Understanding GMAT exam scoring and your GMAT Score Report
After you take the GMAT exam, you will receive five scores: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal, and Total. Your Total GMAT score is based on your Verbal and Quantitative scores. Your Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning scores do not affect the Total score.
Your Total, Verbal, and Quantitative Scores
Total GMAT scores range from 200 to 800; two-thirds of test takers score between 400 and 600. Verbal and Quantitative scores range from 0 to 60; scores below 9 and above 44 for the Verbal section and below 7 and above 50 for the Quantitative section are rare.
Verbal and Quantitative scores are on a fixed scale and can be compared across all GMAT test administrations, but because they measure different constructs, they cannot be compared to each other. If you do not finish in the allotted time, your scores will be calculated based upon the number of questions answered as long as you worked on each section. Your score will decrease significantly with each unanswered question.
Your Analytical Writing Assessment Score
The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) score is based on one Analysis of an Argument essay. Essays are scored independently twice and then averaged. Scores for the AWA range from 0 to 6 in half-point intervals.
Each essay receives two independent ratings, one of which may be performed by an automated essay-scoring engine, which evaluates more than 50 structural and linguistic features. If the two ratings differ by more than one point, an expert reader provides a third evaluation to determine the final score.
Expert readers are trained college and university faculty members who consider the following:
•The overall quality of your ideas about the argument presented
•Your overall ability to organize, develop, and express those ideas
•The relevant supporting reasons and examples you used
•Your ability to control the elements of standard written English
Readers are trained to be sensitive and fair in evaluating the responses of examinees whose first language is not English. If you believe that your AWA score is not accurate, you may request that your essay be rescored using the Essay Rescore Request Form.
Your Integrated Reasoning Score
Integrated Reasoning (IR) scores range from 1 to 8 in single-digit intervals; no partial credit is given. Most Integrated Reasoning questions require more than one response. Because the questions are designed to measure how well you integrate data to solve complex problems, you must answer all responses to a question correctly to receive credit.
Your Official GMAT Score Report
Unofficial scores from the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GMAT exam, along with the Total score, are available immediately after you complete the test. Keep this unofficial report because it includes an authorization number, which you will need later to access your official scores. The GMAT exam official score reports include all GMAT scores from tests taken in the last five (5) years.
Online receipt: Within 20 calendar days of testing, you will receive an email with a link to access your Official Score Report online. After clicking the link you must enter the authorization number from the unofficial score. You may view, download, or print your report.
Mail receipt: Approximately 20 calendar days after testing, you will receive your Official Score Report (it may take longer due to variances in delivery time).
Your scores will be available to the programs that you selected to receive your scores while at the test center within 20 calendar days after testing. Schools that have chosen to receive only paper score reports will need more time to receive them by mail. If you choose to send additional score reports after completing the GMAT exam, those programs will receive your scores approximately seven calendar days after your score is reportable.
