GMAT Score Percentiles
Focus Edition to Classic Score Conversion Table
GMAT Percentiles for Quantitative, Verbal, IR and AWA scores
The percentile ranking is a significant metric to assess a candidate’s performance in the GMAT exam compared to other test-takers. This is because the total score scale and the score scale distribution across the classic GMAT & GMAT Focus Edition is different. So, the total score and section scores across these two exam versions cannot be compared. Here, percentile information can be used for comparison to know where you stand.
A score concordance table (also called as the Focus to Classic score conversion table) is also available which helps compare scores between the old and new GMAT versions. For example, a 700 in the classic GMAT exam would be 655 in the GMAT Focus Edition.
What is GMAT score percentile?
Percentile ranking lets you know what percentage of test takers you performed better than. A percentile ranking of 90% indicates that you’ve performed better than 90 percent of the test takers while 10 percent of the test takers’ performance has been equally good or better than yours.
So, a good score would mean a higher percentile ranking and vice versa. The percentile rankings are recalculated every year using data from the previous years. This means that even with the same score, there’s a chance that your percentile ranking would slightly change when the new rankings come up in the following years.
According to GMAC, due the score preview feature of the GMAT which started in 2014, candidates now have the choice to cancel the GMAT scores that don’t meet their expectation level. As a result, there has been an increase in the average GMAT scores that candidates send to business schools, resulting in higher GMAT averages across business schools. With more candidates reporting higher scores, percentile rankings have seen a decline.
In this article, we’ll cover the following:
- GMAT percentile rankings for the new GMAT Focus Edition
- GMAT percentile rankings for the classic GMAT Exam
- GMAT Focus Score to Classic Score conversion table (Concordance table)
GMAT Percentiles – Focus Edition vs Classic GMAT
The GMAT Focus Edition has the total score range from 205-805 with all the scores ending in a 5, while the classic GMAT has the total score ranging from 200-800. This shift has made it easy to differentiate between the two GMAT versions – scores ending with zero would be the old GMAT exam score whereas those ending with a five would be the Focus Edition score.
The classic GMAT exam scores would still be valid for a period of five years from the testing date.
Earlier, the GMAT exam total score took into account only the quantitative and verbal sections of the exam. The GMAT Focus Edition total score is calculated taking into account quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning and data insights sections of the exam and each section score carries equal weight.
The GMAT Focus also includes in-depth performance insights with the official score report. In addition to the total score, section scores and percentile rankings, which the earlier version provided, you’d get to know how you performed by section, question type, content domain in addition to time management and your relative performance compared to others applying to the same program.
1. GMAT Focus Edition – percentile ranking
The percentile rankings for the Focus Edition are calculated using data from the recent five year period, in this case from July 2017 to June 2022.
GMAT percentile – Total Score
| Score | Percentile Ranking | Score | Percentile Ranking |
| 805 | 100% | 495 | 29% |
| 795 | 100% | 485 | 24% |
| 785 | 100% | 475 | 22% |
| 775 | 100% | 465 | 19% |
| 765 | 100% | 455 | 17% |
| 755 | 100% | 445 | 14% |
| 745 | 100% | 435 | 13% |
