When it comes to business school admissions, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT™) is a critical component of the application process. The introduction of the new, shorter GMAT means that prospective b-school students need to understand a new scoring system. This post not only breaks down the changes to the exam’s scoring, it also gives you all the GMAT score charts and percentiles you need to set your score goals and understand your performance.
Table of Contents
- The New GMAT Scoring System
- GMAT Focus Edition Score Percentiles Chart
- GMAT Quant Score Percentiles Chart
- GMAT Verbal Score Percentiles Chart
- GMAT Data Insights Score Percentiles Chart
- GMAT Percentile Ranges by Section and Total
- How Does GMAC Calculate Percentiles?
- GMAT Standard to Focus Score Conversion Chart
- Quant vs. Verbal Percentiles and How to Interpret Them
- When Are Score Percentiles Useful (And Not So Useful)?
- How Much Should I Score To Get In The 99th percentile On The GMAT?
- GMAT Percentiles for Top Business Schools
The New GMAT Scoring System
With the introduction of the GMAT Focus Edition, there has been a significant shift in the scoring system which impacts percentile rankings. This new version introduces an updated score scale ranging from 205 to 805, with each score ending in a 5, a clear departure from the traditional GMAT Exam’s 200-800 range. This adjustment enables a noticeable differentiation between the scores from the GMAT Focus Edition and the traditional GMAT Exam.
Moreover, the GMAT Focus Edition brings a more comprehensive evaluation into play. Unlike its predecessor, which calculated the Total Score based solely on Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning scores, the GMAT Focus Edition incorporates all three sections: Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights. Each section contributes equally to the Total Score, with individual section scores ranging from 60 to 90.
What Does This Mean?
Let’s consider an example to illustrate this difference. If two test takers, John and Jane, take the GMAT and the GMAT Focus Edition respectively, and both score 600 and 605, this does not indicate equivalent performance levels. John, who took the traditional GMAT, achieved his score based solely on his Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning skills. On the other hand, Jane’s score from the GMAT Focus Edition reflects her competencies in Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights sections. Hence, while their scores may seem close numerically, Jane’s 605 is a reflection of a broader skill set.
This revised structure emphasizes a multi-faceted approach, underscoring the importance of versatility in skills. By considering your performance across all three areas, the GMAT Focus Edition provides a more holistic view.
GMAT Focus Edition Score Percentiles Chart
With the introduction of the GMAT Focus Edition, there has been a significant shift in the scoring system which impacts percentile rankings. This new version introduces an updated score scale ranging from 205 to 805, with each score ending in a 5, a clear departure from the traditional GMAT Exam’s 200-800 range. This adjustment enables a clear differentiation between the scores from the GMAT Focus Edition and the traditional GMAT Exam.
Click here to see the GMAT Focus Edition Total Score Percentiles
GMAT Focus Score Percentiles
| Percentile | Score |
|---|---|
| 100% | 735 – 805 |
| 99% | 715 – 725 |
| 98% | 695 – 705 |
| 96% | 685 |
| 95% | 675 |
| 93% | 665 |
| 91% | 655 |
| 88% | 645 |
| 83% | 635 |
| 81% | 625 |
| 78% | 615 |
| 72% | 605 |
| 69% | 595 |
| 62% | 585 |
| 59% | 575 |
| 52% | 565 |
| 49% | 555 |
| 43% | 545 |
| 40% | 535 |
| 35% | 525 |
| 32% | 515 |
| 28% | 505 |
| 25% | 495 |
| 22% | 485 |
| 20% | 475 |
| 17% | 465 |
| 15% | 455 |
| 12% | 445 |
| 11% | 435 |
| 9% | 425 |
| 8% | 415 |
| 7% | 405 |
| 6% | 395 |
| 5% | 385 |
| 4% | 375 |
| 3% | 355 – 365 |
| 2% | 325 – 345 |
| 1% | 275 – 315 |
| 0% | 205 – 265 |
GMAT Quant Score Percentiles Chart
Where does your overall GMAT percentile score come from, you might be wondering? It comes from your section scores in Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights. And yes—there are percentiles for these sections as well!
