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Now that there are new versions of both of the main tests used for admissions to MBA programs — the GRE and the GMAT — many business school hopefuls are wondering what all these changes mean for their test scores. Moreover, how do GRE scores compare to GMAT scores? Is it possible to do GRE vs GMAT score conversions? These questions cannot be answered with a simple yes or no answer!
In this article, I’ll answer those questions and other common ones test-takers have about GRE vs. GMAT scores. We’ll discuss the differences between the GRE and GMAT scoring systems, GRE vs. GMAT percentile rankings, GRE and GMAT score validity, and much more.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- The GRE Scoring System vs. the GMAT Scoring System
- GRE vs. GMAT Score Conversions
- The Key to Comparing GRE and GMAT Scores
- GRE and GMAT Score Validity and Reporting
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s Next?
To start, let’s discuss some key differences between the scoring systems on the two exams.
The GRE Scoring System vs. the GMAT Scoring System
The GRE scoring system and the GMAT scoring system are very different. Each test has its own scoring algorithm and its own score scales. So, before we can understand how to compare or convert GRE to GMAT scores, we need to understand the two scoring systems.
Let’s start with the score ranges.
GRE Score Range vs. GMAT Score Range
On the GRE, the Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections are each scored in 1-point increments on a scale of 130 to 170. Those two section scores add up to your GRE total score, which thus is on a scale of 260-340. The Analytical Writing measure is scored separately in half-point increments on a scale of 0 to 6.
On the GMAT, all 3 test sections — Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights — are scored in 1-point increments on a scale of 60 to 90. Furthermore, all 3 sections factor equally into the total score, which is on a completely different scale, 205-805, and is given in 10-point increments.
This information is summarized for your reference in the GRE and GMAT score charts below.
GMAT Score Ranges
| Scoring Scale | Increments | |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 60-90 | 1 |
| Verbal Reasoning | 60-90 | 1 |
| Data Insights | 60-90 | 1 |
| Total Score | 205-805 | 10 |
GRE Score Ranges
| Scoring Scale | Increments | |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 130-170 | 1 |
| Verbal Reasoning | 130-170 | 1 |
| Analytical Writing | 0-6 | 0.5 |
| Total Score | 260-340 | 1 |
Now, let’s discuss the major implications of these differences.
Two Takes on the Total Score
In our discussion of score ranges, you may have noticed a big difference between how the two exams calculate the total score.
On the GRE, only Quant and Verbal make up the total score. Moreover, those two section scores are simply added together to produce a total score. In fact, ETS does not even provide score percentiles for GRE total scores. Percentile rankings are given only for each section score (Quant, Verbal, AWA). So, your GRE performance is really about your individual section scores; a “total score” does not provide new information.
The GMAT has a different take. Firstly, it isn’t just Quant and Verbal that factor into the total score; Data Insights does as well. Secondly, the total score is not just the sum of your scores in the 3 test sections. Rather, it’s calculated separately, on its own scale, taking into account your performance in each section. So, the GMAT total score really does stand on its own as another data point for adcoms to look at when assessing your test performance.
And, since the GMAT total score is calculated separately, it is associated with its own percentile ranking, unlike the GRE total score.
Because of these different takes on the total score, comparing your total score on the GRE with your total score on the GMAT doesn’t make much sense, most notably because Data Insights doesn’t factor into both scores. However, the need for some sort of useful comparison between the two test scores exists.
We’ll discuss soon how we can make valid GRE vs. GMAT score comparisons. First, let’s talk about some other differences influencing how scores are calculated on the tests.
KEY FACT:
The GRE total score is simply the sum of a test-taker’s Quant and Verbal scores. The GMAT total score is calculated separately and factors in all 3 test sections.
Computer Adaptivity: Section vs. Question Level
Both the GRE and the GMAT are computer-adaptive tests. However, they’re computer-adaptive in different ways.
The GRE is a section-adaptive test. At least, the Verbal and Quant sections are. The Analytical Writing section is not adaptive, as there is only 1 essay, and both the computer and a human score it.
Because the GRE is section-adaptive, your performance on the first Quant section determines the difficulty of the second Quant section. Likewise, your performance on the first Verbal section determines the difficulty of the second Verbal section.
So, if you answer many questions correctly in, say, the first Quant section, the second Quant section is more difficult overall. Conversely, if you answer many questions incorrectly in the first Quant section, the second Quant section is less difficult overall.