| 735 | 100% | 425 | 10% |
| 725 | 99% | 415 | 9% |
| 715 | 99% | 405 | 8% |
| 705 | 99% | 395 | 7% |
| 695 | 98% | 385 | 5% |
| 685 | 97% | 375 | 5% |
| 675 | 96% | 365 | 4% |
| 665 | 94% | 355 | 3% |
| 655 | 93% | 345 | 3% |
| 645 | 89% | 335 | 2% |
| 635 | 85% | 325 | 2% |
| 625 | 83% | 315 | 1% |
| 615 | 80% | 305 | 1% |
| 605 | 75% | 295 | 1% |
| 595 | 72% | 285 | 1% |
| 585 | 65% | 275 | 1% |
| 575 | 62% | 265 | 0% |
| 565 | 56% | 255 | 0% |
| 555 | 53% | 245 | 0% |
| 545 | 47% | 235 | 0% |
| 535 | 44% | 225 | 0% |
| 525 | 38% | 215 | 0% |
| 515 | 36% | 205 | 0% |
| 505 | 31% |
GMAT percentile – Quantitative Reasoning
| Score | Percentile Ranking | Score | Percentile Ranking |
| 90 | 100% | 74 | 29% |
| 89 | 97% | 73 | 25% |
| 88 | 95% | 72 | 21% |
| 87 | 94% | 71 | 17% |
| 86 | 92% | 70 | 14% |
| 85 | 89% | 69 | 12% |
| 84 | 85% | 68 | 9% |
| 83 | 81% | 67 | 7% |
| 82 | 76% | 66 | 5% |
| 81 | 71% | 65 | 4% |
| 80 | 66% | 64 | 3% |
| 79 | 59% | 63 | 2% |
| 78 | 52% | 62 | 1% |
| 77 | 46% | 61 | 1% |
| 76 | 40% | 60 | 1% |
| 75 | 35% |
GMAT percentile – Verbal Reasoning
| Score | Percentile Ranking | Score | Percentile Ranking |
| 90 | 100% | 74 | 14% |
| 89 | 100% | 73 | 11% |
| 88 | 99% | 72 | 8% |
| 87 | 99% | 71 | 5% |
| 86 | 98% | 70 | 4% |
| 85 | 96% | 69 | 3% |
| 84 | 91% | 68 | 2% |
| 83 | 86% | 67 | 2% |
| 82 | 79% | 66 | 1% |
| 81 | 70% | 65 | 1% |
| 80 | 60% | 64 | 1% |
| 79 | 51% | 63 | 1% |
| 78 | 42% | 62 | 1% |
| 77 | 33% | 61 | 1% |
| 76 | 25% | 60 | 0% |
| 75 | 19% |
GMAT percentile – Data Insights
| Score | Percentile Ranking | Score | Percentile Ranking |
| 90 | 100% | 74 | 45% |
| 89 | 100% | 73 | 39% |
| 88 | 99% | 72 | 34% |
| 87 | 99% | 71 | 28% |
| 86 | 99% | 70 | 24% |
| 85 | 99% | 69 | 20% |
| 84 | 98% | 68 | 17% |
| 83 | 96% | 67 | 14% |
| 82 | 94% | 66 | 12% |
| 81 | 90% | 65 | 10% |
| 80 | 86% | 64 | 8% |
| 79 | 79% | 63 | 7% |
| 78 | 73% | 62 | 6% |
| 77 | 66% | 61 | 5% |
| 76 | 58% | 60 | 4% |
| 75 | 51% |
2. Classic GMAT exam score and percentile ranking
The official GMAT score card has the total GMAT score and score for each of the sections along with the percentile rankings for each of the above scores.
For example, a total GMAT score of 730 gives 95th percentile. So, you’ve performed better than 95 percent of the GMAT test takers, which is good. However, with a percentile ranking lower than 60% and with 40% candidates having a higher score than yours, your score would be far less competitive.
With this comparative ranking, you’d know where you’re placed; a percentile ranking of 99% makes your score very competitive as only 1% candidates have a score more than yours.
The following table gives the most recent data of the total GMAT score and the percentile rankings. These percentile rankings are based on data collected during the period January 2020 to December 2022
GMAT percentile – Total Score
| GMAT Score | Percentile Ranking | GMAT Score | Percentile Ranking |
| 800 | 99% | 490 | 18% |
| 790 | 99% | 480 | 16% |
| 780 | 99% | 470 | 15% |
| 770 | 99% | 460 | 13% |
| 760 | 99% | 450 | 12% |
| 750 | 98% | 440 | 10% |
| 740 | 97% | 430 | 9% |
| 730 | 95% | 420 | 9% |
| 720 | 93% | 410 | 8% |
| 710 | 89% | 400 | 7% |
| 700 | 86% | 390 | 6% |
| 690 | 74% | 380 | 6% |
| 680 | 78% | 370 | 5% |
| 670 | 76% | 360 | 5% |
| 660 | 72% | 350 | 4% |
| 650 | 68% | 340 | 4% |
| 640 | 61% | 330 | 3% |
| 630 | 59% | 320 | 3% |
| 620 | 55% | 310 | 2% |
| 610 | 51% | 300 | 2% |
| 600 | 47% | 290 | 2% |
| 590 | 44% | 280 | 2% |
| 580 | 40% | 270 | 2% |
| 570 | 37% | 260 | 2% |
| 560 | 34% | 250 | 1% |
| 550 | 31% | 240 | 1% |
| 540 | 28% | 230 | 1% |
| 530 | 25% | 220 | 1% |
| 520 | 24% | 210 | 0% |
| 510 | 21% | 200 | 0% |
| 500 | 20% |
Similarly, percentile rankings are obtained for the section scores as well.
