# Good GMAT Score for ISB and IIM PGPX in 2026 | topin

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## Official current-scale profiles: compare the right programme and year

For the GMAT (formerly GMAT Focus Edition), use the current-format figures on the school’s own profile. ISB’s profile page shows its Class of 2027 data as graphics: the GMAT Focus average is 672, the median 675 and the range 575–795\. Classic GMAT figures (average 720) are shown separately, and we do not blend the two. One quirk: the page’s text heading still says Class of 2026 while the graphics carousel is titled Class of 2027.

IIM Ahmedabad’s 2026–27 PGPX brochure includes a profile labelled as the 2025–26 cohort: GMAT Focus average 642, classic GMAT average 692 and GRE average 322\. The same brochure’s narrative says “the average GMAT score is above 700”, which does not match its own 692 classic figure, so rely on the table. We could not find a newer PGPX current-scale figure.

PGPX is IIM Ahmedabad’s one-year MBA programme for experienced professionals. Its test benchmark should not be presented as a universal “IIM GMAT cutoff” or applied to a different IIM’s executive programme. Likewise, the ISB PGP profile is not a profile of the separate PGP YL route.

The practical comparison is therefore between your current-format result and the relevant, dated programme statistic. An average of 642 or 672 is possible because an average need not fall on an attainable ten-point increment. An individual current score does. Do not round the published school average to a nearby attainable result and then describe the rounded number as official.

__Directly reported school figures, with cohort labels preserved; last checked 4 October 2026__
| Programme and cohort               | Current GMAT average | Current GMAT median / range | GRE average | Source detail                            |
| ---------------------------------- | -------------------- | --------------------------- | ----------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| ISB PGP, Class of 2027             | 672                  | 675 / 575–795               | 325         | Official profile graphic                 |
| IIM Ahmedabad PGPX, cohort 2025–26 | 642                  | Not published               | 322         | Profile inside 2026–27 official brochure |

## What is a good GMAT score for ISB?

A current 675 puts you at ISB’s published Class of 2027 median. It is a sensible reference point for preparation, but ISB explicitly says there is no minimum GMAT or GRE score required to apply. A median describes the centre of a group after selection; it is not the score at which admission becomes likely or guaranteed.

If you want a numerical preparation goal near that benchmark, 675 is an attainable current score. A goal of 685 would place you above the published median and at the 95.1st percentile in the [latest GMAC table](/articles/gmat-percentiles). Calling 685 a personal target is reasonable; calling it “ISB’s required score” would be unsupported. No official target has been published for a particular nationality, industry or applicant category in the sources checked.

If you have 655 or 665, start with the whole application rather than assuming that a below-median score ends the process. Inspect your academic evidence and section scores, and ask what a retake would specifically strengthen. If the weakness is a thin quantitative record, improving [Quant](/gmat/quant) or DI may address the concern more directly than pursuing a headline total without considering its composition.

If you already have 695 or 705, the next decision is still about your application. A very high percentile does not establish your leadership, career direction or programme fit. Set a stopping rule for preparation so that additional mock testing does not absorb the time needed to explain those elements convincingly.

## What is a good GMAT score for IIM Ahmedabad PGPX?

The verified PGPX current-scale average of 642 gives useful context, but it is a different statistic from ISB’s 675 median and belongs to a different cohort year. A current 645 is numerically close to that average; 655 is above it. Neither comparison creates an official minimum or a guaranteed shortlist.

The current PGPX FAQ states that the GMAT/GRE requirement cannot be waived under exceptional circumstances. It also says the highest score among tests taken within the valid period is considered. Do not read this as permission to combine the best sections from different attempts or to apply a different school’s superscore policy. Follow the programme’s current reporting instructions.

Your preparation goal should reflect why you are choosing this experienced-professional programme. Map the academic readiness demonstrated by your score against the evidence from your education and work. A score can help substantiate readiness, but it cannot substitute for a clear account of increasing responsibility and the career change you want from the programme.

Avoid importing a classic “700+” rule into the current exam. The [August 2026 concordance](/articles/gmat-score-converter) links classic 700 to current 645 and 655, but that historical comparison is not a PGPX admission policy. The directly published current average is the better starting reference. Before using any other IIM’s number, find that exact programme’s class profile and preserve its edition and cohort label.

