We’ve received many questions about the GMAT Focus Edition and how to interpret the GMAT score chart relative to past GMAT Classic test score averages. See the chart below for easy reference. SBC’s Director of Test Prep, Anthony, recently sat to take the GMAT Focus exam and commented that the test was definitely faster than the Classic version, but it felt more like “speed-dating.” The new format is more demanding on the test taker due to the quick pivots of the adaptive test design, in which a strong test taker encounters increasingly difficult questions at a faster clip compared to the GMAT Classic version.
The test’s adaptive structure will throw easier and harder questions at the test taker to make sure the test assessment is accurate. The ability to return and revise answers is another key difference. Anthony commented, “It’s futile to guess along the test how you are doing. Resist temptation or self-talk during the test to conclude you’re doing poorly if you do see easy questions in the adaptive format.”
GMAT Score Chart: Focus Edition Concordance Table
| GMAT Classic Exam | GMAT Focus Edition | Percentile Ranking* |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | 805 | 100.00% |
| 790 | 805 | 100.00% |
| 790 | 795 | 100.00% |
| 790 | 785 | 100.00% |
| 780 | 785 | 100.00% |
| 780 | 775 | 100.00% |
| 780 | 765 | 99.90% |
| 780 | 755 | 99.90% |
| 770 | 755 | 99.90% |
| 770 | 745 | 99.80% |
| 770 | 735 | 99.70% |
| 760 | 735 | 99.50% |
| 760 | 725 | 99.40% |
| 760 | 715 | 99.20% |
| 750 | 715 | 98.70% |
| 750 | 705 | 98.60% |
| 750 | 695 | 98.10% |
| 740 | 695 | 97.90% |
| 740 | 685 | 96.90% |
| 730 | 685 | 96.70% |
| 730 | 675 | 96.10% |
| 720 | 675 | 95.20% |
| 720 | 665 | 94.00% |
| 710 | 665 | 93.20% |
| 710 | 655 | 92.60% |
| 700 | 655 | 89.60% |
| 700 | 645 | 89.30% |
| 690 | 645 | 86.70% |
| 690 | 635 | 85.10% |
| 680 | 635 | 83.50% |
| 680 | 625 | 82.70% |
| 680 | 615 | 80.10% |
| 670 | 615 | 80.10% |
| 660 | 615 | 78.30% |
| 650 | 615 | 74.50% |
| 650 | 605 | 74.50% |
| 650 | 595 | 71.50% |
| 640 | 595 | 70.70% |
| 640 | 585 | 65.30% |
| 630 | 585 | 64.80% |
| 620 | 585 | 62.80% |
| 620 | 575 | 62.10% |
| 610 | 575 | 58.90% |
| 610 | 565 | 55.80% |
| 600 | 565 | 55.10% |
| 600 | 555 | 52.70% |
| 590 | 555 | 51.40% |
| 580 | 555 | 47.80% |
| 580 | 545 | 46.70% |
| 570 | 545 | 44.30% |
| 570 | 535 | 43.80% |
| 560 | 535 | 41.10% |
| 560 | 525 | 38.20% |
| 550 | 525 | 37.90% |
| 550 | 515 | 35.60% |
| 540 | 515 | 35.00% |
| 530 | 515 | 32.30% |
| 530 | 505 | 30.80% |
| 530 | 495 | 28.50% |
| 520 | 495 | 28.50% |
| 510 | 495 | 27.30% |
| 500 | 495 | 25.10% |
| 500 | 485 | 24.30% |
| 490 | 485 | 23.00% |
| 490 | 475 | 22.40% |
| 480 | 475 | 21.10% |
| 470 | 475 | 19.20% |
| 470 | 465 | 18.80% |
| 460 | 465 | 17.60% |
| 460 | 455 | 17.10% |
| 450 | 455 | 15.30% |
| 450 | 445 | 14.10% |
| 440 | 445 | 13.90% |
| 440 | 435 | 12.80% |
| 430 | 435 | 12.70% |
Quant Section Percentiles: GMAT Score Chart
| Quant Score | Percentile Ranking |
|---|---|
| 90 | 100% |
| 89 | 97% |
| 88 | 95% |
| 87 | 94% |
| 86 | 92% |
| 85 | 89% |
| 84 | 85% |
| 83 | 81% |
| 82 | 76% |
| 81 | 71% |
| 80 | 66% |
| 79 | 59% |
| 78 | 52% |
| 77 | 46% |
| 76 | 40% |
| 75 | 35% |
| 74 | 29% |
| 73 | 25% |
| 72 | 21% |
| 71 | 17% |
| 70 | 14% |
| 69 | 12% |
| 68 | 9% |
| 67 | 7% |
| 66 | 5% |
| 65 | 4% |
| 64 | 3% |
| 63 | 2% |
| 62 | 1% |
| 61 | 1% |
Verbal Section Percentiles: GMAT Score Chart
| Score | Percentile Ranking |
|---|---|
| 90 | 100% |
| 89 | 100% |
| 88 | 99% |
| 87 | 99% |
| 86 | 98% |
| 85 | 96% |
| 84 | 91% |
| 83 | 86% |
| 82 | 79% |
| 81 | 70% |
| 80 | 60% |
| 79 | 51% |
| 78 | 42% |
| 77 | 33% |
| 76 | 25% |
| 75 | 19% |
| 74 | 14% |
| 73 | 11% |
| 72 | 8% |
| 71 | 5% |
| 70 | 4% |
| 69 | 3% |
| 68 | 2% |
| 67 | 2% |
| 66 | 1% |
| 65 | 1% |
| 64 | 1% |
| 63 | 1% |
| 62 | 1% |
| 61 | 1% |
| 60 | 0% |
Do you even need a 700 on the GMAT?