Importantly, there is no “cross-pollination” between the sections. So, your performance in Quant does not affect the difficulty level of Verbal, or vice versa.
The GMAT is a question-adaptive test. So, your performance on previous questions within a section influences the difficulty of the subsequent questions in that section. If you answer a question correctly, the next question in that section is slightly more difficult. If you answer a question incorrectly, the next question is slightly less difficult.
All of this matters because, on the GRE, you get “bonus points” for performing well enough to see a harder section. On the GMAT, correctly answering difficult questions drives your score higher than correctly answering easier questions.
KEY FACT:
The GRE is section-adaptive and the GMAT is question-adaptive.
Score Penalty for Missed Questions
Another difference in the scoring algorithms that the two tests use is that only the GMAT has a penalty for unanswered questions. On the GRE, points are not deducted from your score if you answer a question incorrectly or leave a question blank.
However, on the GMAT, there is a score penalty for not finishing a section. If you don’t answer all the questions in a section, your score will be penalized based on the number of questions left blank.
KEY FACT:
The GMAT penalizes your score if you leave questions unanswered. The GRE does not penalize unanswered questions or incorrect answers.
Now that we understand the major differences between GRE and GMAT scores, let’s explore how we can convert GRE scores to GMAT scores despite those differences.
GRE vs. GMAT Score Conversions
We’ve seen that the GRE and the GMAT have their own score scales and scoring algorithms. So, making 1:1 GRE vs. GMAT score comparisons is tough, if not impossible. Prior to 2017, ETS, the makers of the GRE, periodically published “score concordance tables.” The tables allowed individuals and B-school adcoms to convert from GRE to GMAT scores easily. In 2017, ETS discontinued the use of the tables, instead offering a conversion formula, which weighted the GRE’s two sections differently. However, the margins of error for both total score and section score conversion were quite large, making any conversion questionable. Since then, neither ETS nor GMAC, the makers of the GMAT, has published any information to assist with score conversion.
ETS’ Opinion About Conversions
You might wonder why a score conversion is problematic. First, ETS recommends treating GRE section scores separately, which is why no total GRE score percentile charts have been provided by ETS. In contrast, the GMAT total score is commonly used for admissions decisions. Second, while the two exams cover similar topics, the underlying frameworks of the two exams are different. Third, the inclusion of the GMAT’s Data Insights section adds an additional level of complexity to the already difficult task of converting from one score to the other. Finally, the underlying populations taking each test are quite different. (We’ll discuss this point shortly.).
At test prep websites and in blogs, you might see ETS’ GRE to GMAT conversion formula:
GMAT Total Score = -2081 + 6.4 * GRE Verbal Score + 10.6 * GRE Quant Score
Be aware that this formula was published well over 10 years ago, long before the major changes to the two exams–the GRE in September 2023 and the GMAT in November 2023. Additionally, the formula was created using data from only 472 examinees who took both exams in the period from 2011 to 2013. For these reasons, even if you read a blog or webpage that encourages its use, realize that the formula is out of date and is essentially useless.
TTP PRO TIP:
There is no magic formula that accurately converts GRE to GMAT scores.
What Does GMAC Say About Score Conversions?
So what does GMAC say about GRE to GMAT score conversion? The title of an article published in 2024 at mba.com says it all: GRE to GMAT Comparison: Why You Can’t Compare Scores. Historically, GMAC has held the belief that the apples-to-oranges comparison of the two exams is practically and statistically not recommended.
KEY FACT:
Valid conversion from GRE scores to GMAT scores is difficult if not impossible.
Nevertheless, is there a valid way of comparing GRE scores to GMAT scores? Let’s discuss this now.
The Key to Comparing GRE and GMAT Scores
Because most MBA programs accept both GRE and GMAT scores, it’s inevitable that B-school adcoms will be comparing GRE and GMAT scores. And the easiest way for them to do this for the Quant and Verbal sections of the two exams is by comparing percentiles
As we’ve already discussed, on either exam, your Quant and Verbal section scores will each be associated with a percentile ranking. Your score percentiles tell you how your performance stacks up against that of other recent test-takers. So, say you scored in the 96th percentile in Verbal on the GRE. That ranking would mean that you scored higher in Verbal than 96 percent of recent GRE test-takers scored.
Now, let’s take our example one step further. Because we have score percentiles for Quant and Verbal for both the GRE and the GMAT, we can look at which GMAT Verbal score is associated with the 96th percentile. This allows us to determine which GMAT score is equivalent to our GRE score. Again, the comparison won’t be perfect because there are some content differences between the tests’ “shared” sections, and the populations taking the two exams are different.