## Put your target on the latest GMAT percentile scale

The August 2026 GMAC total table covers 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2026\. It places 645 at 85.6, 655 at 89.6, 665 at 91.2 and 675 at 94.0\. These figures explain how your individual current score compares with the testing reference population. They do not measure your rank among ISB or PGPX applicants.

The distinction is helpful when a score feels “low” because it is below an enrolled-class benchmark. A 655 is already a high relative performance in the global score distribution, even if it sits below ISB’s current median. You can recognise that achievement and still investigate whether improving it would strengthen your chosen application.

Conversely, reaching 94.0 does not establish that you have satisfied every part of admissions evaluation. Use the percentile as a diagnostic and communication tool. Use the class profile as a programme-specific benchmark. Use the eligibility page to decide whether your score, format and dates meet the formal rules.

When recording a target, write something like “675 current GMAT; ISB Class of 2027 median; August 2026 percentile 94.0”. That single line preserves all three references. It is more accurate than a loose phrase such as “a 94th-percentile ISB cutoff”, which incorrectly turns a testing rank into a school rule.

__Current single-attempt score landmarks from GMAC’s August 2026 table; last checked 4 October 2026__
| Current total | Official percentile | How to use the comparison                       |
| ------------- | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| 645           | 85.6%               | Near the verified 642 PGPX cohort average       |
| 655           | 89.6%               | Above that average; below ISB’s 675 median      |
| 665           | 91.2%               | Below ISB’s published median                    |
| 675           | 94.0%               | Matches ISB’s published median                  |
| 685           | 95.1%               | Above ISB’s published median                    |
| 705           | 97.5%               | High testing percentile; no admission guarantee |

## Official INR programme fees: include GST only where stated

The fee year needs its own label. ISB’s official fee PDF currently applies to the PGP Class of 2026–27, enrolled in April 2026\. The PDF says the 2027–28 fee structure will be announced shortly. Its amounts below are therefore a published budgeting reference for an earlier intake, not a confirmed price for your 2027–28 offer.

For ISB, the single-instalment grand total is ₹38,67,160 with shared accommodation or ₹42,42,040 with studio accommodation. These totals include the listed GST and the ₹20,000 refundable security deposit; insurance is charged at actuals separately. Shared accommodation is identified as GST-exempt, so adding 18% to the entire grand total would double-count tax and misapply it to an exempt component.

IIM Ahmedabad’s current fee page quotes ₹35,00,000 for single accommodation and ₹37,10,000 for married student housing for the 2026–27 PGPX batch. It identifies international immersion costs and related travel and stay as additional, with usage-based utilities also extra. The page does not clearly label the quoted programme amounts as GST-inclusive or provide a GST split. We preserve the stated figures and do not invent an 18% uplift.

These are programme fees, not GMAT booking prices. We could not independently verify a current India-specific exam checkout amount in INR, so no rupee exam-fee conversion is presented here. Check the live country-specific booking checkout for the applicable exam charge, tax and currency.

__Official programme fee references in INR; intake and tax treatment matter; last checked 4 October 2026__
| Programme or fee component                        | Published amount | Tax and scope                                                     |
| ------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ISB 2026–27 admission fee                         | ₹3,54,000        | ₹3,00,000 plus ₹54,000 GST; part of grand total                   |
| ISB 2026–27 commitment fee                        | ₹2,36,000        | ₹2,00,000 plus ₹36,000 GST; part of grand total                   |
| ISB 2026–27 shared, single-instalment grand total | ₹38,67,160       | Listed GST included; refundable deposit included; insurance extra |
| ISB 2026–27 studio, single-instalment grand total | ₹42,42,040       | Listed GST included; refundable deposit included; insurance extra |
| IIMA PGPX 2026–27 single accommodation            | ₹35,00,000       | GST treatment not explicit on page; immersion and utilities extra |
| IIMA PGPX 2026–27 married student housing         | ₹37,10,000       | GST treatment not explicit on page; immersion and utilities extra |

## Build a budget without mixing intake years or double-counting deposits

Use the accommodation option you would actually take and the payment schedule in your eventual offer. ISB’s PDF has different columns for paying the other fees in one or two instalments, with interest attached to the second-instalment option. The grand totals above use the single-instalment columns only. Do not compare one school’s instalment cash flow with another school’s complete programme fee.

