sep 2026, Round 2 closes 23 Nov 2026)
- official — IIM Ahmedabad — MBA-PGPX brochure 2026-27 (cohort 2025-26: GMAT 692, GMAT Focus 642, GRE 322 averages; fee Rs 34.15 / 36.20 lakh)
- official — IIM Bangalore — EPGP admissions (5 years' experience, 50% in graduation, "Online GMAT/GRE score (exam taken at home) will not be accepted for EPGP 2027")
- official — IIM Bangalore — EPGP 2027-28 important dates (Round 1 15 Jun-17 Aug 2026; Round 2 19 Aug-25 Nov 2026, 5 pm IST; interviews, offers; all "tentative")
- official — IIM Bangalore — "IIM Bangalore welcomes 75 students to the 2026-27 batch of EPGP" (25 Mar 2026; average GMAT 704)
- official — IIM Bangalore — EPGP brochure 2026-27, release 20 Jun 2025 (2025-26 class: GMAT range 640-760; fee 2025-26) (PDF)
- official — IIM Calcutta — MBAEx (formerly PGPEX) admission policy 2027-28 (50th-percentile minimum, 36-month validity, test-centre only, composite weights, dates)
- official — IIM Calcutta — PGPEX/MBAEx Batch Profile 2026 (batch size 90; GMAT highest 760, average 696, edition not stated)
- official — IIM Calcutta — PGPEX batch profile 2024 (77 students, average GMAT 691)
- official — IIM Lucknow — IPMX (one-year MBA) programme page (test-centre GMAT/GRE only; weights 30/30/10/30; phases; about 110 seats; fee 2027-28)
- official — GMAC — GMAT Total Score Concordance Table, "Published Aug. 2026", data 1 Jul 2021 to 30 Jun 2026, linked from GMAC's school resources page (PDF)
- official — GMAC — GMAT Score Concordance Table, Total, "Published July 2025", data 1 Jul 2020 to 30 Jun 2025 (PDF)
- official — GMAC — "Average GMAT scores for top MBA programs" (10 Jun 2026) (GMAC's own compilation; says 645+ is the 87th percentile)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
