Changes in Scoring of GMAT Focus Edition
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a standardized test taken by candidates aspiring to get admitted to top business schools in India and abroad. The GMAT Focus Edition is the latest version of the exam, designed to be more efficient and flexible than its predecessor. This edition emphasizes on higher-order critical thinking and data literacy skills. Launching in the fourth quarter of 2023, the GMAT Focus Edition aims to align with evolving business needs and focus more on decision-making skills. It’s crucial for candidates to quickly adapt to the new format and prepare accordingly, as the traditional GMAT exam will be discontinued sometime in 2024.
Let’s explore the significant changes in the scoring format of the GMAT Focus Edition and understand how they will impact your preparation.
Four Major Changes in new GMAT scoring:
Change 1: A single main score in the range of 205-805
- The new GMAT scoring system introduces a scale ranging from 205 to 805, replacing the current 200-800 scale.
- In addition to the sectional scores, the current GMAT Exam has three separate scores: one score from the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections considered as the main score, and two other scores from the Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning sections.
- With AWA removed from the syllabus and Integrated Reasoning transformed into the Data Insights section and included in the main score, there will be no separate scores.
Change 2: The main score will end in a 5
- To differentiate scores received in the GMAT Focus edition from the current GMAT score, the main score in the Focus Edition will end in a 5.
- A candidate’s total score will rise in increments of 10.
- New GMAT Focus edition scores are calculated as a weighted average of all three sections: Quantitative, Verbal, and the newly introduced Data Insights section.
Change 3: Changes to the sectional scores
- Each of the three Sectional scores (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Data Insights) in the Focus Edition range will range between 60 and 90.
- Each section carries equal weightage towards the total score, meaning a perfect score on any section is worth 90 points.
Here’s a tabular representation of the new GMAT score range
| Section | Score Range | Increments |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 60 to 90 | Score in 1-point increments |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 60 to 90 | Score in 1-point increments |
| Data Insights | 60 to 90 | Score in 1-point increments |
| Total | 205-805 | Score in 10-point increments |
Change 4: Differences in Interpreting Scores
It’s important to note that a direct comparison of the GMAT Focus Score with the current GMAT score isn’t very useful because there’s quite a difference between what each of the scores means even when they look pretty similar.
Here’s a comparison of different scores in the current GMAT and GMAT Focus Edition indicating similar percentiles:
Please note that scoring a 720 in the current GMAT takes you to the 94th percentile, while scoring a 665 in the GMAT Focus Exam will take you to the 94th percentile.
The percentile ranking provided by the GMAT Focus Edition is a valuable metric to evaluate your performance relative to other test takers, particularly those who have taken the Current GMAT. It compares your score to a large sample group, giving you an idea of how well you performed compared to your peers. For example, a 99th percentile score indicates that your performance exceeded that of 99% of the test takers in the sample group, placing you in the top 1% of all test takers.
The section-wise percentile scores for the GMAT Focus exam are as follows:
Quantitative Reasoning:
| Quantitative Reasoning | 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 |
Verbal Reasoning:
| Verbal Reasoning | 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 |
Data Insights:
| Data Insights | Percentile Ranking (%) |
|---|---|
| 90 | 100 |
| 89 | 100 |
| 88 | 99 |
| 87 | 99 |
| 86 | 99 |
| 85 | 99 |
| 84 | 98 |
| 83 | 96 |
| 82 | 94 |
| 81 | 90 |
| 80 | 86 |
| 79 | 79 |
| 78 | 73 |
| 77 | 66 |
| 76 | 58 |
Even in the sectional score, it’s important to notice that scoring an 82/90 in Verbal Reasoning takes you to the 79th percentile, while scoring an 80/90, only 2 points less, takes you to the 60th percentile. These percentiles are based on factors such as the number of questions attempted, correctness of answers, and the relative difficulty level of the questions. Hence, even while interpreting sectional scores percentile ranking is a better tool than the raw score.
As we become increasingly acquainted with an exam, we gain a better understanding of what a specific score signifies. It will require some time for both universities and students to adapt to the new scoring format of the GMAT. However, it is essential for students to grasp the intricacies of the new format as they prepare to take the GMAT Focus Edition starting from the last quarter of 2023.
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