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GMAT is THE entrance exam needed to enter some of the world’s best business schools. The GMAT or Graduate Management Admission Test scores are usually a requirement with applications to MBA programmes, master’s degree programmes in finance and accountancy or similar courses. Attention to GMAT scoring should be your priority to impress the admissions board at your chosen business school and make them see your ability. Understanding how the exam is structured and marked is a great foundation to ensure a good GMAT score.
Before we dive into the GMAT score chart, let’s quickly unravel the confusion between the GMAT Focus edition and the GMAT test.
GMAT Focus Edition and the GMAT test:
There is no difference between the two right now. The name ‘Focus edition’ was used to differentiate the new version from the old towards the end of the year 2023 and early part of 2024. Two versions co-existed at that time. Right now, for test takers who will be writing the GMAT from July 1st, 2024, there is only one version of the test, earlier known as the Focus edition and now known simply as the GMAT test.
So, don’t let a mention of the GMAT Focus edition throw you off.
Business schools across the world are aware of this change. If you have already taken the previous version of GMAT (known as the 10th edition), don’t worry, business schools have the necessary tools to interpret your scores about newer test takers attempting the Focus edition.
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Want to learn more about the GMAT exam format? Click on the link to explore our article. |
GMAT segments and scoring
Let’s get to the heart of the matter now. You have three sections in your GMAT test, and each is scored individually. Each segment gets equal weightage when the total score is calculated. Finally, you also have a GMAT total score.
This is what you should know about your GMAT total score:
- Ranges between 205 and 805
- Score interval: 10
Now, the scores for the individual sections:
|
Segment |
Quantitative reasoning |
Verbal reasoning |
Data insights |
|
Score range |
60- 90 |
60- 90 |
60- 90 |
|
Score interval |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Std error of measurement |
3 points |
3 points |
3 points |
As soon as you complete the test, you can see your unofficial scores for all sections and the total scores displayed on the screen. You cannot copy or save these in any way at this time. Your Official Score report is created on mba.com and added to your account about three to five days after the test. You are notified of it by email. You can decide to send the scores or hold them. Once you send your scores, they cannot be recalled.
When you decide to use your five free score reports option within 48 hours of receiving them in your email, the report that the business school gets has your GMAT total score and segment scores from one single GMAT test.
| Did you know that you can study in the USA without GRE or GMAT scores? Check out our article for details. |
GMAT score chart
GMAT follows the percentile rankings. According to mba.com, Percentile rankings indicate the percentage of test takers you performed better than. If you score a percentile ranking of 60%, it means that your score is better than 60% of the other test takers. It also means that 40% of other test takers performed better than you.
|
GMAT score |
Percentile rank |
GMAT score |
Percentile rank |
GMAT score |
Percentile rank |
GMAT score |
Percentile rank |
|
805 |
100.0% |
705 |
98.6% |
625 |
82.7% |
555 |
52.7 |
|
805 |
100.0% |
695 |
98.1% |
615 |
80.1% |
555 |
51.4 |
|
795 |
100.0% |
695 |
97.9% |
615 |
80.1% |
555 |
47.8 |
|
785 |
100.0% |
685 |
96.9% |
615 |
78.3% |
545 |
46.7 |
|
785 |
100.0% |
685 |
96.7% |
615 |
74.5% |
545 |
44.3 |
|
775 |
100.0% |
675 |
96.1% |
605 |
74.5% |
535 |
43.8 |
|
765 |
99.9% |
675 |
95.2% |
595 |
71.5% |
535 |
41.1 |
|
755 |
99.9% |
665 |
94.0% |
595 |
70.7% |
525 |
38.2 |
|
755 |
99.9% |
665 |
93.2% |
585 |
65.3% |
525 |
37.9 |
|
745 |
99.8% |
655 |
92.6% |
585 |
64.8% |
515 |
35.6 |
|
735 |
99.7% |
655 |
89.6% |
585 |
62.8% |
515 |
35.0 |
|
735 |
99.5% |
645 |
89.3% |
575 |
62.1% |
515 |
32.3 |
|
725 |
99.4% |
645 |
86.7% |
575 |
58.9% |
505 |
30.8 |
|
715 |
99.2% |
635 |
85.1% |
565 |
55.8% |
495 |
28.5 |
|
715 |
98.7% |
635 |
83.5% |
565 |
55.1% |
495 |
28.5 |
For the complete list, please visit mba.com.
The mean score during the period 2017-2022 is 546.01.
| Familiarize yourself with the types of questions in the GMAT exam. Learn how to prepare for the GMAT exam. |
Understanding your GMAT results
Your GMAT results are given as scores ranging between 205 and 805. While your total score will fall within this range, ending in a 5, your section-wise scores will be between 60 and 90. You will notice that this is slightly different from previous versions of the test. If you have written a previous version of the GMAT test, it cannot accurately be compared with the current version because the scoring methodology has been changed.
Your detailed Official Score report will not just give you the numbers, but much more. It will give you insights into your performance in each section, across content domains, question types and skills. It will also tell you how well you managed the time allocated for the test.
- GMAT score validity
The scores are valid for five years, which means that you can use the scores to apply to business programmes over five years. After this, you must retake the test and get fresh scores.
- Sending the scores
You can send your GMAT results to five programmes without paying a fee. You must do this within 48 hours. If you miss this window, then you pay the non-refundable fee. You also pay the fee if you want to send your scores to more than five programmes.
| What's the difference between GMAT & GRE? Read our article to find out. |
GMAT Negative marks or score penalty
The GMAT test also has a negative marking system or a penalty system. This comes into play when you do not complete every section of the test. The penalty is proportionate to the number of questions you have left unanswered. Get enough practice beforehand so that you can answer or attempt to answer all the questions within the time frame allocated for the test.
GMAT score cancelling and re-testing
In rare cases, the GMAC may cancel your score. These are the situations when this can happen:
- The test administrator believes that a testing issue has occurred during the test.
- A policy violation has taken place.
- The score is invalid for another reason.
If your score is cancelled, you will see the status and the reason for cancellation mentioned on your Official GMAT Test Score report.
What is a good GMAT score?
Now for the most important question of all. What is a GOOD GMAT score that gives you the best shot at acceptance by the world’s best business schools? With the Focus edition, this question has become slightly more complicated. The short answer is that no number is a benchmark ‘good score’ across programmes. But here are some points to keep in mind that help set your goal post:
- A good GMAT score for a programme depends on that programme’s median GMAT score.
- Each business school/ programme may have a slightly different expectation from its candidates, reflecting how they view your GMAT total score and scores for each section.
- What is relevant to you most is the historical average GMAT score for a program/ B-School. That’s what you need to surpass.
- Check the website of the school/ programme you are aiming for to find the average GMAT student test scores and determine your goal.
- Usually, the top business schools have an average GMAT total score above 705.
You might be interested in finding out what your IELTS band score mean. Explore our article for all the insights you need.
Understanding GMAT scoring is a critical first step to preparing appropriately for this crucial test. Not only does this prep involve studying for the exam and practising thoroughly, but also groundwork to determine what your chosen business school or business programme looks for in ideal candidates in terms of GMAT results both overall and in each section. We hope this article gives you enough information to get you started with your prep work to ace the GMAT. Good luck!
Editor's note: This article was originally published in August 2015 by our content writer, Kavitha Vijeyavelan. We have since revised it to include up-to-date information and ensure its comprehensiveness.
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