ESSEC Business School admissions:
which test to take and what score to aim for

Which pathways lead to ESSEC, and what tests do they require?

For degree-based Master in Management admission, ESSEC accepts applicants with at least a three-year degree through its own application portal. The management test is one component of the application, along with a CV, transcripts, recommendations, and interviews. The table summarizes the current admissions pages for 2027 entry.

For degree-based admission to the Master in Management Grande École, the page requires an undergraduate degree of at least three years (a 180-ECTS Licence for a French degree or a three-year bachelor’s degree for a foreign degree), up to master’s level. It also sets an age limit of under 32, which the program brochure associates with the flexible track. It does not describe entry with a two-year degree; the AST 1 and AST 2 pathways article helps identify schools that offer that option. Applicants choose one of two tracks each year: the flexible track, with little or no work experience, or the one-year intensive track in Cergy only. The latter also requires at least six months of cumulative work experience (including internships and apprenticeships) by June 30 before entry, demonstrated management skills, and ten weeks of academic experience outside France during higher education.

Which admissions test should you choose for your pathway?

For the Master in Management, all four tests are treated equally: the school requires one score. The page says CAT is for Indian applicants; applicants preparing in France choose among the TAGE MAGE, GMAT, and GRE. The school expresses no preference among them on this page. Choose based on your schedule, the language in which you perform best, and your other target schools.

One key factor is score validity, which differs by test. ESSEC’s page lists two years for the TAGE MAGE, five years for the GMAT and GRE, and one year for the CAT. FNEGE regulations clarify that TAGE MAGE validity covers two calendar years, the test year and the next; a score earned in 2026 therefore expires on December 31, 2027, even if fewer than 24 months have passed. Scores must be valid when the application round closes; the score-validity article explains the calculation. For the GMAT, the page asks applicants to designate ESSEC as a score recipient; for the GRE, it gives institution code 0839.

One point not to overinterpret: the Master in Finance FAQ says the GMAT is a very important part of the application without mentioning the GRE or TAGE MAGE, even though the same page also accepts the GRE, TAGE MAGE, and, for Indian applicants, CAT. This passage gives no score and does not say the TAGE MAGE is viewed less favorably; it is the school’s wording, which we report without resolving. The “TAGE MAGE or GRE” article compares the tests; the TAGE MAGE is scored out of 600, as explained in its guide.

Which English test, and what is the minimum?

The English test is in addition to the management test, not a replacement. On the Master in Management page, ESSEC publishes a minimum for each test: TOEIC Listening and Reading 850, IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 95 out of 120 (the page also lists “5/6” on the new scale), and Cambridge B2 First 175. The same minimums appear on the Finance, DSBA, and SMIB master’s pages. The accepted TOEIC is Listening and Reading; the article comparing TOEIC Listening and Reading with four-skill tests helps check each application’s requirements.

Requirements differ across programs. The Global MBA requires TOEIC 800, IELTS 7, and TOEFL 100; the Rabat master’s programs (FEDA and IBSCM) require TOEFL iBT 90 and also accept Duolingo English Test 125. Do not transfer one program’s minimum to another. Test age matters too: an English test must be no more than two years old on the application-round deadline.

On the Master in Management admissions page, waivers are limited to holders of an international degree who completed at least three years in a higher-education program taught entirely in English and can provide official confirmation of the language of instruction. The brochure describes the waiver differently: every degree earned since high school must have been taught entirely in English. If these statements apply differently to your background, confirm your eligibility with admissions. The English-test waiver article explains the details.

What scores does ESSEC publish?

For the Master in Management, the admissions page reviewed says only that a competitive score is needed to improve the chance of acceptance, without giving a number. It publishes no TAGE MAGE, GMAT, or GRE score for this pathway; neither does the official program brochure, which gives only the class profile (average age 23, 50% women, 55% international students).

The table includes only what ESSEC itself publishes, with its scope, period, and source page. When the reviewed documents give no figure, the entry says “not published”; we do not fill the gap with another source’s number. The two management figures found in the reviewed pages apply to the Global MBA and use the GMAT Focus scale, which we do not convert.

What happens after you submit your application?

For the Master in Management, the application includes a one-page CV, authenticated degrees and transcripts, two recommendations (the school recommends one academic and one professional), copies of test score reports, ID, a photo, and a nonrefundable €180 application fee. After the rounds and shortlisting, selected applicants complete a 45-minute video interview about personality, values, and fit with the program. The page does not say how scores are weighted against the rest of the application.

For 2027 entry, the Master in Management calendar lists deadlines on October 7, 2026, November 26, 2026, and February 17, 2027, at noon Paris time; the fourth-round date is still to be determined. As of October 15, 2026, the first round has closed. The calendar also lists shortlisting, interview, and decision dates; verify them directly before planning, as they may change. The parallel-admissions calendar article can help you plan backward from deadlines.

For the Master in Management, campus choice is final once the application is validated. The flexible track begins in Cergy or Singapore and may later include study in Rabat. Only one application per program per year is allowed.