GMAT Quant is scored on a scale of 60 to 90. To get a sense of how your scores stack up, take a look at the GMAT Quant percentiles below. This isn’t a chart of GMAT raw scores and percentiles—rather, it’s a chart of your scaled sectional score in Quant and its percentile.
Click here for the GMAT Quant Percentiles Chart
| Quant Percentile | Quant Scaled Score |
|---|---|
| 100% | 90 |
| 97% | 89 |
| 95% | 88 |
| 94% | 87 |
| 91% | 86 |
| 88% | 85 |
| 85% | 84 |
| 81% | 83 |
| 76% | 82 |
| 70% | 81 |
| 64% | 80 |
| 57% | 79 |
| 50% | 78 |
| 43% | 77 |
| 37% | 76 |
| 32% | 75 |
| 26% | 74 |
| 22% | 73 |
| 19% | 72 |
| 15% | 71 |
| 12% | 70 |
| 10% | 69 |
| 8% | 68 |
| 6% | 67 |
| 4% | 66 |
| 3% | 65 |
| 2% | 64 |
| 2% | 63 |
| 1% | 60 – 62 |
GMAT Verbal Score Percentiles Chart
GMAT Verbal scores and percentiles are different from GMAT Quant percentiles and scores, but at least the scoring range is the same. Here’s the GMAT score and percentile table for GMAT Verbal.
Click here for the GMAT Verbal Percentiles Chart
| Verbal Percentile | Verbal Scaled Score |
|---|---|
| 100% | 90 |
| 99% | 89 |
| 99% | 88 |
| 98% | 87 |
| 97% | 86 |
| 94% | 85 |
| 90% | 84 |
| 84% | 83 |
| 76% | 82 |
| 67% | 81 |
| 57% | 80 |
| 48% | 79 |
| 39% | 78 |
| 31% | 77 |
| 23% | 76 |
| 18% | 75 |
| 13% | 74 |
| 10% | 73 |
| 7% | 72 |
| 5% | 71 |
| 4% | 70 |
| 3% | 69 |
| 2% | 67 – 68 |
| 1% | 60 – 66 |
GMAT Data Insights Score Percentiles Chart
The Data Insights section is new to the GMAT Focus edition, and the scoring range is the same as for GMAT Quant and GMAT Verbal. Take a look.
Click here for the GMAT Data Insights Percentiles Chart
| Data Insights Percentile | Data Insights Scaled Score |
|---|---|
| 100% | 89 – 90 |
| 99% | 86 – 88 |
| 98% | 85 |
| 97% | 84 |
| 96% | 83 |
| 93% | 82 |
| 89% | 81 |
| 84% | 80 |
| 77% | 79 |
| 70% | 78 |
| 63% | 77 |
| 54% | 76 |
| 48% | 75 |
| 42% | 74 |
| 36% | 73 |
| 31% | 72 |
| 26% | 71 |
| 21% | 70 |
| 18% | 69 |
| 15% | 68 |
| 12% | 67 |
| 10% | 66 |
| 8% | 65 |
| 7% | 64 |
| 6% | 63 |
| 5% | 62 |
| 4% | 60 – 61 |
GMAT Percentile Ranges by Section and Total
The above charts have a lot of numbers and information! Here’s a more condensed look at the percentile bands for each section score as well as the overall total GMAT score.
How does GMAC Calculate Percentiles?
To come up with these tables, GMAC (the test-makers) takes a look at the most recent cohort of test-takers. Currently, this includes 596,155 test-takers from July 2019 – June 2024.
You may be wondering why they don’t compare your scores to people who took the same test you did. Well, remember that the GMAT is an adaptive test; you see harder or easier questions depending on how well you answered the previous questions. So in theory very few GMATs are exactly alike.
But in that case… why not compare your score to everyone who ever took the test to get a sense of how you stack up over time? First of all, because the test does change every few years—sometimes a little bit and sometimes a lot, so that wouldn’t be entirely fair.