Here are recent SBC client examples of lower test score admits to top MBA programs. You can reference the GMAT score chart and concordance table above for perspective:
a) Male admitted to HBS, Stanford GSB, and INSEAD: 670 GMAT, 67% Q/ V- 76%
b) Female admitted to HBS: 680 GMAT, 52% Q / 90% V)
c) Female admitted to Columbia Business School: 630 GMAT, 51% Q / 71% V)
d) Male admitted to CBS J-Term: 610 GMAT
e) Male admitted to HBS: 620 GMAT, 44 Q / 31 V (raw)
f) Female admitted to NYU Stern: 640 GMAT
Request a free test prep game plan call with Anthony, SBC’s Director of Test Prep. Email: test prep@stacyblackman.com
Should I use the test waiver route and not submit a GMAT score?
We just covered this topic in a recent TikTok:
@stacyblackmanconsulting
Stronger quant percentile or overall score: which to submit?
We had a client with the following two GMAT scores. Should the client submit the 690, given the higher quant score, or the 700?
Total: 700 (89%) | Verbal: 42 (96%) | Quant: 43 (52%) | IR: 5 (54%)
Total: 690 (86%) | Verbal: 36 (81%) | Quant: 48 (71%) | IR: 6 (69%)
We had the client submit the 690 due to the much higher quant percentile. That 52% Q would probably be high risk.
When an applicant sends the GMAT score to schools, the reports they receive will show *all* instances of the test on it anyway. The schools will use the score they prefer to report for their overall stats, but will see both. They’ll see the high math percentile on the one version of the test regardless and the 700, which they’ll likely use to boost their average GMAT score if they accept him.
Schools do want higher GMAT scores because that helps to elevate the overall GMAT average, which goes into school rankings.
If a candidate has taken the test several times and can point to higher quant scores even if his overall GMAT isn’t as high, then AdCom understands that the candidate can handle the quant rigor.
Do you want a GMAT Test Prep Cheat Sheet?
Stacy Blackman Consulting’s Director of Test Prep, Anthony Ritz, has created a masterpiece of tips, tricks, and formulas in this GMAT Math Cheat Sheet that is a must-have for any GMAT test taker. This comprehensive 10-page compendium is the only cheat sheet that includes absolutely every rule and strategy you need to know on topics such as Geometry, Data Sufficiency, Algebra, Word Problems, Statistics, and more. Peruse it on the subway. Refer to it when you review your practice tests. Tape it to your bathroom mirror and stare at it while you brush your teeth. Profit! Format: 10-page PDF
Does the importance of the GMAT percentile vary by applicant?
Yes. For example, for non-traditional and/or liberal arts educated candidates, the standardized tests are even more important because it’s one of the only ways the applicant can demonstrate quant proficiency, especially if the candidate doesn’t have the undergrad quant classes or analytical work experience.
An essay alone explaining quant proficiency for some applicants is usually not enough for top MBA programs; that should be reinforced with a solid test score, as that objectively demonstrates ability to handle the curriculum any other way. We work with clients to also convey other areas of quant strength (work responsibilities, ancillary courses, etc).
Do GMAT percentiles change?
Yes. GMAC revises its GMAT score chart every year. This is because they do a collective average of everyone who has taken the test over the last three years and then the percentage is adjusted based on that. With a recent revision, applicants actually saw a verbal increase of 1% and a quant decrease of 1-2% which they are attributing to the increasingly higher levels of international quant applicants. There is never a significant change though.
Request a free consultation with a Principal on our team to assess school fit and your admit odds.