ISB separately lists indicative additional expenses totalling ₹6,45,000, including books, a laptop, meals, an international programme and other expenses. Those are estimates rather than a universal bill: your laptop needs and international participation can differ. Keep them separate from the published grand total and the insurance premium at actuals. Also distinguish a refundable deposit from money that will definitely remain spent.

For PGPX, start with the current fee page’s accommodation figure, then get the immersion and payment details for your offer. The 2026–27 brochure still quotes the 2025–26 batch fee of ₹34.15 lakh (single) and ₹36.20 lakh (married housing); the fee page’s ₹35 lakh and ₹37.10 lakh for 2026–27 are the newer figures.

Add your own travel, living commitments, financing costs and income interruption as separate personal assumptions. Label them as estimates, rather than attributing them to the institution. A useful affordability comparison makes the known institutional charges and your personal circumstances visible side by side, even when the next intake’s official fee is still pending.

## Can you use an online GMAT for ISB or IIM PGPX?

Under the rules checked, choose a test-centre appointment for these two programmes. ISB requires a valid, verified test-centre GMAT or GRE score no older than five years from the application deadline. IIM Ahmedabad’s PGPX FAQ explicitly rejects online, or take-home, GMAT/GRE scores and accepts only test-centre scores. The exam owner’s availability of an online test does not override a school’s format requirement.

Online can still be relevant if your wider shortlist includes schools that accept it. In that case, decide whether taking a centre-based exam once would satisfy the whole shortlist before choosing the convenience of home testing. A second appointment caused by an avoidable format mismatch adds both cost and deadline pressure.

There is also an India ID change. mba.com says Aadhaar has not been accepted as ID for the online GMAT since 12 June 2025, so ignore older guides that list it. That update concerns online appointments; check the test-centre ID rules separately.

For an online appointment elsewhere on your shortlist, GMAC’s current environment rules permit one physical whiteboard up to 12 by 20 inches, two dry-erase markers and one eraser; paper notes are not the substitute. Verify the current ID and system requirements before paying. For ISB and PGPX, the decisive issue remains their centre-only admissions rule.

__Exam-format rules and dated ID update; last checked 4 October 2026__
| Organisation or policy     | Rule                                                          | Practical consequence                                        |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| ISB PGP                    | Verified centre-based GMAT/GRE; within five years of deadline | Book at a test centre for this route                         |
| IIMA PGPX                  | Only centre-based GMAT/GRE; take-home scores not accepted     | Online convenience does not meet this programme rule         |
| GMAT Online Aadhaar update | Not accepted from 12 June 2025                                | Use an alternative ID that meets current online requirements |

## Plan backwards from score validity and the application deadline

ISB’s eligibility page gives 2027–28 application deadlines of 20 September 2026 (Round 1, now passed), 6 December 2026 (Round 2) and 17 January 2027 (Round 3). Your score must be dated 7 December 2021 to 6 December 2026 for Round 2, or 18 January 2022 to 17 January 2027 for Round 3\. “Valid for five years” is easy to misread by a day, so use the stated window.

The same page also carries an older line saying the next Round 1 deadline “will be announced soon”. Go by the dated deadlines above, and confirm them in the application portal before you submit.

Allow time for the official report and any retake you may need. GMAC says reports typically arrive in three to five days but can occasionally take up to 20\. Retakes need at least 16 calendar days between GMAT attempts, with up to five attempts in any rolling 12 months and no lifetime cap. A booking on the final possible day gives you little room for reporting issues or an unsatisfactory result.

ISB allows unofficial scores at application submission but requires the testing agency’s direct official report for verification. Treat that flexibility as a reporting provision, not an extension of the score-date window. Keep a record of the actual test date, format, edition and score-send status as part of your application checklist.

## A preparation plan that serves the application

Start with one fresh, full-length current-format mock under test-day timings. topin offers a [free GMAT mock](/gmat/practice-test) scored on the official scale with explanations. Compare your total with the dated programme benchmarks, then identify whether Quant, Verbal or DI is holding back a repeatable performance.

