Which path leads to Harvard’s MBA, and which tests are required?
Harvard Business School (HBS) accepts applications directly through its portal. The admissions test is one part of the application. The table distinguishes the two-year full-time MBA, whose next start date is Fall 2027 (Class of 2029), from the 2+2 deferred-admission path to the same MBA.
The international applicants page requires a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree and lists three-year international bachelor’s degrees among the equivalents. We cannot determine whether a specific French degree qualifies; the school must confirm that. The “MiM or MBA” article can help you choose the program level.
| Pathway | Entry | Admissions test | English test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-year MBA (Class of 2029, Fall 2027 entry) | Degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree; three-year international bachelor’s degrees are listed as equivalent | A valid GMAT or GRE is required, applicant’s choice, before submission; no waivers | TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo if undergraduate studies were not in English; recommended but not required after a master’s taught in English |
| 2+2, deferred admission for students in their final year | Undergraduate degree, joint bachelor’s/master’s program, or master’s immediately after undergraduate study (without full-time employment apart from internships or co-op); degree earned between October 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027. Deadline: April 28, 2027, at noon ET; decision: June 30, 2027 | A valid GMAT or GRE is required; two to four years of work experience before starting the MBA | English test according to the international applicant requirements below |
GMAT or GRE: does the school prefer one?
The school states plainly that it has no preference between the two tests, and the application guide says the test must be taken before submitting the application. Its admissions contact page confirms that no test waivers are granted, regardless of circumstances. Choose based on your timeline, your strengths, and your other target schools; the “choosing an international test” article outlines these factors.
In a January 2025 post, the admissions team says it considers the highest score from a single test administration when multiple scores are submitted. It accepts an unofficial score with the application but requires official score reporting. The post does not explain how the new GMAT Superscore is handled; confirm this before relying on a combination of section scores.
The published process requires the GMAT or GRE. It does not allow the Executive Assessment or TAGE MAGE as a substitute, so a score on either test does not meet the published requirement.
Which English test, and what is the minimum?
The international applicants page requires TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Test if your undergraduate program was not taught exclusively in English. TOEIC is not on the list. With a master’s degree taught in English, the test is recommended but not required. HBS’s TOEFL institution code is 3444.
The school sets no minimum, but its admissions committee discourages applying below certain levels: TOEFL 5 on the 1–6 scale or 109 on the 0–120 scale, IELTS 7.5, PTE 75, or Duolingo 145. These are recommendations, not minimums. The 5 and 109 are scores on two scales for the same TOEFL iBT, which has been scored from 1 to 6 since January 21, 2026; do not confuse them.
What scores does Harvard Business School publish?
This table includes only figures published by the school itself, with their scope, period, and source page; where nothing is published, the entry says “not published.” The page reviewed covers the MBA Class of 2027: 44% submitted GRE scores, 34% GMAT scores, and 28% 10th Edition GMAT scores. Some students submitted scores from more than one test, which is why the total exceeds 100%.
The school distinguishes the current GMAT (“GMAT”) from the older “GMAT 10th Edition.” GMAC defines their respective total score scales as 205–805 and 200–800. Scores cannot be compared directly across editions. ETS sets a 130–170 scale for each GRE Verbal and Quantitative section. The HBS profile reports medians and ranges covering the middle 80%, not averages.
| Test | Scope | What the school publishes | Edition and period |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMAT (labeled “GMAT”) | MBA, students who submitted this GMAT (34% of the class), medians | Total 685; Verbal 86; Quantitative 84 | Current GMAT, total 205–805; Class of 2027 |
| GMAT (labeled “GMAT”) | Same students, middle 80% | Total 645–735; Verbal 82–90; Quantitative 79–89 | Current GMAT, total 205–805; Class of 2027 |
| GMAT 10th Edition | MBA, students who submitted this GMAT (28% of the class), medians | Total 730; Verbal 42; Quantitative 49 | GMAT 10th Edition, total 200–800; Class of 2027 |
| GMAT 10th Edition | Same students, middle 80% | Total 690–770; Verbal 38–47; Quantitative 45–50 | GMAT 10th Edition, total 200–800; Class of 2027 |
| GRE | MBA, students who submitted the GRE (44% of the class), medians | Verbal 164; Quantitative 164; no total published | GRE General Test, 130–170 per section; Class of 2027 |
| GRE | Same students, middle 80% | Verbal 158–168; Quantitative 159–169 | GRE General Test, 130–170 per section; Class of 2027 |
| GMAT, GRE | MBA applicants | No minimum score to apply; no test preference | Current page, 2026–2027 cycle |
| GMAT, GRE | MBA class average | Not published (medians and ranges only) | Class of 2027 |
| TOEFL iBT, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo | MBA international applicants | No minimum listed; applicants are advised not to apply below 5 out of 6 or 109 out of 120 (TOEFL), 7.5 (IELTS), 75 (PTE), or 145 (Duolingo) | Current page, 2026–2027 cycle |
The pitfall
Treating a median as a cutoff, or comparing the two GMAT editions with the GRE
A median is neither an admissions minimum nor a target set by the school: at least half the group’s scores are at or below it, and at least half are at or above it. The school itself says there is no minimum score to apply, and the ranges omit 20% of each group.
The total scores of 685 on the current GMAT and 730 on the GMAT 10th Edition describe submissions from two groups on different scales; the same student may appear in both. Comparing these scores directly or averaging them would be misleading. Similarly, the two GRE scores of 164 are section medians; adding them does not produce a median total score for the class.
What happens after the test?
The written application includes transcripts, a résumé, employment history, activities and honors, three short essays, post-MBA goals, two recommendations, and an application fee (or a need-based fee waiver). Interviews are by invitation only and last 30 minutes with a member of the admissions committee; within 24 hours afterward, candidates submit a written reflection.
For the Class of 2029, entering in Fall 2027, Round 1 closed at noon Eastern Time on September 9, 2026, with decisions on December 10, 2026. Round 2 closes at the same time on January 5, 2027, with decisions on March 25, 2027. An application submitted after Round 1 is considered in Round 2; applications are not reviewed after Round 2. Plan backward from January 5 to take the test, allow for a possible retake, and have official scores sent.
Key takeaways
- Harvard’s MBA requires a GMAT or GRE taken before applying, with no preference or waiver. The 2+2 track also requires one of these tests and is open to some students in their final year of undergraduate or master’s study.
- There is no minimum score. For the Class of 2027, the school publishes medians and ranges by test: GMAT 685 (645–735), GMAT 10th Edition 730 (690–770), and GRE 164 in Verbal and Quantitative.
- The current GMAT is scored on a 205–805 scale, the GMAT 10th Edition on a 200–800 scale, and each GRE Verbal or Quantitative section on a 130–170 scale; these scores are not directly comparable.
- An English test is required after undergraduate study not taught in English; after a master’s taught in English, it is recommended but not required. Round 2 closes January 5, 2027; the 2+2 track closes April 28, 2027.