Before you delve into the conversion charts, it’s important to know that: The traditional benchmark GMAT score of 700 has been replaced by a new standard of 645 in the updated GMAT focused edition. Essentially, a score of 645 in the new format holds the same value as a 700 did in the old GMAT, both representing the 87th percentile. GMAT has shared this in their recent concordance table.
In other words, 645 is the new 700 on the GMAT.
So, it’s anticipated that within the next year or so, leading business schools like Harvard will likely update their websites to reflect this change, indicating that the average GMAT scores of their admitted applicants now stand at 645.
In this Article
Old GMAT to New GMAT Score Conversion (Total Score)
| Old GMAT Score | New GMAT Score | Percentile Score |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | 805 | 100.0% |
| 790 | 805 | 100.0% |
| 790 | 795 | 100.0% |
| 790 | 785 | 100.0% |
| 780 | 785 | 100.0% |
| 780 | 775 | 99.9% |
| 780 | 765 | 99.9% |
| 780 | 755 | 99.9% |
| 770 | 755 | 99.8% |
| 770 | 745 | 99.7% |
| 770 | 735 | 99.5% |
| 760 | 735 | 99.4% |
| 760 | 725 | 99.2% |
| 760 | 715 | 98.7% |
| 750 | 715 | 98.6% |
| 750 | 705 | 98.1% |
| 750 | 695 | 97.9% |
| 740 | 695 | 96.9% |
| 740 | 685 | 96.7% |
| 730 | 685 | 96.1% |
| 730 | 675 | 95.2% |
| 720 | 675 | 94.0% |
| 720 | 665 | 93.2% |
| 710 | 665 | 92.6% |
| 710 | 655 | 89.6% |
| 700 | 655 | 89.3% |
| 700 | 645 | 86.7% |
| 690 | 645 | 85.1% |
| 690 | 635 | 83.5% |
| 680 | 635 | 82.7% |
| 680 | 625 | 80.1% |
| 680 | 615 | 80.1% |
| 670 | 615 | 78.3% |
| 660 | 615 | 74.5% |
| 650 | 615 | 74.5% |
| 650 | 605 | 71.5% |
| 650 | 595 | 70.7% |
| 640 | 595 | 65.3% |
| 640 | 585 | 64.8% |
| 630 | 585 | 62.8% |
| 620 | 585 | 62.1% |
| 620 | 575 | 58.9% |
| 610 | 575 | 55.8% |
| 610 | 565 | 55.1% |
| 600 | 565 | 52.7% |
| 600 | 555 | 51.4% |
| 590 | 555 | 47.8% |
| 580 | 555 | 46.7% |
| 580 | 545 | 44.3% |
| 570 | 545 | 43.8% |
| 570 | 535 | 41.1% |
| 560 | 535 | 38.2% |
| 560 | 525 | 37.9% |
| 550 | 525 | 35.6% |
| 550 | 515 | 35.0% |
| 540 | 515 | 32.3% |
| 530 | 515 | 30.8% |
| 530 | 505 | 28.5% |
| 530 | 495 | 28.5% |
| 520 | 495 | 27.3% |
| 330 | 375 | 3.7% |
| 320 | 375 | 3.7% |
| 320 | 365 | 3.3% |
| 310 | 365 | 3.3% |
| 310 | 355 | 2.7% |
| 300 | 355 | 2.5% |
| 300 | 345 | 2.4% |
| 290 | 345 | 2.2% |
| 280 | 345 | 2.2% |
| 280 | 335 | 2.1% |
| 270 | 335 | 1.8% |
| 260 | 335 | 1.7% |
| 250 | 335 | 1.6% |
| 250 | 325 | 1.4% |
| 250 | 315 | 1.3% |
| 240 | 315 | 1.0% |
| 240 | 305 | 1.0% |
| 230 | 305 | 0.9% |
| 230 | 295 | 0.8% |
| 220 | 295 | 0.6% |
| 220 | 285 | 0.6% |
| 210 | 285 | 0.5% |
| 210 | 275 | 0.4% |
| 210 | 265 | 0.4% |
| 210 | 255 | 0.3% |
| 200 | 255 | 0.3% |
| 200 | 245 | 0.2% |
| 200 | 235 | 0.2% |
| 200 | 225 | 0.1% |
| 200 | 215 | 0.1% |
| 200 | 205 | 0.0% |
Old GMAT to New GMAT Score Conversion (Quantitative Score)
| Old GMAT Quant Score | New GMAT Quant Score | Percentile Quant Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | 90 | 97.2% |
| 51 | 89 | 96.7% |
| 50 | 89 | 95.0% |
| 50 | 88 | 93.9% |
| 50 | 87 | 91.6% |
| 50 | 86 | 88.6% |
| 50 | 85 | 85.6% |
| 49 | 85 | 85.4% |
| 49 | 84 | 81.1% |
| 49 | 83 | 76.4% |
| 49 | 82 | 72.9% |
| 48 | 82 | 71.4% |
