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How is the GMAT Scored?

Almost all GMAT aspirants come up with the query on how the GMAT is scored and how percentiles are calculated. So, if you are having the same set of questions in your mind, you are not alone. In this page, we will delve into “how the GMAT score is calculated”. But, before we begin to understand the calculations, you must know that you will get two score reports – the Unofficial score report and the Official score report.

 

The Unofficial Score Report

It is the one which you will receive immediately after finishing your test. It includes the following scores:

  1. DI score on the scale of 60-90 along with percentile
  2. Quantitative score on the scale of 60-90 along with percentile
  3. Verbal score on the scale of 60-90 along with percentile
  4. Total GMAT score on the scale of 205–805 along with percentile

This is how it looks like:

 

Unofficial GMAT® Score Report

Scaled Score Percentile**
Data Insights Score on the scale of 60-90 Number
Quantitative Score on the scale of 60-90 Number
Verbal Score on the scale of 60-90 Number
Total* Score on the scale of 205-805 Number

*Your Total score is derived from your Verbal and Quantitative scores

**The percentile ranking tables are updated every year, which means that your ranking may change as well. The most up-to-date version is available on mba.com/percentile ranking.

 

The Official Score Report

This is the one which you will receive in about 20 days after taking the test.

  1. Quantitative score on the scale of 60-90 along with percentile
  2. Verbal score on the scale of 60-90 along with percentile
  3. Total GMAT score on the scale of 205–805 along with percentile
  4. DI score on the scale of 60-90 along with percentile

You will get to see the first four as soon as you are done taking the test (Unofficial Score Report).  You will receive an email describing how to access your GMAT Official Score Report.

The scores on the scale of 200-800 comprise the Quantitative, Data Insights and the Verbal scores. It is not easy to create a GMAT Scoring Grid as the GMAC never reveals the way it calculates the scores on the scale of 205-805 based on the scores achieved in the Quantitative and the Verbal section of the GMAT.

 

Factors influencing GMAT scores

The scoring of GMAT is different from the other tests. It is a computer adaptive test which means that the first question you will see on the test in a Quant/Verbal section will be of medium difficulty level and if you get it right, then the next question will be of higher difficulty level. However if you get it wrong, then the next question you will see will be easier. Overall, your score depends on the following factors:

  1. The number of questions attempted
  2. The number of questions you get right
  3. The difficulty level of the questions you get right

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FAQ's

How GMAT scores are calculated?

Each of the four sections is scored independently. The score on the quant and verbal sections are scaled and added to get the 200-800 GMAT score.

  1. Analytical Writing Assessment: your essay is graded by a human and a computer on a range of 0-6. The average of these scores is the essay score.
  2. Integrated Reasoning: The 12 questions are scored on a scale of 1-8.
  3. Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning: Each of these sections is adaptive. This means that, in a section, say verbal reasoning, if an answer is correct then the difficulty level of the next question increases. Similarly, if an answer is incorrect, the difficulty level of the next question remains the same or goes down. The final score for these sections ranges from 6-51 and is calculated based on the number of correct answers and difficulty level of the questions. There is a penalty for not completing all the questions in these sections.

The verbal and quantitative section scores are added and scaled to a score ranging from 200-800.

 

What is a good GMAT score?

A good GMAT score will get you the admit of your dreams. In reality, since the GMAT score is a part of your application, a range of GMAT scores may be acceptable based on other aspects of your application, such as resume, letters of recommendation, essays, etc. The MBA programs in top universities are very competitive and require higher scores (650+). On the other hand, many universities may accept scores from 550 depending on the program and your profile.

Is it hard to score 600+ on GMAT?

The GMAT is a standardized test. This means that the types of questions, duration of sections and the content tested are all predictable and standardized. So, if you practice using proper, standardized material from reliable sources and practice in a smart, efficient manner, then you too can get a 600+. The time and effort needed to get to 600+ will vary from student to student.

How long will my GMAT score remain valid?

The GMAT score is valid for 5 years.

What score do I need to get into a top business school?

A good GMAT score will get you the admit of your dreams. In reality, since the GMAT score is a part of your application, a range of GMAT scores may be acceptable based on other aspects of your application, such as resume, letters of recommendation, essays, etc. Obviously, the MBA programs in top universities are very competitive and require higher scores (650+). On the other hand, many universities may accept scores from 550 depending on the program and your profile.

Which Indian business schools accept Indian students on GMAT scores?

At the moment more than 160 B Schools accept the GMAT score for many programs including ISB, Great Lakes, and SP Jain. XLRI and IIMs accept the GMAT for the executive MBAs.

Is it possible to cancel my GMAT score if I am not happy with it?

Yes, it is possible to cancel a GMAT score at the exam center, on the day of the exam. You can also cancel your score online, after the day of the exam. There is a fee if you cancel the score after leaving the test center.

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