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Updated on 15th July, 2024 , 6 min read
Graduate Management Admission Test is a computer adaptive test designed to assess analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English for admission to a graduate management program, such as an MBA program.
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The GMAT score chart explains how your scaled scores on the Quant and Verbal sections map to your total GMAT score of 800 points, and it can help you understand where you need to improve to improve your total GMAT score. The Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning scores have no bearing on your GMAT total score. You will also be given a percentile score, which will tell you how you fared in comparison to the other 100 people who took the GMAT. For example, if your Verbal section score is 70 percentile, it means that you are ahead of 70 of the 100 candidates taking the GMAT 2023.
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The GMAT score chart and scoring algorithm have evolved over time. There has been compression, especially as you approach a perfect GMAT score — achieving a 780, 790, or 800 GMAT score now requires higher scaled scores in each of the sections than it did several years ago, because so many test takers have achieved high scores.
Here is a table that compares your scaled score to percentile:
Scaled Score | Percentile | Scaled Score | Percentile |
760-800 | 99 | 520 | 37 |
750 | 98 | 510 | 35 |
740 | 97 | 500 | 32 |
730 | 96 | 490 | 30 |
720 | 94 | 480 | 27 |
710 | 92 | 470 | 25 |
700 | 89 | 460 | 22 |
690 | 87 | 450 | 20 |
680 | 85 | 440 | 18 |
670 | 83 | 430 | 17 |
660 | 80 | 420 | 15 |
650 | 77 | 410 | 14 |
640 | 73 | 400 | 12 |
630 | 71 | 390 | 11 |
620 | 68 | 380 | 10 |
610 | 65 | 370 | 9 |
600 | 62 | 360 | 8 |
590 | 58 | 340-350 | 6 |
580 | 55 | 330 | 5 |
570 | 52 | 310-320 | 4 |
560 | 49 | 280-300 | 3 |
550 | 46 | 250-270 | 2 |
540 | 43 | 220-240 | 1 |
530 | 39 | 200-210 | 0 |
Total GMAT scores range from 200 to 800, with 565 being the current average. GMAC, the organization that administers the GMAT exam, reports that two-thirds of test takers score between 400 and 600.
Take a look at the table below for average GMAT scores
SECTION | AVERAGE GMAT SCORE |
Verbal | 27.11 |
Quantitative | 40.38 |
Integrated Reasoning | 4.51 |
Analytical Writing Assessment | 4.45 |
TOTAL SCORE | 564.84 |
It's crucial to understand how the GMAT test is scored if you're studying for it. Individual section scores are just as important as the GMAT total score. The results of each section reveal a lot about your abilities and limitations. A table outlining the GMAT score calculation is provided.
Sections | Scoring | How the section is scored |
Analytical Writing Assessment | 0–6 Scored in half-point increments | A machine algorithm and professional raters are used to score essays. |
Integrated Reasoning | 1–8 Scored in 1-point increments | This section is graded based on the number of correctly answered questions. Questions with multiple parts must be answered in order for all parts to receive credit. |
Quantitative | 0–60 Scored in 1-point increments | This section is graded on the following criteria:
|
Verbal | 0–60 Scored in 1-point increments | This section is scored based on:
|
Total Score | 200–800 Scored in 10-point increments | Total scores are determined by the results of the Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections. |
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From the table above, you can see the range of GMAT scores for the current version of the exam. This gives you an idea of how GMAT scores are calculated.
On the day of the GMAT exam, once you've completed it, you'll receive your unofficial GMAT score, excluding the AWA score. At this point, you can choose to either accept or cancel it. Now, what defines a strong GMAT score? Generally, a strong GMAT score exceeds 650 and meets the GMAT cutoff requirements for your desired MBA program. If the GMAT score you attain aligns with your criteria for applying to your chosen MBA or MIM program, you can move forward with it. A solid GMAT score will serve your admission goals well.
Students should understand that a strong GMAT score is just one component of their application. Business schools typically seek candidates with solid academic backgrounds, relevant work experience (unless applying for MIM programs), participation in extracurricular activities, and more. Additionally, your application materials, including your resume, statement of purpose (SOP), letters of recommendation (LOR), admission essays, etc., hold substantial importance in the admissions process. Therefore, if you aim to gain admission to top-ranked business schools, it's crucial to strive for a comprehensive and well-rounded application.
Also Read: GMAT Preparation Tips
The GMAT Total Score percentile rankings are based on GMAT exam results from the previous three years.