The quantitative and the verbal section scaled score ranges from 0 – 60. However, candidates generally receive scores from 6 – 51. The following tables show the percentile rankings for the scaled scores in the Quantitative and Verbal sections.
Read Managing unbalanced Verbal and Quantitative GMAT Scores
GMAT percentile – Quantitative Reasoning
| Score | Percentile Ranking | Score | Percentile Ranking |
| 51 | 97% | 28 | 9% |
| 50 | 86% | 27 | 8% |
| 49 | 72% | 26 | 7% |
| 48 | 63% | 25 | 6% |
| 47 | 54% | 24 | 6% |
| 46 | 50% | 23 | 5% |
| 45 | 47% | 22 | 4% |
| 44 | 40% | 21 | 4% |
| 43 | 38% | 20 | 4% |
| 42 | 33% | 19 | 3% |
| 41 | 30% | 18 | 3% |
| 40 | 28% | 17 | 3% |
| 39 | 25% | 16 | 2% |
| 38 | 23% | 15 | 2% |
| 37 | 22% | 14 | 2% |
| 36 | 19% | 13 | 2% |
| 35 | 17% | 12 | 1% |
| 34 | 16% | 11 | 1% |
| 33 | 15% | 10 | 1% |
| 32 | 13% | 9 | 1% |
| 31 | 11% | 8 | 1% |
| 30 | 11% | 7 | 1% |
| 29 | 9% | 6 | 0% |
GMAT percentile – Verbal Reasoning
| Score | Percentile Ranking | Score | Percentile Ranking |
| 51 | 99% | 28 | 47% |
| 50 | 99% | 27 | 42% |
| 49 | 99% | 26 | 40% |
| 48 | 99% | 25 | 35% |
| 47 | 99% | 24 | 33% |
| 46 | 99% | 23 | 29% |
| 45 | 99% | 22 | 27% |
| 44 | 98% | 21 | 23% |
| 43 | 96% | 20 | 20% |
| 42 | 96% | 19 | 17% |
| 41 | 93% | 18 | 15% |
| 40 | 89% | 17 | 13% |
| 39 | 88% | 16 | 10% |
| 38 | 83% | 15 | 8% |
| 37 | 81% | 14 | 7% |
| 36 | 78% | 13 | 6% |
| 35 | 74% | 12 | 4% |
| 34 | 68% | 11 | 3% |
| 33 | 66% | 10 | 2% |
| 32 | 63% | 9 | 2% |
| 31 | 58% | 8 | 1% |
| 30 | 55% | 7 | 1% |
| 29 | 52% |
Both the Quantitative and Verbal scaled scores contribute to the total GMAT score out of 800.
GMAT percentile – Integrated Reasoning (IR)
In the IR section, score can range from 1 to 8 in one point increment. This section score is not taken into account in the total GMAT score calculation.
| Score | Percentile Ranking |
| 8 | 90% |
| 7 | 78% |
| 6 | 63% |
| 5 | 46% |
| 4 | 30% |
| 3 | 17% |
| 2 | 8% |
| 1 | 0% |
GMAT percentile – Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section
The AWA section score can range from 0 to 6 in half point increment. Again, this section score doesn’t reflect in the total score.
| Score | Percentile Ranking |
| 6 | 86% |
| 5.5 | 83% |
| 5 | 54% |
| 4.5 | 50% |
| 4 | 18% |
| 3.5 | 16% |
| 3 | 4% |
| 2.5 | 3% |
| 2 | 1% |
| 1.5 | 1% |
| 1 | 1% |
| 0.5 | 1% |
| 0 | 0% |
GMAT Focus to Classic Score Conversion Table
GMAT Score Concordance Table
This table helps compare total scores from the GMAT exam and the GMAT Focus Edition.
