Understanding Your Score

Interpreting Your Total Score

Format: The GMAT Total Score is composed of the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the exam.

What it measures: The GMAT exam measures the test taker's ability to assess higher-order reasoning skills (verbal, quantitative, analytical writing and integrated reasoning) and has proven validity in predicting success in the first year of graduate management education.

How it is scored: Your Total Score is based on your calculated performance before scores are given for the Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections. The raw calculation is then converted to a number in the Total Score range.

Score range: Total GMAT Scores range from 200 to 800. Two-thirds of test takers score between 400 and 800.

What you should know: You will be able to see your unofficial scores immediately after completing the exam and then have an opportunity to accept or cancel those scores. A self-canceled score will appear as a "C" on future score reports sent to you, but is not included on the Official GMAT Score Report sent to schools. If you accept the scores you will be given a print out of unofficial scores. If you cancel your scores and, then change your mind you will have the opportunity to reinstate those scores.

The Official GMAT Score Report sent to schools includes the following scores from every reportable exam completed in the past five years: Total, Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning, Verbal and Quantitative. It will also include the most recent AWA essay response, and the background information you provided when you created your GMAT profile.

Interpreting Your Integrated Reasoning Score

Format: Consists of 12 questions covering four question types to be completed in 30 minutes: Multi-Source Reasoning, Graphics Interpretation, Two-Part Analysis, and Table Analysis.

What it measures: Scores range from 1-8 in single-digit intervals.

How it is scored: Your Integrated Reasoning score is based on the number of questions answered correctly. Some questions may have multiple parts; you must answer all parts of a question correctly to receive credit for that question.

Score range: The Integrated Reasoning score is provided as an independent score and is not included in the Total GMAT score.

What you should know: Most Integrated Reasoning questions require more than one response. Because the questions are designed to measure how well you integrate data to solve complex problems, you must answer all responses to a question correctly to receive credit, no partial credit is given.

Interpreting Your Verbal Reasoning Score

Format: 36 questions comprised of reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction to be completed in 65 minutes.

What it measures: The test taker's ability to read and comprehend written materials, reason and evaluate arguments, and correct written material to conform to standard written English.

How it is scored: Your Verbal Reasoning score is based on three factors: 1) the number of questions you answer, 2) whether your answers are correct, and 3) the difficulty and other parameters of the questions you answered.

Score range: Verbal Reasoning scores range from 0 to 60. Scores below nine and above 44 for the Verbal Reasoning section are rare. The Verbal Reasoning score is a component of the Total Score.

What you should know: Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores are on a fixed scale and can be compared across all GMAT test administrations, but because they measure different constructs, they cannot be compared to each other.

Interpreting Your Quantitative Reasoning Score

Format: Consists of 31 questions on Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving, to be completed in 62 minutes.

What it measures: The test taker's ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems, and interpret graphic data. Understand problems involving arithmetic, elementary algebra, and common geometry concepts. Evaluate the amount of information needed to solve quantitative problems.

How it is scored: Your Quantitative Reasoning score is based on three factors: 1) the number of questions you answer, 2) whether your answers are correct, and 3) the difficulty and other parameters of the questions you answered.

Score range: Quantitative Reasoning scores range from 0 to 60. Scores below 7 and above 50 for the Quantitative Reasoning section are rare. The Quantitative Reasoning score is a component of the Total Score.

What you should know: Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning scores are on a fixed scale and can be compared across all GMAT test administrations, but because they measure different constructs, they cannot be compared to each other.

Interpreting Your Analytical Writing Assessment Score

Format: One 30-minute written essay on the analysis of an argument.

What it measures: Your ability to formulate an appropriate and constructive critique of a specific conclusion based on a specific line of thinking. A specific knowledge of the essay topic is not necessary as only the capacity to write analytically is assessed.

How it is scored: Your Analytical Writing Assessment essay is scored  using professional essay raters as well as a machine algorithm.

Score range: Average scores range from 0 to 6 in half point intervals. AWA scores are computed separately from the scores for the multiple-choice sections of the exam and have no effect on the Integrated Reasoning, Verbal, Quantitative, or Total GMAT™ scores.

What you should know: The AWA score is an average of two independent ratings. AWA essays are scored by a combination of trained and approved human raters and a machine algorithm. If there is a disparity between the algorithm score and the human score, the score will be reviewed by an additional human rater and may be adjusted. Note: If you believe that your AWA score is not accurate, you may request that your essay be rescored (for a fee) using the Essay Rescore Request Form.