HOW TO USE THE GMAT SCORE CALCULATOR?

Step 1

Input your raw scores in the calculator above and click on ‘Calculate Total Score’.

Step 2

The calculator will show you your overall score as well as your percentile.

Step 3

Test different score combinations to create a focused, efficient study plan.

THE POWER OF SECTIONAL SCORE COMBINATIONS

The GMAT uses a weighted scoring system, meaning different sectional score combinations can result in the same total score. This allows you to leverage your strengths strategically to maximize your performance.

You don’t need to excel in every section to achieve a top GMAT score. If you maximize your strengths, they can compensate for the weaker ones. Instead of striving for perfection across all sections, a smart approach prioritizes high-impact improvements while managing weaker areas strategically.

GMAT 90th percentile scores:

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    650

    Overall

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    86

    Quantitative

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    81

    Data Insights

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    84

    Verbal

REVERSE ENGINEERING YOUR TARGET SCORE USING PERCENTILES

A key strategy for GMAT preparation is reverse engineering your target score—working backwards to determine the exact sectional scores needed to reach your desired total score. Understanding percentile insights makes this approach even more effective.

  • Set Your Target

    Start by identifying your desired total GMAT score and determining the percentiles needed in each section to reach that goal. If your goal is to be in the 90th percentile or higher, you must decide whether to boost weaker sections or strengthen your high-scoring areas.

  • Analyze Your Current Percentiles

    Your current percentile ranking determines where you should focus your efforts:

    • Below 50th Percentile → High Growth Potential

      If your percentile is low, there is immense growth potential. Even small improvements can lead to significant score jumps. Strengthen core concepts and prioritize accuracy before working on speed.

    • 50th–85th Percentile → Efficiency & Strategy Matter

      If you’re in this range, refining your test-taking approach, managing time effectively, and minimizing errors can significantly boost your score.

    • 85th–99th Percentile → Mastery & Precision Needed

      At this level, incremental improvements are harder to achieve. Fine-tune advanced skills, optimize time allocation and manage test-day stress to achieve the dream score.

  • Plan Your Preparation

    If one section is significantly weaker, determine whether you can offset it by excelling in the other sections. However, remember that improving a higher percentile score is more difficult whereas boosting a lower percentile score is often easier with targeted practice.

    What looked like a weakness can magically turn into your strongest section! All possible through a focused study plan emphasizing concept building, gap identification, and targeted practice.

    By integrating these percentile insights into your study plan, you can prioritize the sections that offer the greatest score improvement in the shortest time.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

With a clear understanding of GMAT percentiles and weighted scoring, you can now develop a data-driven preparation strategy.

Use the GMAT Score Calculator to experiment with different sectional score combinations and see how they impact your total score.

By letting percentile rankings guide your preparation, you can maximize your strengths, improve weak areas efficiently, and optimize your overall performance. This targeted approach ensures your study efforts are focused, effective, and strategic.

Our experts have built the GMAT score calculator to help you understand how your raw score in each section will impact the final score and percentile. Move the raw score around to see how each sectional score affects your final score.
Imagine a GMAT test-taker aiming for a high score with the following sectional breakdown:
  • Quantitative: 90 (100th percentile)
  • Data Insights: 80 (84th percentile)
  • Verbal: 79 (48th percentile)

At first glance, the Verbal score appears to be a spoil-sport for your overall score, ranking below 50% of test-takers. However, exceptional performance in Quantitative and DI significantly boosts the total score to 665, placing them in the 93rd percentile overall, a great score equivalent to the 710 -720 score on GMAT Classic, considerably good for applying to top B’Schools.

This example highlights a crucial insight: you don’t need to excel in every section to achieve a top GMAT score. If you maximize your strengths, they can compensate for the weaker ones.

While you should aim to score as high as possible, your target GMAT score should be based on the median scores of your target college. Most colleges release the median GMAT scores and the GMAT score rangers for their incoming batches. This data can help you set a target for yourself.
The GMAT score calculator is best used to figure out the sectional score breakdown you need to reach your target overall score and percentile. Toggle the score around based on your strengths and weaknesses to get the perfect score combination for you.