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mcelroytutoring
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GMAT 1: 770 Q47 V48
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GMAT 3: 750 Q50 V42
GMAT 4: 730 Q48 V42 (Online)
GRE 1: Q168 V169
GRE 2: Q170 V170
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![GMAT Online - What We Know [Master Topic]](/forum/styles/gmatclub_light/imageset/icon_post_target_unread.svg "GMAT Online - What We Know [Master Topic]"){kind=icon}
25 Oct 2021, 06:21
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Though it is a subjective opinion and not a proven fact 
, I do agree—unfortunately—that the GMAT is becoming tougher over time (both the content and scoring curve itself). Thus, it has become even harder to score a perfect 800, which requires answering all 58 counted questions correctly on Quant and Verbal.
As further evidence of this claim, the only verified 800 we have here on GMAT Club (despite approximately 1 million members) is from 2015: a score that is no longer valid, because GMAT scores expire after 5 years.
One should also note that a GMAT Club score verification feature has been available since 2017, covering GMAT scores from as far back as mid-2012. In other words: after nearly a decade of official GMAT scores, we have seen exactly one verified perfect 800.
There are of course those out there who who earned their perfect 800s prior to mid-2012, and those who have chosen not to verify their 800 scores (I know one of them personally), but I doubt that there are many people in this category, and surely fewer students than GMAC claims. The official number is .02% of test-takers, or 30 out of every 200,000, but I suspect this figure to be far lower in reality.
On the other hand, as you noted, there have been several verified GRE perfect scorers here on GMAT Club and on GRE Prep Club over the last few years, which supports the conclusion that it's easier to score perfectly on the GRE—especially with no lifetime limit.
Another important fact to consider is that on the GRE, you don't truly have to be perfect to earn a perfect score: you can earn a 170 + 170 = 340 composite with up to 4 questions incorrect out of the 80 counted questions (3 on Verbal and 1 on Quant).
, I do agree—unfortunately—that the GMAT is becoming tougher over time (both the content and scoring curve itself). Thus, it has become even harder to score a perfect 800, which requires answering all 58 counted questions correctly on Quant and Verbal.As further evidence of this claim, the only verified 800 we have here on GMAT Club (despite approximately 1 million members) is from 2015: a score that is no longer valid, because GMAT scores expire after 5 years.
One should also note that a GMAT Club score verification feature has been available since 2017, covering GMAT scores from as far back as mid-2012. In other words: after nearly a decade of official GMAT scores, we have seen exactly one verified perfect 800.
There are of course those out there who who earned their perfect 800s prior to mid-2012, and those who have chosen not to verify their 800 scores (I know one of them personally), but I doubt that there are many people in this category, and surely fewer students than GMAC claims. The official number is .02% of test-takers, or 30 out of every 200,000, but I suspect this figure to be far lower in reality.
On the other hand, as you noted, there have been several verified GRE perfect scorers here on GMAT Club and on GRE Prep Club over the last few years, which supports the conclusion that it's easier to score perfectly on the GRE—especially with no lifetime limit.
Another important fact to consider is that on the GRE, you don't truly have to be perfect to earn a perfect score: you can earn a 170 + 170 = 340 composite with up to 4 questions incorrect out of the 80 counted questions (3 on Verbal and 1 on Quant).
25 Oct 2021, 11:17
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A score of 800 on the current version of the GMAT is indeed difficult to obtain. The 0.02% figure is interesting, but we also need to know how many of these 800 scorers were repeat test takers, and how many achieved that score over how many consecutive attempts and over how much time. More stratified data are needed to draw conclusions.
Have yet to see solid empirical research that concludes that one must get all (58 minus experimental) questions correct in order to score 800. Older 800 scores, before the GMAT content difficulty and adaptive nature were introduced, were more common. Consideration also must be given to native vs. non-native speakers, test takers in different regions and so on. There are many high scorers from the Asian sub-continent who score highly but are otherwise sometimes poor at using the English language.
The GRE has many international non-native English speakers. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that many of them find the verbal sections to be difficult. The GRE tests understanding of vocabulary in use, which the GMAT does not in an explicit sense. The GRE is also taken by people in a far wider variety of academic disciplines. Again, the GMAT lacks in this respect.
Comparisons between the two tests should be made with some caution.
Have yet to see solid empirical research that concludes that one must get all (58 minus experimental) questions correct in order to score 800. Older 800 scores, before the GMAT content difficulty and adaptive nature were introduced, were more common. Consideration also must be given to native vs. non-native speakers, test takers in different regions and so on. There are many high scorers from the Asian sub-continent who score highly but are otherwise sometimes poor at using the English language.
The GRE has many international non-native English speakers. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that many of them find the verbal sections to be difficult. The GRE tests understanding of vocabulary in use, which the GMAT does not in an explicit sense. The GRE is also taken by people in a far wider variety of academic disciplines. Again, the GMAT lacks in this respect.
Comparisons between the two tests should be made with some caution.
mcelroytutoring
mcelroytutoring
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Joined: 10 Jul 2015
Last visit: 15 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,204
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 282
Status:Expert GMAT, GRE, and LSAT Tutor / Coach
Affiliations: Harvard University, A.B. with honors in Government, 2002
Location: United States (CO)
Age: 45 (10 years and counting on GMAT Club!)
GMAT 1: 770 Q47 V48
GMAT 2: 730 Q44 V47
GMAT 3: 750 Q50 V42
GMAT 4: 730 Q48 V42 (Online)
GRE 1: Q168 V169
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Expert reply
Updated on: 26 Oct 2021, 09:26
Originally posted by mcelroytutoring on 25 Oct 2021, 13:31.
Last edited by mcelroytutoring on 26 Oct 2021, 09:26, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by mcelroytutoring on 26 Oct 2021, 09:26, edited 1 time in total.
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It has in fact been confirmed via multiple GMAT ESRs that you need to answer all 58 counted questions correctly to earn a perfect 800—and that you need to answer all 30 counted questions correctly on Verbal for a V51 (one wrong usually drops you down to V48 or V49).
Take, for example, the student who had their score upgraded by GMAC from a Q51 / V50 to a Q51 / V51, but still received "only" a 790 composite because they got one Quant question wrong:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/q51-v50-253258.html
Take, for example, the student who had their score upgraded by GMAC from a Q51 / V50 to a Q51 / V51, but still received "only" a 790 composite because they got one Quant question wrong:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/q51-v50-253258.html
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by rudywip