Nevertheless, B-school admissions officers acknowledge the importance of score percentiles in comparing GRE and GMAT scores. In fact, percentiles are important for GRE and GMAT score interpretation in general because they give greater meaning to scores.
So, let’s take a look at the current percentile rankings. We’ll start with the Quant section.
GRE vs. GMAT Percentiles: Quant
The following table contains the GRE and GMAT Quant score percentiles released in 2024.
ETS based the GRE percentiles on the performance of all people who took the GRE between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2023.
GMAC based the GMAT Quant Concordance Table on data from 866,664 tests administered from July 2017 to June 2022. Of course, this was before the major revision of the GMAT in November 2023. However, the material tested on both versions of the GMAT is similar, so GMAC had plenty of relevant performance data on which to base these percentiles.
| GRE Quant | GMAT Quant | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Percentile | Percentile | Score |
| 170 | 92 | 100 | 90 |
| 169 | 87 | 97 | 89 |
| 168 | 83 | 95 | 88 |
| 167 | 78 | 94 | 87 |
| 166 | 74 | 92 | 86 |
| 165 | 70 | 89 | 85 |
| 164 | 66 | 85 | 84 |
| 163 | 63 | 81 | 83 |
| 162 | 60 | 76 | 82 |
| 161 | 57 | 71 | 81 |
| 160 | 53 | 66 | 80 |
| 159 | 50 | 59 | 79 |
| 158 | 48 | 52 | 78 |
| 157 | 45 | 46 | 77 |
| 156 | 42 | 40 | 76 |
| 155 | 40 | 35 | 75 |
| 154 | 36 | 29 | 74 |
| 153 | 34 | 25 | 73 |
| 152 | 31 | 21 | 72 |
| 151 | 29 | 17 | 71 |
| 150 | 25 | 14 | 70 |
| 149 | 23 | 12 | 69 |
| 148 | 21 | 9 | 68 |
| 147 | 18 | 7 | 67 |
| 146 | 15 | 5 | 66 |
| 145 | 13 | 4 | 65 |
| 144 | 11 | 3 | 64 |
| 143 | 9 | 2 | 63 |
| 142 | 8 | 1 | 62 |
| 141 | 6 | 1 | 61 |
| 140 | 5 | 1 | 60 |
| 139 | 4 | ||
| 138 | 3 | ||
| 137 | 2 | ||
| 136 | 2 | ||
| 135 | 1 | ||
| 134 | 1 | ||
| 133 | 1 | ||
| 132 | |||
| 131 | |||
| 130 | |||
Looking at the table above, we can see that even for the highest possible Quant score on each test, the percentiles don’t exactly line up. So, what do we do?
Analysis
The highest possible GRE Quant score, 170, is associated with the 92nd percentile, meaning that 8% of test-takers earn that score or higher. However, the highest possible GMAT Quant score, 90, is associated with the 100th percentile, meaning that fewer than 1% of test-takers earn that score.
So, is a Q90 GMAT score equivalent to a GRE score of Q170? Not entirely. Based on those percentages, we can conclude that it’s somewhat tougher to earn the highest possible Quant score on the GMAT than it is on the GRE.
The same goes for the respective next-highest scores. A GMAT score of Q89 is associated with the 97th percentile. So, only 3% of test-takers earn that score or higher. However, on the GRE, a Q169 is associated with the 87th percentile. So, 13% of GRE test-takers earn that second-highest score or higher.
Nevertheless, in the eyes of MBA programs seeking to compare GRE test-takers with GMAT test-takers, we can assume that they’ll consider GMAT scores of Q89-Q90 roughly equivalent to GRE scores of Q169-Q170, as on either test, those scores would put someone in the respective highest percentiles of test-takers.
In some cases, we can see that score percentiles do line up exactly. For example, a GRE Quant score of 164 and a GMAT Quant score of 80 are both 66th percentile scores. So, it seems clear that adcoms would consider those scores roughly equivalent. However, we should remember that, overall, it’s somewhat harder to score high in Quant on the GMAT than on the GRE. So, MBA programs may take that difference in difficulty into account when doing GRE to GMAT score comparisons.
TTP PRO TIP:
MBA programs may take difficulty into account when comparing GRE and GMAT Quant scores.
GRE vs. GMAT Percentiles: Verbal
Let’s now compare Verbal score percentages.
