GMAT Score Report: What Are the Types of GMAT Score Report?

The GMAT Focus Edition Official Score Report is undeniably an important tool for understanding your performance and preparing for the next steps in your business school journey. It is available within 1–3 days of completing the exam. It provides detailed insights into how you performed across different sections, helping you assess strengths and weaknesses. 

You could be preparing for your next test or applying to top-tier programmes, and your score report would still be an invaluable resource to guide your strategy. Let’s put under the microscope what you can expect from your GMAT Score Report and how to use the information to your advantage.

Key Highlights:

• The GMAT Score Report includes your Total Score, Section Scores, and Percentile Rankings, giving you a clear picture of how you compare to other test-takers.
• Detailed performance breakdowns across Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights help you pinpoint areas for improvement.
• The report provides insights into your time management during the exam, aiding in refining your future test strategies.
• Your percentile ranking shows how competitive your performance is, crucial for business school applications.
• Scores are valid for five years, offering flexibility in timing your applications and retaking the test if needed.

What is the GMAT Score Report? 

The GMAT Score Report offers a complete breakdown of your performance, providing valuable insights for both you and business schools. Your Official Score Report is typically available within 1–3 days after completing the exam. 

This quick turnaround allows you to access your results ASAP! Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll find in the report:

• Total Score, Section Scores, and Percentile Rankings: The report highlights your overall performance, with scores for each section of the exam along with your percentile rankings, giving you a clear view of how you compare to other test-takers.
• Performance Breakdown: You’ll receive a detailed performance analysis that breaks down your results by section (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights), question type, and content domain. This allows you to see how well you performed in specific areas and pinpoint any areas for improvement.
• Time Management Analysis: The report includes insights on how efficiently you managed your time during the exam. This is particularly helpful for understanding your pacing and whether you need to adjust your strategy in future test preparations.
• Peer Comparisons: The report also includes comparisons with other test-takers applying to similar programmes, giving you context on where you stand relative to others in your field.

All of the above insights are provided at no extra cost, making it a valuable resource to guide your test preparation and application process. Your total score will fall between 205 and 805, and the three sections, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights, are considered equally in calculating your final score. 

Yocket Prep provides personalised guidance and real-world strategies to help you prepare for the GMAT and achieve your best score.

What is Included in a GMAT Score Report?

The GMAT Focus Edition Score Report provides a comprehensive overview of your performance across the three sections, each scored individually, contributing to a total score. Here are a few things included in your GMAT score report:

How to Interpret Your GMAT Score Report?

Your GMAT Score Report provides a comprehensive breakdown of your performance and helps you understand where you stand compared to other test-takers. Here's a detailed guide on how to interpret each part of the report:

1. Total Score

The Total Score is the primary metric that business schools focus on. It combines your performance across the three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. The GMAT Focus Edition scores range from 205 to 805. The total score is calculated by using a weighted combination of your section scores, which means that your performance in each section contributes to the final total.

A high total score signals strong overall performance, and the range of scores for top-tier programmes can vary, with many competitive business schools looking for a total score of 700 or higher. However, it’s important to remember that the total score is just one factor in the admissions process, alongside other components such as your essays, recommendations, and work experience.

2. Section Scores

The GMAT Focus Edition includes three main sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. Each section is scored between 60 and 90, reflecting your ability in these areas.

• Quantitative Reasoning: This section tests your ability to solve quantitative problems and interpret data. Your score here demonstrates how well you can handle numbers, equations, and data analysis. A strong quantitative score is especially important for applicants to STEM-focused or finance-heavy MBA programmes.
• Verbal Reasoning: This section measures your ability to understand and analyse written material, evaluate arguments, and correct written text to conform to standard written English. A strong verbal score is essential for demonstrating your reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and communication skills, which are valued in every MBA programme.
• Data Insights: The Data Insights section assesses your ability to analyse data presented in various formats, including graphs and tables. It tests your decision-making skills based on the data you receive. This section is increasingly important as businesses and organisations rely on data-driven decisions.

Each section's score is shown on a scale from 60 to 90, with higher scores indicating stronger performance in that specific area. By reviewing your section scores, you can get a sense of which areas you may need to improve upon if you plan to retake the exam.

3. Percentile Rankings

Your Percentile Rankings indicate how your performance compares to other test-takers. This metric is calculated based on the most recent data from all GMAT test-takers. For example, if you score in the 90th percentile, you performed better than 90% of candidates.

Percentile rankings are particularly important because they show how competitive you are relative to other applicants. Business schools often use these rankings to assess how strong your application is compared to other candidates in the pool. A high percentile rank can make your application more competitive, especially for top-tier business schools.

4. Score Validity

GMAT scores are valid for five years from the date of your exam. This gives you flexibility in timing your applications, allowing you to retake the test if needed or apply after several years of work experience. However, it's important to remember that some schools may have specific score validity requirements, so it’s always a good idea to check with the admissions office of your target programmes.

5. Score Cancellation and Reinstatement

After completing the exam, you have the option to cancel your GMAT score immediately. If you cancel, your score will not be reported to any schools, and you will not be able to see the score on your official report. However, you can reinstate scores within five years if you change your mind later. The reinstatement process is subject to additional fees.

It’s essential to decide carefully whether to cancel your score, as some candidates might want to see their scores before making a decision, while others might feel the need to cancel if they believe they did not perform well.