Secondly, and more importantly, it would be meaningless. GMAT scores are valid for five years, but realistically, most people will use their scores to apply to business schools within a year or two of taking the exam.
By giving percentiles from this most recent group of test-takers, GMAC helps admissions committees see exactly where each score stacks up in a group that is very similar to the one currently applying.
GMAT Standard to Focus Score Conversion Chart
To gain an understanding of how the standard GMAT scores align with the GMAT Focus Edition, take a look at the comprehensive Score Concordance table provided below.
| GMAT Score | Percentile Ranking | GMAT Focus Score |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | 100% | 805 |
| 790 | 100% | 785 – 805 |
| 780 | 100% | 755 – 785 |
| 770 | 100% | 735 – 755 |
| 760 | 99 – 100% | 715 – 735 |
| 750 | 98 – 99% | 695 – 715 |
| 740 | 96 – 98% | 685 – 695 |
| 730 | 95 – 96% | 675 – 685 |
| 720 | 93 – 95% | 665 – 675 |
| 710 | 91 – 93% | 655 – 665 |
| 700 | 88 – 91% | 645 – 655 |
| 690 | 83 – 88% | 635 – 645 |
| 680 | 78 – 83% | 615 – 635 |
| 670 | 78% | 615 |
| 660 | 78% | 615 |
| 650 | 69 – 78% | 595 – 615 |
| 640 | 62 – 69% | 585 – 595 |
| 630 | 62% | 585 |
| 620 | 59 – 62% | 575 – 585 |
| 610 | 52 – 59% | 565 – 575 |
| 600 | 49 – 52% | 555 – 565 |
| 590 | 49% | 555 |
| 580 | 43 – 49% | 545 – 555 |
| 570 | 40 – 43% | 535 – 545 |
| 560 | 35 – 40% | 525 – 535 |
| 550 | 32 – 35% | 515 – 525 |
| 540 | 32% | 515 |
| 530 | 25 – 32% | 495 – 515 |
| 520 | 25% | 495 |
| 510 | 25% | 495 |
| 500 | 22 – 25% | 485 – 495 |
| 490 | 20 – 22% | 475 – 485 |
| 480 | 20% | 475 |
| 470 | 17 – 20% | 465 – 475 |
| 460 | 15 – 17% | 455 – 465 |
| 450 | 12 – 15% | 445 – 455 |
| 440 | 11 – 12% | 435 – 445 |
| 430 | 11% | 435 |
| 420 | 11% | 435 |
| 410 | 9 – 11% | 425 – 435 |
| 400 | 8 – 9% | 415 – 425 |
| 390 | 8% | 415 |
| 380 | 7 – 8% | 405 – 415 |
| 370 | 6 – 7% | 395 – 405 |
| 360 | 6% | 395 |
| 350 | 4 – 6% | 375 – 395 |
| 340 | 4% | 375 |
| 330 | 4% | 375 |
| 320 | 3 – 4% | 365 – 375 |
| 310 | 3% | 355 – 365 |
| 300 | 2 – 3% | 345 – 355 |
| 290 | 2% | 345 |
| 280 | 2% | 335 – 345 |
| 270 | 2% | 335 |
| 260 | 2% | 335 |
| 250 | 1 – 2% | 315 – 335 |
| 240 | 1% | 305 – 315 |
| 230 | 1% | 295 – 305 |
| 220 | 1% | 285 – 295 |
| 210 | 0 – 1% | 255 – 285 |
| 200 | 0% | 205 – 255 |
This table was provided by GMAC. You may also find it helpful to look at the average GMAT scores of top programs.
Quant vs. Verbal Percentiles and How to Interpret Them
Here’s where it gets interesting, from a strategy point of view. You may find that while your scaled score for the Quantitative section is higher than your scaled score for the Verbal section, you rank lower from a percentile point of view. This is because many test-takers have excellent quantitative abilities but are not fluent English speakers.
This means that while your Quant abilities can be amazing, you might not rank near the top of the pile of GMAT test-takers. Your scaled scores, therefore, are not the best way to judge your relative abilities on the GMAT. Focusing on your percentiles is much more accurate in terms of accessing your relative performance between the two sections.
