GMAT Exam Scores

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Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
GMAT Exam Scores

Your exam results inform your next steps towards business school and serve as an important factor during the admissions process.

Your GMAT™ Exam – Focus Edition Total Score is based on your performance on all 3 sections of the exam, with each section weighted equally. Your score is also valid for five years, giving you the flexibility to send your score to schools when you are ready!

IMPORTANT: Comparing your GMAT™ Exam – Focus Edition score directly to your score on a previous version of the GMAT is not an accurate comparison. Learn more at Understanding Your Score.

Scoring Breakdown

The GMAT™ Exam – Focus Edition Total Score scale ranges from 205 to 805, and all Total Score values end in a 5. Section scores range from 60 to 90.

Total Score

  • Score range: 205-805
  • Score intervals: 10
  • Standard error of measurement: 30-40 points

Quantitative Reasoning Score

  • Score range: 60-90
  • Score intervals: 1
  • Standard error of measurement: 3 points

Verbal Reasoning Score

  • Score range: 60-90
  • Score intervals: 1
  • Standard error of measurement: 3 points

Data Insights Score

  • Score range: 60-90
  • Score intervals: 1
  • Standard error of measurement: 3 points

Why a new score scale?

If you’re familiar with the previous version of the GMAT, you’ll notice the Total Score scale is different. This change has been made to ensure you and schools can easily distinguish between a GMAT™ Exam – Focus Edition and GMAT™ Exam score.

Total Score

GMAT™ Exam: 200–800

GMAT™ Exam – Focus Edition: 205–805

The score scale for the GMAT™ Exam – Focus Edition has also been adjusted to reflect changes in the test-taking population, which has become more diverse and global. Over the years, scores have shifted significantly, resulting in an uneven distribution. The updated score scale fixes that, thus allowing schools to better differentiate your performance on the exam.

In addition to the score scale recalibration, the following key changes distinguish GMAT™ Exam – Focus Edition:

  • The Total Score is now comprised of all 3 section scores (as mentioned above)
  • The content areas and test constructs have been refined to narrow 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

Your Unofficial Score

Immediately after completing the exam, your unofficial scores for the Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights, as well as your Total Score are displayed on-screen. You are not allowed to record, save, screenshot, or print your unofficial score. You will receive an email notification when your Official Score Report is available in your mba.com account.

Visit Official Score Reports for more information – including what’s new for GMAT™ Exam – Focus Edition!

Score Penalty for Unanswered Questions

There is a penalty for not completing each section of the exam. If you do not finish in the allotted time, your score will be penalized reflecting the number of questions unanswered. Your GMAT™ Exam – Focus Edition score will be the best reflection of your performance when all questions are managed to be answered within the time limit.

Privacy Information Specific to Your Score and Score Reports

GMAT™ Exam – Focus Edition scores and personally identifiable information will be released only at your specific request, except as otherwise set forth in our policies and procedures as required by law, and as necessary to detect or prevent unlawful activity or to cooperate in a judicial or governmental proceeding.

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