| GMAT Exam score | GMAT Focus Edition score | Percentile Ranking |
| 800 | 805 | 100.00% |
| 790 | 805 | 100.00% |
| 790 | 795 | 100.00% |
| 790 | 785 | 100.00% |
| 780 | 785 | 100.00% |
| 780 | 775 | 100.00% |
| 780 | 765 | 99.90% |
| 780 | 755 | 99.90% |
| 770 | 755 | 99.90% |
| 770 | 745 | 99.80% |
| 770 | 735 | 99.70% |
| 760 | 735 | 99.50% |
| 760 | 725 | 99.40% |
| 760 | 715 | 99.20% |
| 750 | 715 | 98.70% |
| 750 | 705 | 98.60% |
| 750 | 695 | 98.10% |
| 740 | 695 | 97.90% |
| 740 | 685 | 96.90% |
| 730 | 685 | 96.70% |
| 730 | 675 | 96.10% |
| 720 | 675 | 95.20% |
| 720 | 665 | 94.00% |
| 710 | 665 | 93.20% |
| 710 | 655 | 92.60% |
| 700 | 655 | 89.60% |
| 700 | 645 | 89.30% |
| 690 | 645 | 86.70% |
| 690 | 635 | 85.10% |
| 680 | 635 | 83.50% |
| 680 | 625 | 82.70% |
| 680 | 615 | 80.10% |
| 670 | 615 | 80.10% |
| 660 | 615 | 78.30% |
| 650 | 615 | 74.50% |
| 650 | 605 | 74.50% |
| 650 | 595 | 71.50% |
| 640 | 595 | 70.70% |
| 640 | 585 | 65.30% |
| 630 | 585 | 64.80% |
| 620 | 585 | 62.80% |
| 620 | 575 | 62.10% |
| 610 | 575 | 58.90% |
| 610 | 565 | 55.80% |
| 600 | 565 | 55.10% |
| 600 | 555 | 52.70% |
| 590 | 555 | 51.40% |
| 580 | 555 | 47.80% |
| 580 | 545 | 46.70% |
| 570 | 545 | 44.30% |
| 570 | 535 | 43.80% |
| 560 | 535 | 41.10% |
| 560 | 525 | 38.20% |
| 550 | 525 | 37.90% |
| 550 | 515 | 35.60% |
| 540 | 515 | 35.00% |
| 530 | 515 | 32.30% |
| 530 | 505 | 30.80% |
| 530 | 495 | 28.50% |
| 520 | 495 | 28.50% |
| 510 | 495 | 27.30% |
| 500 | 495 | 25.10% |
| 500 | 485 | 24.30% |
| 490 | 485 | 23.00% |
| 490 | 475 | 22.40% |
| 480 | 475 | 21.10% |
| 470 | 475 | 19.20% |
| 470 | 465 | 18.80% |
| 460 | 465 | 17.60% |
| 460 | 455 | 17.10% |
| 450 | 455 | 15.30% |
| 450 | 445 | 14.10% |
| 440 | 445 | 13.90% |
| 440 | 435 | 12.80% |
| 430 | 435 | 12.70% |
| 420 | 435 | 11.50% |
| 410 | 435 | 10.40% |
| 410 | 425 | 10.40% |
| 400 | 425 | 9.40% |
| 400 | 415 | 9.40% |
| 390 | 415 | 8.50% |
| 380 | 415 | 7.70% |
| 380 | 405 | 7.50% |
| 370 | 405 | 6.90% |
| 370 | 395 | 6.70% |
| 360 | 395 | 6.20% |
| 350 | 395 | 5.60% |
| 350 | 385 | 5.30% |
| 350 | 375 | 4.70% |
| 340 | 375 | 4.70% |
| 330 | 375 | 4.20% |
| 320 | 375 | 3.70% |
| 320 | 365 | 3.70% |
| 310 | 365 | 3.30% |
| 310 | 355 | 3.30% |
| 300 | 355 | 2.70% |
| 300 | 345 | 2.50% |
| 290 | 345 | 2.40% |
| 280 | 345 | 2.20% |
| 280 | 335 | 2.20% |
| 270 | 335 | 2.10% |
| 260 | 335 | 1.80% |
| 250 | 335 | 1.70% |
| 250 | 325 | 1.60% |
| 250 | 315 | 1.40% |
| 240 | 315 | 1.30% |
| 240 | 305 | 1.00% |
| 230 | 305 | 1.00% |
| 230 | 295 | 0.90% |
| 220 | 295 | 0.80% |
| 220 | 285 | 0.60% |
| 210 | 285 | 0.60% |
| 210 | 275 | 0.50% |
| 210 | 265 | 0.40% |
| 210 | 255 | 0.40% |
| 200 | 255 | 0.30% |
| 200 | 245 | 0.30% |
| 200 | 235 | 0.20% |
| 200 | 225 | 0.20% |
| 200 | 215 | 0.10% |
| 200 | 205 | 0.10% |
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Related posts:
– All about GMAT
– GMAT Scaled Score Table – GMAT Score Calculator