| 48 | 81 | 65.6% |
| 48 | 80 | 65.0% |
| 47 | 80 | 59.3% |
| 47 | 79 | 57.6% |
| 46 | 79 | 54.2% |
| 45 | 79 | 52.4% |
| 45 | 78 | 51.0% |
| 44 | 78 | 45.6% |
| 44 | 77 | 45.1% |
| 43 | 77 | 42.5% |
| 42 | 77 | 39.8% |
| 42 | 76 | 37.6% |
| 41 | 76 | 35.5% |
| 40 | 76 | 34.6% |
| 40 | 75 | 33.5% |
| 39 | 75 | 29.7% |
| 38 | 75 | 29.3% |
| 38 | 74 | 28.1% |
| 37 | 74 | 26.6% |
| 36 | 74 | 24.9% |
| 36 | 73 | 23.7% |
| 35 | 73 | 21.2% |
| 34 | 73 | 21.0% |
| 34 | 72 | 19.9% |
| 33 | 72 | 18.7% |
| 32 | 72 | 17.4% |
| 32 | 71 | 16.7% |
| 31 | 71 | 14.7% |
| 30 | 71 | 14.4% |
| 30 | 70 | 13.9% |
| 29 | 70 | 12.2% |
| 28 | 70 | 11.6% |
| 28 | 69 | 11.4% |
| 27 | 69 | 9.9% |
| 26 | 69 | 9.2% |
| 25 | 69 | 9.0% |
| 25 | 68 | 8.0% |
| 24 | 68 | 7.4% |
| 23 | 68 | 6.9% |
| 23 | 67 | 6.8% |
| 22 | 67 | 5.8% |
| 21 | 67 | 5.3% |
| 20 | 67 | 5.0% |
| 20 | 66 | 4.8% |
| 19 | 66 | 4.3% |
| 18 | 66 | 3.9% |
| 17 | 66 | 3.5% |
| 17 | 65 | 3.2% |
| 16 | 65 | 2.8% |
| 14 | 65 | 2.5% |
| 14 | 64 | 2.5% |
| 13 | 64 | 2.0% |
| 12 | 64 | 1.8% |
| 12 | 63 | 1.7% |
| 11 | 63 | 1.5% |
| 10 | 63 | 1.4% |
| 10 | 62 | 1.2% |
| 9 | 62 | 1.1% |
| 9 | 61 | 1.1% |
| 8 | 61 | 0.9% |
| 7 | 61 | 0.8% |
| 7 | 60 | 0.7% |
| 6 | 60 | 0.0% |
Old GMAT to New GMAT Score Conversion (Verbal Score)
| Old GMAT Verbal Score | New GMAT Verbal Score | Percentile Verbal Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | 90 | 100.0% |
| 50 | 90 | 100.0% |
| 49 | 90 | 99.9% |
| 48 | 90 | 99.9% |
| 47 | 90 | 99.6% |
| 46 | 90 | 99.5% |
| 46 | 89 | 99.3% |
| 45 | 89 | 99.2% |
| 45 | 88 | 98.9% |
| 44 | 88 | 98.7% |
| 44 | 87 | 97.7% |
| 42 | 87 | 97.6% |
| 42 | 86 | 95.7% |
| 41 | 86 | 95.5% |
| 41 | 85 | 93.1% |
| 40 | 85 | 91.4% |
| 40 | 84 | 89.7% |
| 39 | 84 | 87.8% |
| 38 | 84 | 86.1% |
| 38 | 83 | 83.7% |
| 37 | 83 | 81.4% |
| 36 | 83 | 79.1% |
| 35 | 83 | 78.5% |
| 35 | 82 | 74.3% |
| 34 | 82 | 70.2% |
| 34 | 81 | 69.3% |
| 33 | 81 | 66.8% |
| 32 | 81 | 64.3% |
| 31 | 81 | 60.1% |
| 31 | 80 | 59.1% |
| 30 | 80 | 56.6% |
| 29 | 80 | 54.0% |
| 28 | 80 | 51.1% |
| 28 | 79 | 48.9% |
| 27 | 79 | 43.9% |
| 26 | 79 | 41.8% |
| 26 | 78 | 41.5% |
| 25 | 78 | 37.0% |
| 24 | 78 | 34.6% |
| 23 | 78 | 32.9% |
| 23 | 77 | 30.4% |
| 22 | 77 | 28.4% |
| 21 | 77 | 24.7% |
| 21 | 76 | 24.5% |
| 20 | 76 | 21.0% |
| 19 | 76 | 19.2% |
| 19 | 75 | 17.8% |
| 18 | 75 | 16.3% |
| 17 | 75 | 14.5% |
| 17 | 74 | 13.5% |
| 16 | 74 | 11.1% |
| 15 | 74 | 10.6% |
| 15 | 73 | 8.9% |
| 14 | 73 | 8.0% |
| 13 | 73 | 7.5% |
| 13 | 72 | 6.3% |
| 12 | 72 | 5.2% |
| 12 | 71 | 4.2% |
| 11 | 71 | 3.7% |
| 11 | 70 | 3.1% |
| 10 | 70 | 2.9% |
| 10 | 69 | 2.3% |
| 9 | 69 | 2.2% |
| 9 | 68 | 1.7% |
| 9 | 67 | 1.6% |
| 8 | 67 | 1.4% |
| 8 | 66 | 1.1% |
| 8 | 65 | 1.1% |
| 7 | 65 | 0.9% |
| 7 | 64 | 0.9% |
| 6 | 64 | 0.8% |
| 6 | 63 | 0.7% |
| 6 | 62 | 0.6% |
| 6 | 61 | 0.5% |
| 6 | 60 | 0.0% |
Scoring Overview of the Old GMAT versus the new GMAT
In the GMAT Focus Edition, the total score scale ranges from 205 to 805, marking a departure from the traditional GMAT Exam score scale of 200 to 800. GMAT has done this deliberately to ensure that test-takersand programs can easily differentiate between a GMAT Focus Edition score and a traditional GMAT Exam score.