Types of GMAT Score Report 

There are three types of GMAT score reports that you can receive after taking the exam—Official Score Report, Enhanced Score Report, and Unofficial Score Report. Each type serves a different purpose and provides different details about your performance. Here’s a quick explainer of each type:

1.Official Score Report

The Official Score Report is the most comprehensive and formal report provided by the GMAT exam administrators. It includes all the scores from your test, including your total score, section scores, and any percentile rankings. The official report is sent directly to the business schools that you choose to send your scores to.

What’s Included:

• Total Score: The combined score from the three sections (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights).
• Section Scores: The individual scores for each of the three sections.
• Percentile Rankings: Your performance in comparison to other test-takers.
• Score History: A record of any previous GMAT attempts.
• Score Validity: The date your scores are valid through (usually five years from the exam date).
• When is it Used: The Official Score Report is required when you apply to business schools or when you want to send your scores to other organisations that accept GMAT results. You typically request this report after you’ve completed the exam and decided which schools to send it to.

2. Enhanced Score Report (ESR)

The Enhanced Score Report (ESR) provides a more detailed analysis of your performance on the GMAT. This report is designed to give you a deeper understanding of your strengths and weaknesses in the different sections of the exam.

What’s Included:

• Sectional Breakdown: A detailed review of how you performed in each section, along with subcategories for questions (e.g., reading comprehension, data sufficiency).
• Question Performance: Insights into the types of questions you answered correctly and incorrectly.
• Time Management Analysis: Information on how much time you spent on each section and question, helping you to assess your pacing.
• Predicted Scores: A projection of your performance if you had answered questions differently or managed your time more effectively.
• When is it Used: The ESR is available for a fee after the exam, and it's particularly helpful if you want to identify areas to improve for future tests or if you’re interested in knowing more about the specifics of your performance. It is often used by test-takers who want to retake the exam and want to strategically improve their scores.

3. Unofficial Score Report

The Unofficial Score Report is provided immediately after you complete the GMAT exam, giving you a quick snapshot of your performance.

What’s Included:

• Total Score: Your combined score based on the Quantitative and Verbal sections.
• Section Scores: Individual scores for Quantitative and Verbal sections.
• Acceptance Confirmation: An option to accept or cancel your scores.
• When is it Used: The Unofficial Score Report is useful if you want to quickly assess their performance before receiving the official report. However, it cannot be sent to schools and does not include percentile rankings or Analytical Writing Assessment scores.

How to Get Access GMAT Score Report? 

Accessing your GMAT scores has never been easier! Simply log into ‘My Account’ on the MBA website to view, download, or print your Official Score Report. 

Step 1 - Log in to the official MBA website using your credentials.
Step 2 - Once logged in, navigate to the ‘My Account’ section to view your scores.
Step 3 - Immediately after completing the exam, access your Unofficial Score Report on the test day.
Step 4 - Wait for 16–20 days to receive your Official Score Report. You’ll get an email notification from Pearson VUE when it’s available.
Step 5 - Download or print your Official Score Report from your account as needed. Official scores are valid for five years, allowing flexibility to share scores with institutions when ready.

How to Send GMAT Score Report to B-Schools

Sending your GMAT scores to business schools is a crucial step in your application process. Here's how you can do it:

1. Sending Scores to Up to Five Programmes for Free

When you register for the GMAT, you can send your Official Score Report to up to five programmes at no additional cost. This selection must be made within 48 hours after your Official Score becomes available in your mba.com account. You'll receive an email notification once your Official Score is ready. To send your scores:

• Log in to your mba.com account.
• View your Official Score Report.
• Select up to five programmes to receive your scores.

Each Official Score Report will include only the Total and Section Scores from a single exam. Once sent, this action cannot be canceled or undone.

2. Sending Scores to Additional Programmes for a Fee

If you wish to send your scores to more than five programmes or miss the initial 48-hour window, you can send additional score reports for a fee. To do this:

• Log in to your mba.com account.
• Locate the GMAT Exam Table.
• Click the "View and Send Score" link for the exam score you wish to send.
• Select the additional programmes and complete the payment process.

Remember, GMAT scores are valid for five years, allowing you to send them to schools when you're ready. However, scores older than five years but less than ten years may be sent upon request, provided you haven't taken the GMAT within the past five years.

3. Privacy Information

Your exam scores and personally identifiable information will be released only at your specific request, except as otherwise set forth in the privacy policy contained in GMAC's exam policies, as required by law, and as necessary to detect or prevent unlawful activity or to cooperate in a judicial or governmental proceeding.

What is GMAT Score Validity?

The GMAT Focus Edition scores are valid for a period of five years from the test date. This means you have ample time to plan your business school applications and submit your scores without the pressure of retaking the test frequently. Business schools that accept the GMAT Focus Edition will continue to honor these scores throughout their validity period, even if newer formats or updates are introduced in the future.

Your scores are securely stored by GMAC, and you can send them to programmes at any time during the five-year window. When choosing your GMAT exam date, it’s essential to align it with your target programme deadlines to ensure your scores remain valid throughout your application process. 

From the Desk of Yocket

The GMAT Score Report not only reflects your academic abilities but also helps you understand where you stand and require some improvement.  Remember that the Total Score is important, but each section’s insights can be significant for polishing your strengths and addressing weaknesses.

If you're looking to improve your GMAT score or are unsure about how to make the most of your report, Yocket Prep can help! Yocket’s expert resources and live plus recorded sessions can guide you through GMAT strategies, ensuring you ace your next test. With our extensive tools and insights, we’re here to support you every step of the way to getting your dream business school admission.