The GMAT Scoring Scale
The Score Report
An official GMAT score report consists of four parts:
- Data Insights Scaled Score (on a scale from 60 to 90)
- Verbal Scaled Score (on a scale from 60 to 90)
- Quantitative Scaled Score (on a scale from 60 to 90)
- Total Scaled Score (on a scale from 205 to 805)
The Total Score is a scaled combination of the Data Insights, Verbal, and Quantitative section scores, with each section weighted equally. It reflects a student’s overall performance.
To compute the scaled scores, GMAT uses an algorithm that takes the following factors into account:
- the number of questions answered within the time permitted
- the number of questions answered correctly
- the statistical characteristics (including level of difficulty) of the questions answered
At the beginning of each section, the GMAT presents a question in the middle range of difficulty. If the question is answered correctly, the next question will be harder and the test-taker’s score will adjust upwards. If the question is answered incorrectly, the next question will be easier, and the test-taker’s score will adjust downwards. (The test taker does not see this adjustment because the score is not revealed until the entire test has been completed.) Thus, the algorithm is constantly recalculating the scaled score as the student progresses through the section. As a test‑taker answers more questions, the algorithm receives more information about his or her skills and is able to calculate an accurate score with greater and greater precision.
Upon completing the GMAT, test-takers must decide whether or not to keep their scores. Those who choose to keep their scores are able to view the total scaled score along with the separate Data Insights, Verbal, and Quantitative scaled scores. Those who choose to cancel cannot view any scores.
The real value of a GMAT score is determined by its percentile ranking. A percentile ranking indicates the percentage of test-takers who scored at or below a particular score: the higher the percentile ranking, the more competitive the score. Percentile rankings in the charts below reflect the most current data from the GMAC.
The following table shows the possible GMAT total scaled scores and the percentile rankings assigned to each.
| Scaled Score | Percentile | Scaled Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 735-805 | 100 | 525 | 35 |
| 715-725 | 99 | 515 | 32 |
| 695-705 | 98 | 505 | 28 |
| 685 | 96 | 495 | 25 |
| 675 | 95 | 485 | 22 |
| 665 | 93 | 475 | 20 |
| 655 | 91 | 465 | 17 |
| 645 | 88 | 455 | 15 |
| 635 | 83 | 445 | 12 |
| 625 | 81 | 435 | 11 |
| 615 | 78 | 425 | 9 |
| 605 | 72 | 415 | 8 |
| 595 | 69 | 405 | 7 |
| 585 | 62 | 395 | 6 |
| 575 | 59 | 385 | 5 |
| 565 | 52 | 375 | 4 |
| 555 | 49 | 355-365 | 3 |
| 545 | 43 | 325-345 | 2 |
| 535 | 40 | 275-315 | 1 |
| 340-350 | 0 |
While total scaled scores range from 205 to 805, approximately half of all test takers score between 495 and 615.