Another major change is the composition of the GMAT Focus Edition Total Score. Unlike the GMAT Exam, which calculates the Total Score based solely on the Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections, the GMATFocus Edition incorporates all three sections: Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights. The score for each section ranges from 60 to 90, and each section contributes equally to the Total Score. Here is a quick summary of the scoring scales.
| OLD GMAT SCORING SCALE | NEW GMAT SCORING SCALE | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 0-60 (1-point increments) | 60-90 (1-point increments) |
| Verbal Reasoning | 0-60 (1-point increments) | 60-90 (1-point increments) |
| Integrated Reasoning | 1-8 (1-point increments) | Not on the New GMAT |
| AWA (Essay) | 0-6 (0.5-point increments) | Not on the New GMAT |
| Data Insights | Not on the Old GMAT | 60-90 (1-point increments) |
| Total Score | 200-800 (10-point increments) | 205-805 (10-point increments) |
The Old GMAT test used to be divided into four sections, each with its own scoring scale.
- Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA): This section was scored from 0 to 6 in half-point increments. This score does not affect the Total score.
- Integrated Reasoning (IR): This section was scored from 1 to 8 in single-digit increments. Like the AWA, the IR score does not affect the Total score.
- Quantitative Reasoning (Quant): This section was scored from 0 to 60. Scores are given in single-digit increments. The Quant score contributes to the Total score.
- Verbal Reasoning (Verbal): This section was scored from 0 to 60, also in single-digit increments. The Verbal score also contributes to the Total score.
The old GMAT score was based on the Quant and Verbal sections only, each weighing equally in the total score. The total score ranged from 200 to 800 and is given in 10-point increments.
On the other hand, the New GMAT Focused Edition is divided into three sections, each with its own scoring scale.
- Quantitative Reasoning (Quant): This section is scored from 60 to 90. Scores are given in single-digit increments. The Quant score contributes to the Total score.
- Verbal Reasoning (Verbal): This section was scored from 60 to 90, also in single-digit increments. The Verbal score contributes to the Total score.
- Data Insights (DI): This section (previously called Integrated reasoning on the old GMAT) is also scored from 60 to 90 in single-digit increments. And on the new GMAT, the Data Insights score also contributes to the Total score.
The new GMAT Focus Edition score is based on the Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights sections, each weighing equally (i.e. one-third each) in the total score. The total score ranges from 205 to 805 and is given in 10-point increments. That means that the new GMAT scores will now end in a 5.
What are these Percentiles?
Whether you look at the old GMAT score or the new GMAT score, your score report will include a percentile ranking with each section score and your total score. This percentile ranking is a comparative metric that highlights how your scores compare to the scores of recent test-takers. For instance, if you score in the 87thpercentile, it implies you outperformed 87% of recent test-takers.
Despite all three sections of the GMAT Focus employing the same score scale of 60-90, percentile rankings may not necessarily be uniform across sections. This is because your percentile ranking isn’t solely based on your performance, but rather a comparative measure of how all test-takers performed. Therefore, the percentage of test-takers who score 85 out of 90 on the Quantitative section may not coincide with those who score 85 out of 90 on the Verbal section.
Understanding percentile rankings is essential as it gives business schools a comparative framework to assess your GMAT performance. They offer a wider context to your GMAT scores, enabling them to answer questions like, “How good is a 655 on the GMAT Focus?” If we understand that 655 is a 87th percentile score, we can appreciate that it’s a remarkable achievement, bested by only 13% of test-takers.
Why is there a Shift in Scoring and Percentile?
The shift in scoring and percentiles with the GMAT Focus Edition is primarily due to the changes in the exam structure and content.
The GMAT Focus Edition introduces a new format with three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. The exam has been redesigned to be shorter, with a total testing time of 2 hours and 15 minutes, and the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section has been removed. There is no geometry and no sentence correction on the new GMAT, which means that you have less content to prepare. Moreover, you now have the ability to edit and review up to 3 questions in each section.
As a result of these changes, the scoring scale and percentiles have been adjusted to align with the performance of test-takers on the new exam format.