GMAT Score | Mean Score | Percentile Rankings |
800 | 574.51 | 99% |
750 | 98% | |
700 | 87% | |
650 | 70% | |
600 | 50% | |
550 | 34% | |
500 | 22% | |
450 | 13% | |
400 | 8% | |
350 | 4% | |
300 | 2% | |
250 | 1% | |
200 | 0% |
Before embarking on your GMAT exam preparation journey, it's crucial for students to have a clear understanding of their desired GMAT score. Alongside this, they should also evaluate the disparity between their current level of preparedness and the GMAT score they aspire to attain. Here are some guidelines to help you determine your target GMAT score:
The GMAT verbal section comprises 36 questions to be completed within a 65-minute timeframe. This section encompasses tasks such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and sentence correction, evaluating the test-taker's ability to reason, assess arguments, and edit written content to meet established standards of written English.
Verbal Reasoning scores range from 0 to 60, with receiving a Verbal Reasoning sub-score of nine or higher being unusual. The Verbal Reasoning score contributes to the overall total score. Both Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning results are presented on a consistent scale, allowing for comparisons across all GMAT test administrations. However, they cannot be directly compared to each other as they assess distinct skill sets.
Score | Mean Score | Percentile Ranking |
51 | 27.51 | 99% |
46 | 99% | |
41 | 93% | |
36 | 79% | |
31 | 59% | |
26 | 41% | |
21 | 24% | |
16 | 11% | |
11 | 3% | |
6 | 0% |
The GMAT Quantitative section comprises 31 questions focused on data sufficiency and problem-solving, all to be completed within a 62-minute timeframe. This section assesses the test-taker's abilities in mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and interpreting GMAT data.
However, it's important to note that these scores cannot be directly compared to each other, as they evaluate different skill sets.
Score | Mean Score | Percentile Ranking |
51 | 41.3% | 97% |
46 | 53% | |
41 | 34% | |
36 | 22% | |
31 | 14% | |
26 | 8% | |
21 | 5% | |
16 | 3% | |
11 | 1% | |
6 | 0% |
The GMAT AWA requires one 30-minute written essay on argument analysis.
The AWA score is calculated by averaging two independent assessmentAWA essays are graded using a combination of qualified and approved human raters and a computer algorithm. If there is a discrepancy between the algorithm score and the human score, an additional human rater will assess the score and may make adjustments.
Score | Mean Score | Percentile Ranking |
6 | 4.43 | 87% |
5 | 56% | |
4 | 18% | |
3 | 4% | |
2 | 1% | |
1 | 0% | |
0 | 0% |
Check Out: GMAT Syllabus 2023
The following are the top Indian colleges that accept GMAT scores for admission:
University | Program | Average GMAT Score |
Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad | PGP, YLP | 700 |
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad | PGPX | 706 |
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore | EPGP | 695 |
Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta | PGPEX | 700+ |
Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow | IMPX | 680 |
XLRI Xavier School of Management | GMP | 700 |
Indian Institute of Management, Indore | EPGP | Cut-off-580 |
S.P.Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai | PGDM | 680 |
Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad | PGDM, PGDM-Ex | 690 |
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai | PGPM | 680 |
The GMAT total score is a number between 200 and 800 that is calculated based on your performance on the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections of the exam. The Verbal Reasoning section is scored between 0 and 60, and the Quantitative Reasoning section is scored between 0 and 60. Your total score is then calculated by adding your Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores together.
The average GMAT total score is 547. A good GMAT total score is generally considered to be anything above 650. A score of 700 or above is considered to be a very good score, and a score of 750 or above is considered to be an excellent score.
The number of questions you can get wrong on the GMAT and still get a good score depends on your overall score goal. For example, if you are aiming for a score of 700, you can miss up to 16 questions on the entire exam. If you are aiming for a score of 750, you can miss up to 12 questions on the entire exam.
The GMAT total score is calculated using a complex algorithm that takes into account your performance on each question on the exam, as well as the difficulty of each question. The algorithm is designed to ensure that your total score accurately reflects your overall ability in Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning.
Your GMAT total score is a number between 200 and 800 that is calculated based on your performance on the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections of the exam. Your GMAT percentile score is a percentage that indicates how well you performed on the exam compared to other test-takers. For example, a percentile score of 90 means that you scored higher than 90% of all test-takers on the GMAT.
The average GMAT total score for top MBA programs varies from school to school. However, most top MBA programs have an average GMAT total score of at least 700. Some top MBA programs, such as Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business, have average GMAT total scores of over 730.
The best way to improve your GMAT total score is to take a comprehensive GMAT preparation course. These courses will teach you the skills and strategies you need to succeed on the exam. You should also practice taking GMAT practice tests under timed conditions. This will help you get used to the format of the exam and identify any areas where you need to improve
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is widely regarded as a difficult exam. The average GMAT score is 574.51 out of 800, representing 71.8% and falling between the 52 and 55 percentiles. However, if you devote 3-6 months to GMAT exam preparation, you can easily score 700 or higher.