GMAT TOTAL SCORE CALCULATION

This is official mba.com(GMAC) explanatio for the scorig pattern.

https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat/about-th ... xam-scored

Your total score is computed from your 'raw' Quant and Verbal scores, not from the Q and V scores you see on your score report. So you might have had something more like a Q 47.6 and a V 36.6, and your friend might have had something more like a Q 48.6 and a V 35.4, and those score combinations might produce the same 690 total score, even though once rounded off the Q/V splits look a bit different.

That's why two test takers with the same Q/V scores can have different scores out of 800, though I don't think I've ever seen a difference bigger than ten points.

You ask a really good question regarding GMAT scoring. Here are some thoughts:

People often wonder how it could be that two people who achieve the same scores on the Quant and Verbal sections of the GMAT may get different total (200-800) GMAT scores. Others wonder how it could be that the percentile rankings of their total scores (200-800) are significantly higher or lower than the percentile rankings of both of their Quant and Verbal section scores. The answers to these questions lie in the way the GMAT is scored.

To get to an understanding of how the GMAT is scored, let’s first counter a common misconception, which is that the GMAT total score (200-800) is calculated using the two section scores (the Quant score and the Verbal score). For simplicity, let’s define performance as the number of questions a test-taker answers correctly and the difficulty of those questions. The total GMAT score (200-800), while based on your performance in answering questions in the Quant and Verbal sections, is not calculated by using the Quant and Verbal scores. Once a test-taker has completed the GMAT, the system separately calculates a total (200-800) score, a Quant score, and a Verbal score.

The next thing to understand is that the three scores are not exact representations of a test-taker’s performance, but rather each score level represents a range of test performance. For example, a test-taker could get 28 Quant questions correct or get 30 Quant questions correct and score Q51 in either scenario. Likewise, that two people both score V38 or both score 670 means that their levels of performance were similar but not necessarily exactly the same. Thus, a test-taker who scored, for instance, Q38, could have performed at the low, middle, or top end of the range of performance that generates Q38. Likewise, V36 could be a higher V36 or a lower V36, and 720 represents a range of performance levels.

To understand how these aspects of the GMAT scoring method come together to generate a set of scores, consider the following example: A score of Q51 is based on the test-taker’s performance in the Quant section, and a score of V50 is based on the test-taker’s performance in the Verbal section. To get the total score (200-800), the computer wouldn't use the Q51 and V50, which, as discussed above, could mean a variety of things in terms of performance; the computer would use the test-taker’s actual performance on the 67 questions that appeared in Quant and Verbal sections. So, for example, you could score Q51/V50 with 28 questions correct in Quant and 34 correct in Verbal. The total score (200-800) would be based on 28 Quant questions correct and 34 Verbal questions correct and would likely come to 790. Alternatively, you could get the same section scores of Q51/V50 with 30 questions correct in Quant and 35 correct in Verbal. Now the total score (200-800) is based on 30 questions correct in Quant and 35 questions correct in Verbal and you score 800.

So, to get the Quant score, they use your performance on the Quant section, to get the Verbal score, they use your performance on the Verbal section, and to get the total score (200-800), they look at your entire performance on the 67 questions that appeared in the Quant and Verbal sections.

With this knowledge, it’s easy to understand how two people could get the same section scores but different total scores. If a person gets a certain set of section scores, say Q47 and V33, that person may have performed at the high ends of the performance ranges represented by those scores, and thus receive a relatively high total score, such as 650. Another person might perform lower in the ranges that are represented by those same section scores, Q47 and V33, and receive a lower total score of 640. So, the two people got the same section scores via slightly different performance levels, and thus received different total scores.

Also, since a test-taker’s total score (200-800) percentile ranking is based on the person’s total score, two people with the same section scores will have different total score percentile rankings if their total scores are different.




Thanks for very detailed explanation on the GMAT scoring, which has always been a myth to many. This question is just my curiosity since I will anyway retake the test in hopes of achieving 700+ )

Hi nguyenkhoi6394,

First off, a 690/Q48 is a fantastic score, so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Depending on the Schools that you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

There's no harm in retesting though - and you could pick up points in both the Quant and Verbal sections. As it stands, you likely have all of the content knowledge that you need to score 700+ right now - and with just a few adjustments to how you "see" (and respond to) the Exam, you could potentially score well above 700. Before I can offer you any advice for your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs/mocks (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Thanks for your advice.

My goal in the MBA is somewhat clear: I do not only aim for studying about general management but also wanting to pursue Business Analytics specialization, specifically about how to manage and incorporate business analytical projects into company's ecosystem. This objection matches with my previous experience and my post MBA pathway as well: to work as a consultant for business digital transformation projects.

Thus my target schools are Mason Business School and SMU Cox. These universities have good reputation in terms of Business Analytics major.

Since I am an international student, I am looking for a generous scholarship, preferably at 100% tuition to cover my studies. In order to increase the chance of scholarship offer, I need to apply in 1st round.

My GPA is 3.81/4.0 and I have 3 years working experience at Pepsico Vietnam, first as a Trainee and now as a Marketing Finance Business Partner. Looking at my profile, I think a high GMAT would help to polish it to a higher extent.

I studied GMAT for around 4 months, mostly from OG, GMAT Club test, Aristotle RC/CR, Egmat Scholarnium and Veritas Question Bank

My CATs include:
+2 GMAC CATs 730 (Q50,V39) and 740 (Q49,V41)
+1 MHT Free test 700 (Q47 V39)
+ Some Quant GMAT CLUB test (score range is 44-49) and Verbal GMAT Club (39-42)

Given my CAT experience, I expected to score at somewhere in 710-730 in official test. However, I think I was really rush in Verbal and did not perform well in SC questions; therefore, the Verbal dropped to 37, impacting the overall score significantly.

Thanks for your feedback regarding my MBA goal and GMAT experience.

Hi nguyenkhoi6394,

At this point, it's important to define your exact Score Goal. If it's 700+, then you almost certainly have the skills needed to earn that type of Score right now. At higher-and-higher score levels, the GMAT becomes really 'sensitive' to little mistakes (especially on 'gettable' questions). What you described about the Verbal section is potentially accurate - and those additional Verbal points would have easily pushed you in the 700s. By extension, you don't necessarily have to study anything "new" and you might choose to retake the GMAT as soon as possible. However, if your Goal is actually much higher (re: 750+), then you'll likely need at least another month of consistent, guided study - and you'll need to make improvements to how you handle BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

My pleasure!

My pleasure!!

THe thing to know and remember is that, dont compare yourself just to your friend. Overall 100 thousand people write GMAT and generalising based on one data point wont be helpful.

What you should realise and do is that, try to understand your weak areas and improve upon them. Maybe you can start with ESRs.
I offer free ESR evaluation service to help students get the best GMAT score possible.

Check out this link.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/reach-out-to ... l#p2361754