GMAT Score: Understanding The New GMAT Focus Edition

In this exclusive column for Poets&Quants, Fortuna Admission consultants look at some of the myths that surround the MBA admissions process – and how schools evaluate candidates. So if you have ever asked yourself, “Is it true that …”, you’ll find all the myth-busting answers right here.

The Graduate Management Admissions Test has now been replaced with a new shorter, more flexible exam: the GMAT™ Focus Edition. With this new test comes a new scoring system.

If you’re considering taking the GMAT Focus Edition, it’s important to understand what your new GMAT test score means, how it compares to scores on the old exam or to the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, and how it can be compared to business schools’ average scores for admitted students.

Fortuna Admissions’ MBA experts are here to provide answers to these common questions. (Our expert coaches will also be covering these questions in a free live webinar with test prep expert Brendan Mernin of Inspirica Pros on March 7. See details and register here.)

The GMAT Focus Edition Scoring System

Say farewell to the nice old round number of 800, formerly a perfect GMAT score. The GMAT Focus Edition introduces a new scoring range from 205 to 805. Scores on the new exam are posted in increments of 10 points, and your score will end in a five, to set it apart from scores on the older exam.

Since GMAT scores are valid for five years after the date of the test and MBA programs honor them for that period, candidates may choose to submit a score from the old exam. For schools, that means they will be receiving and comparing a mix of scores from applicants for the next few years. This new scoring method, with the new GMAT scores ending in a five, is a convenient way to distinguish them.

What’s in Your GMAT Focus Edition Score?

It’s important to note that while the scores may appear similar, they represent different test elements, performance levels, and skills.

The new GMAT Focus Edition consists of three equally weighted sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. Each section is scored on a scale of 60 to 90, providing insights into your performance in that specific area.

GMAC, the producer of the GMAT, says the scoring algorithm has been updated and scoring scales have been adjusted to better reflect a more diverse and global test-taking population and present a more even distribution of scores. The test is adaptive; it adjusts the difficulty of questions based on your performance as you take the test. The scoring algorithm accounts for this and reflects the level of difficulty in your score.

It’s All About the Percentiles

Image showing GMAT score chart linking total scores to percentiles.

GMAC emphasizes, “Because the score scales AND the score scale distribution have both changed, it is not possible to directly compare total scores or section scores from a previous version of the exam to the GMAT™ Focus Edition.”

Instead, to understand your scores, it’s important to compare your performance using percentiles. While the scoring range and intervals have changed, the percentile rankings remain consistent. Percentile rankings indicate the percentage of test-takers you outperformed. For example, Wharton’s average GMAT for the class of 2025 was 728 on the old test, which falls on the high end of the 96th percentile. If your score is 685 on the Focus Edition, it may seem like you’re far below Wharton’s average in terms of the numerical score, but you’re in exactly the same percentile bracket.

B-school admissions committees have long used percentiles to assess and compare candidates’ scores and will continue to do so. GMAC has provided a handy, interactive GMAT score chart to see where your score falls. One chart shows you the mean score and percentiles for the overall score (see graphic). You can also consult a score chart for the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Data Insights sections to compare your performance in each area.

Also useful is the GMAT to GMAT Focus Edition conversion chart, or concordance table, available here.

This GMAT score chart lets you compare your results on the new exam to the old scores. As shown in this partial sample of scores from the chart, Focus Edition scores typically range lower than old GMAT scores. A 720 GMAT – a score in the 95th percentile – is equivalent to a 675 on the Focus Edition.

Comparing Your GMAT Score to Admitted Averages

Of course, the important thing you will want to know is how your GMAT Focus Edition score compares to the average scores of admitted students at your target schools.

Admissions committees often use average GMAT scores as a benchmark to evaluate applicants, and most schools publicly post this average, along with the range of scores accepted, as part of their admitted class profile each year. Some schools like to share these numbers as a signal of their selectivity, and it does give some sense of the level of the class you seek to join.

However, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to what constitutes a competitive score. As former admissions directors and insiders, we can affirm that admissions committees evaluate applicants holistically. Your work experience, leadership skills, academic achievements, and personal qualities play a significant role in the admissions process along with your score. Few admissions committees rely on an absolute lower-bound test score as a cutoff when making admissions decisions.

All that said, you will want to have a sense of the average scores at your target schools to give you an idea of where you stand. Again, the percentile conversions from the score chart will be valuable here. To compare your GMAT Focus Edition score, seek out the average score for each of your target schools on the school website; if you can’t find it there, consult a reliable MBA program ranking that publishes this information.

Then, use GMAC’s score chart, also called a concordance table, to translate that score into a percentile, and do the same for your score. For example, Wharton’s average GMAT for the class of 2025 was 728, which translates to the 99th percentile. If your score is 685 on the new test, it may seem like you’re far below the average, but you’re still in the 97th percentile — not that far below the target.

You can use a similar process to compare your score to GRE scores and percentiles.

Strategies for Maximizing Your GMAT Score

Changes in the test and in the scoring system have implications for how you prepare for the test – and which test you take: the Focus Edition or the recently shortened GRE. Fortuna has plenty of advice on how to decide that and how to prepare.

While you study and strategize, remember that your GMAT score is just one piece of the admissions puzzle. Fortuna’s expert coaches can help you share your complete story with the admission committee, giving them the full picture of your unique strengths and aims. Use the link below to sign up for a free 30-minute consultation to learn how we can help. And good luck with your test preparation!

Rachel Erickson Hee is an expert coach at MBA admissions coaching firm Fortuna Admissions as well as a Stanford GSB alumna and former GSB interviewer. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at getting into a top MBA program, sign up for a free consultation.

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