Make the retake decision specific. If your score is below your personal goal, describe the weakness you will fix and the evidence that it is fixable within the time available. If your score is already close to the benchmark, consider whether application work now addresses a more important unresolved question. Neither a median match nor a higher percentile completes your candidacy.

Before booking, verify programme eligibility separately from the score. ISB’s PGP requires at least 24 months of full-time work experience before enrolment. IIMA’s current PGPX guidance describes at least four years of full-time post-graduation experience for the 2027–28 batch. A high GMAT score cannot replace these programme requirements.

Finally, keep three dated notes: the current-format class benchmark, the test-format and validity rule, and the fee intake. Updating one does not automatically update the others. That simple separation lets you build a credible score goal, avoid an unusable online result and budget for the right intake without turning uncertain numbers into promises.

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## FAQs

What GMAT score is required for ISB in 2026?

ISB says there is no minimum GMAT score to apply. Its current Class of 2027 profile reports a current-format average of 672 and median of 675.

Is 675 enough for ISB?

675 matches ISB’s published current-scale median, but admission depends on the complete application. It is a class benchmark, not a guaranteed-admission threshold.

What is IIM Ahmedabad PGPX’s GMAT Focus average?

The profile in its 2026–27 brochure reports 642 for the 2025–26 PGPX cohort. A newer current-scale cohort figure was not verified in the sources checked.

Does ISB accept online GMAT scores?

Its current rules require a valid, verified test-centre GMAT or GRE score. Choose the centre-based format for this programme.

Does IIM Ahmedabad PGPX accept the take-home GMAT?

No. Its current FAQ explicitly accepts only test-centre GMAT/GRE scores and rejects take-home scores.

Are ISB’s fees inclusive of GST?

The official 2026–27 single-instalment grand totals include the listed GST: ₹38,67,160 shared or ₹42,42,040 studio. Insurance is extra at actuals, and 2027–28 fees were not yet confirmed in that PDF.

Can I use Aadhaar for GMAT Online in India?

No. mba.com’s policy update says Aadhaar is no longer accepted for online appointments from 12 June 2025.

Can I get a GMAT waiver for IIM Ahmedabad PGPX?

The current PGPX FAQ says its [GMAT/GRE requirement](/articles/gmat-vs-gre-ea-waiver) cannot be waived under exceptional circumstances.

## Sources (checked 4 October 2026)

* [ISB: current PGP Class of 2027 profile and testing graphic](https://www.isb.edu/programmes/post-graduate-programmes/pgp-in-management/class-profile)
* [ISB: eligibility, score windows and centre-based requirement](https://www.isb.edu/programmes/post-graduate-programmes/pgp-in-management/eligibility-and-requirements)
* [ISB: official 2026–27 fee PDF](https://prodcd.isb.edu/media/tgjbtziz/fee-structure.pdf)
* [IIMA: 2026–27 brochure with 2025–26 cohort profile](https://pgpx.iima.ac.in/brochure/PGPX%5FBrochure%5F2026-27.pdf)
* [IIMA: current PGPX fee structure](https://www.iima.ac.in/academics/MBA-PGPX/admission/fee-structure)
* [IIMA: PGPX eligibility and testing FAQ](https://www.iima.ac.in/academics/MBA-PGPX/about-program)
* [GMAC: August 2026 total percentiles and classic links](https://go.gmac.com/hubfs/07.Assessments/GMAT%20Exam/GMAT%5FTotal%5FConcordance%5FAug2026.pdf)
* [mba.com: Aadhaar online ID policy update](https://www.mba.com/information-and-news/legal/aadhaar?nav=header)
* [mba.com: online environment and whiteboard rules](https://support.mba.com/hc/en-us/articles/50944683740827-GMAT-Online-Exam-Rules-and-Testing-Environment-Requirements)
* [mba.com: official reporting time](https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat-exam/scores/official-score-reports)
* [mba.com: retake spacing and attempt limits](https://support.mba.com/hc/en-us/articles/10118337626139-GMAT-Retake-Policies-and-Attempt-Limits)

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