When Are GMAT Score Percentiles Useful (And Not So Useful)?
Percentiles are a great way to access your relative ability between Verbal, Quant, and Data Insights as well as compared to other test-takers.
Your GMAT score is determined not only by how many questions you answer correctly but by how difficult these questions are. Thinking about GMAT questions in terms of higher and lower percentile/difficulty levels can give you insight into the nuances of the test while you are practicing.
Given that the question ‘level’ is important, it can be hard to tell how you are performing during your practice. Remember that official mock tests from MBA.com are the best way to get an accurate idea of how you are performing before test day. Magoosh also created a free, adaptive GMAT practice test for you to practice with before test day.
While it’s important to understand how GMAT percentiles and scoring work, it is super unhelpful to consider during the test itself. It’s a waste of mental energy and effort to do anything besides answering the question that’s been given to you. Additionally, given the stressful nature of test day, it can also be very hard to accurately gauge a question’s difficulty relative to other questions. On test day the most important thing is for you to answer all the questions as efficiently and accurately as you can.
How Much Should I Score To Get In The 100th Percentile On The GMAT?
A score between 735 and 805 will get you that elusive 100th percentile GMAT score.
At this point, you may be wondering about the number of test-takers who get each top scores each year–what’s the competition like? Some simple calculations can help us figure this out. If around 110,000 test-takers world-wide take the exam each year (as they did in 2023), that means around:
- 1,100 scored between 715-805 (99th percentile)
- 1,100 scored a 705 (98th percentile)
- 11,000 scored between 645-695 (87th-97th percentile)
Starting to see a trend? Yep! The GMAT scores fall along a bell curve. Very few people get very high or very low scores, and most people fall somewhere in the middle. In fact, the GMAC data tells us that around half of test-takers score between 415 and 575 on the exam.
GMAT Percentiles for Top Business Schools
As always, the admissions process is holistic and not only focused on the GMAT. However, the higher your percentile number is, the better. At the 99th percentile, only 1% of students got a better score than you, and the 100th percentile places you at the very top among all test-takers.
In contrast, if you’re at the 50th or 60th percentile, your score is not that competitive. And once you drop below the 50th percentile—depending which schools you’re aiming for—you may need to retake the GMAT (and, unfortunately, pay the GMAT exam fee once more).
Keep in mind that some schools will have minimum section scores for the Quant section as well. Others may insist on a ‘balanced score’ between the sections.
To understand the GMAT score you’ll need to obtain for a top school, the best thing to do is look at average GMAT scores for top programs. As you can see from running down this list, they all tend to be above 645—sometimes well above 645, as in the case of Stanford (an average of 685!).
Put this in terms of percentiles using the chart above. A 645 on the GMAT Focus edition is in the 87th percentile, while a 685 would be around the 96th percentile. From this information, we can draw the conclusion that top schools need top scores.
Rankings don’t correspond precisely to score percentiles, but in this case, it’s pretty fair to say that if you’re applying to a top-10 school, a score in the top 10% of GMAT test-takers (i.e. placing you in the 90th percentile above) is definitely a helpful tool.
Takeaways
So many numbers! So what do you need to remember?
- The GMAT is about competitive advantage, and GMAT percentiles show the percentage of test-takers whose scores you beat.
- You’ll receive a GMAT percentile for Quant, Verbal and Data Insights.
- Your overall percentile and score (205 to 805) come from a combination of your Quant, Verbal and Data Insights section scores—NOT their percentiles.
- Top schools need top scores, preferably in the top 10% (90th percentile) or above.
- Very few students score above a 695 on the GMAT each year. Those who do put in long study hours!
Getting a great score on the GMAT can seem overwhelming. But if there’s one thing that these percentile charts should show you, it’s that it’s not impossible! Thousands of students get great scores on the GMAT every year. With hard work and smart studying, you just might be among them. Consider prepping with a Magoosh GMAT Premium plan to boost your score via our expert-created lessons, practice questions with video explanations, and full-length practice tests!
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