GMAT Score: Total Score, Validity, Percentile Scores, and Top Universities

If you want to take GMAT, you should be aware of the new GMAT Focus edition score which is different from GMAT 10th edition scores. The new GMAT Focus edition score ranges from 205 to 805 with a 10-point increment. As per GMAT Focus Edition, the score values end in a 5 in the GMAT Focus edition while the section-wise GMAT score ranges from 60 to 90. The GMAT Score has been adjusted from the previous score of 200-800 to reflect changes in the test-taking population, which has become more diverse and global. In addition to the score scale recalibration, the following changes have been made to the GMAT Exam Focus Edition:

• The Total Score is now comprised of all 3 section scores
• The content areas and test constructs have been refined to narrow the scope to focus on data literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• The scoring algorithm has been updated
• The new Question Review & Edit feature will have implications for testing behavior

Understanding GMAT Scores

After finishing your GMAT exam, you will see your unofficial scores for all sections (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights) and your overall score on the screen. However, capturing these scores (screenshots, recordings, printouts) isn't allowed. You'll receive an email notification when your official score report is ready for viewing in your mba.com account. You will receive the email on the same account with which GMAT Registration was done.

Now, after receiving the GMAT maximum score, most students ask how the score has changed if compared to the GMAT Exam (10th Edition). You must note that it is not possible to directly compare total scores or section scores from a previous version of the exam to the current one. Since the scores have changed, comparing them will not show a correct comparison of performance. If you are trying to understand competitiveness, you can use the concordance tables below to show score distributions between the two versions of the exam by percentile.

Source: GMAT official website

GMAT Percentile Rankings

Percentile Ranking in GMAT indicates what percentage of test takers you have performed better than. For example, a percentile ranking of 75% means that you have performed better than 75% of other test takers. To understand competitiveness and GMAT top score, you must check the percentile ranking. You can also refer to the GMAT score calculator to calculate your percentile scores. The percentile tables provided below show score distributions between the two versions of the exam by percentile.

The data provided above was taken as per:

Sample Size: 866,640

Standard Deviation: 89.08

Data Period: 2017-2022

GMAT Section Wise Percentile Ranking

All three section scores of calculating GMAT score are based on three factors:

• The number of questions answered
• Whether the answers are correct or incorrect
• The difficulty and other parameters of the questions were answered.

Average GMAT Scores

Total GMAT scores range from 205 to 805, and the average total GMAT score is currently 546. The average GMAT score for Indian students ranges from 577-605. Something above 650 is considered a good GMAT score. You can check the average GMAT Focus scores:

GMAT Score Validity

The scorecard validity for GMAT is five years from the date of the test taken and it can be reported for a maximum of 10 years. You must start applying to your chosen university within 5 years. The GMAT exam can be taken within 16 days, for a maximum number of five times in a year. Your GMAT results will be available in your mba.com account within 1-3 days of completing your exam.

Some of the business schools in the world might have their own rules about the GMAT validity period and the grades they accept. So, you must verify with the institution of your choice before applying. Your score is invalid and unacceptable by any institution after 10 years.

Guidelines for Using GMAT Scores

You must follow a few guidelines while sharing your GMAT Scores with the abroad universities. Some of the guidelines are:

• Avoid using GMAT cutoff scores: GMAT Cutoff can only be used when a large number of students with scores in that range were less successful in the curriculum.
• Do not compare GMAT scores with Other Test scores: GMAT score scales may seem similar to those of other standardized tests, but comparisons with scores from other tests [such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE®)] are not appropriate.
• Use caution in direct score comparison: If you are directly comparing the scores of two applicants, use caution since there is a standard error of the difference in Total Scores.
• Fairly evaluate educationally disadvantaged test takers: Special care should be given by universities in interpreting test scores when the test taker is believed to be educationally disadvantaged as a result of social and environmental circumstances.
• Consider the candidate’s English proficiency: To analyze the ability of a test taker whose native language is not English, it is important to carefully consider how much the scores may have been affected by a limited proficiency in English.

Accessing GMAT Score

The Official GMAT Score Report is available via your mba.com account within 1-3 days. Sometimes, the GMAT Score availability may occasionally take up to 20 days. The GMAT Scorecard will have an enhanced score report that contains the sectional scores and your personal details. You will be notified via email once your GMAT scores are available. The GMAT score will include:

• Exam appointment details
• Some personal data provided during registration
• Individual section scores
• Total Score
• Percentile rankings

There is no need to cancel your GMAT exam score. Since you are not required to select which business school programs receive your Official Score Report before you take the GMAT exam, there will never be a need to cancel your score. You just need to send the GMAT scores to the institution of your choice.

Indian Colleges Accepting GMAT Score

Here are the top Indian colleges taking GMAT score for admission. The average score for top MBA colleges has been provided here. :

GMAT Scores For Top Business Schools

Here are the GMAT top colleges in the world and the average GMAT cutoff required tabulated below:

Many business schools tend to focus on the GMAT total score. This means that you may make up for weakness in one area by being strong in another. For example, if your quantitative skills are better than your verbal skills, the scores of the Quant section will help pull up your total score. You must try to get your GMAT Score somewhere around 700. This will help you gain admission among the top 50 business schools worldwide.