Understanding Your GMAT Scores

For those new to computerized test taking or standardized test taking in general, your GMAT score reports may look like a crossover between college Latin and Calculus textbooks. To make your life a little easier and to help you know whether you did well or poorly on the GMAT, I'd like to walk you through your GMAT scores.

In General
First of all, you need to know that your score reports include scores on the GMAT for the last five years. So not only you, but also all the schools to whom you send your scores will see all your scores for the previous five years. Your contact and demographic information will also be included on your score report. At the testing center, you will provide a digital photograph and that will be sent to the schools that receive your score report. Other information included on your score report may be your education level and previous schools as well as any other educational information you included when registering.

Quantitative, Verbal, and Total Scores
Scores for both the quantitative and verbal sections as well as your total score will be included on your score report. The Verbal and Quantitative sections are scored on a scale of 0 to 60. Scores below 9 and above 44 for the Verbal section and scores below 7 and above 50 for the Quantitative section are unusual.Total scores for the Verbal and Quantitative sections range from 200 to 800 while two-thirds of test takers score between a 400 and a 600.

Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Score
For the GMAT, you will write to essays: Analysis of an Issue and the Analysis of an Argument. Your score for the AWA section will be the average of your scores on the two essays. The AWA section is rated separately from the rest of the test and has no bearing on your total score, though schools will consider your AWA score when making their decisions.

Percentile Rankings
Percentile rankings will also be included on your score reports. The rankings tell you the percentage of GMAT students who scored below you based on the average scores for the last three years. The percentile rankings are important to students and colleges.

When You Receive Scores
When scheduling your GMAT appointment you will have to determine whether you want to receive your scores via snail mail or online. For both options, your scores will be sent around 20 days after you take the GMAT, though snail mail scores may arrive later due to variances in delivery time.

Retaking the Test
Although retaking the test may be important if you know of a specific reason you did poorly, most students do not improve their scores with multiple tests. Either way, your scores for the last five years will still show up on your score reports.

Sample Score Reports
If you want to see a sample score report with explanations, simply visit the GMAT website at http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/Tools/SampleScoreReport.htm.

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