ETS based the GRE percentiles on the performance of all people who took the GRE between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2023.
GMAC based the GMAT percentiles on data from 866,664 tests administered between July 2019 and June 2024.
| GRE Verbal | GMAT Verbal | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Percentile | Percentile | Score |
| 170 | 99 | 100 | 90 |
| 169 | 99 | 99 | 89 |
| 168 | 98 | 99 | 88 |
| 167 | 97 | 98 | 87 |
| 166 | 96 | 97 | 86 |
| 165 | 95 | 94 | 85 |
| 164 | 93 | 90 | 84 |
| 163 | 91 | 84 | 83 |
| 162 | 89 | 76 | 82 |
| 161 | 86 | 67 | 81 |
| 160 | 84 | 57 | 80 |
| 159 | 80 | 48 | 79 |
| 158 | 77 | 39 | 78 |
| 157 | 73 | 31 | 77 |
| 156 | 69 | 23 | 76 |
| 155 | 65 | 18 | 75 |
| 154 | 59 | 13 | 74 |
| 153 | 55 | 10 | 73 |
| 152 | 48 | 7 | 72 |
| 151 | 43 | 5 | 71 |
| 150 | 39 | 4 | 70 |
| 149 | 34 | 3 | 69 |
| 148 | 30 | 2 | 68 |
| 147 | 26 | 2 | 67 |
| 146 | 23 | 1 | 66 |
| 145 | 21 | 1 | 65 |
| 144 | 18 | 1 | 64 |
| 143 | 16 | 1 | 63 |
| 142 | 13 | 1 | 62 |
| 141 | 11 | 1 | 61 |
| 140 | 9 | 1 | 60 |
| 139 | 8 | ||
| 138 | 6 | ||
| 137 | 5 | ||
| 136 | 4 | ||
| 135 | 3 | ||
| 134 | 2 | ||
| 133 | 2 | ||
| 132 | 1 | ||
| 131 | 1 | ||
| 130 | |||
Analysis
At least at the higher end, the GRE and GMAT Verbal score percentiles line up a bit more closely than the Quant percentiles do. For example, we can see that the 6 highest Verbal scores on either test are ranked in roughly the top 5% of scores.
Again, in some cases, the score comparison is straightforward. For example, a GRE V158 is roughly equal to a GMAT V82, as both scores would land you in about the 76th percentile.
Here is a quick reference with some useful touchpoints:
| Verbal Score Percentiles | GRE | GMAT |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1%(99th percentile) | 169+ | 88+ |
| Top 2%(98th percentile) | 168+ | 87+ |
| Top 10% (~90th percentile) | 162-163 | 84 |
| Top 15% (~85th percentile) | 160-161 | 83 |
| Top 30% (70th percentile) | 156 | 81 |
| ~50th percentile | 152 | 79 |
Do keep in mind that even percentile comparisons between the GRE and the GMAT are very much an inexact science. Remember our earlier cautions about comparing apples to oranges. For those same reasons, comparison of percentile rankings must be done with caution. Even if two students share the same percentile rank, assuming that those two students are identical or even similar, may be in error.
How to Account for Differences Between the Exams
We know that there is no perfectly precise way to convert GRE scores to GMAT scores, though a comparison of percentiles certainly helps. So, how can you be sure that your test scores will be competitive against the scores of applicants taking the other exam?
Aside from using percentiles, a key way to see what types of GRE and GMAT scores MBA programs consider equivalent is to research the score requirements for GRE test takers and the score requirements for GMAT test takers at the programs you’re interested in.
Now, MBA programs don’t typically post exact score requirements. However, most do publish the average GRE scores and GRE score ranges and the average GMAT scores and GMAT score ranges of admitted students. You can find that information on the incoming class profile page on each program’s website.
That data will show you what GRE and GMAT scores are at the high end for a program, what scores are at the low end, and what scores are “average” for that program. Thus, you should be able to determine what scores will be considered competitive regardless of which test you take.
TTP PRO TIP:
You can obtain valuable test score data for schools that interest you by reading the incoming class profile page for those schools.
Now, let’s discuss one final detail: GRE and GMAT score validity and reporting policies.
GRE and GMAT Score Validity and Reporting
The GRE and GMAT have similar policies regarding test score validity and reporting. Below are some useful data points:
| GRE | GMAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Score Validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Unofficial ScoreAvailability | upon test completion | upon test completion |
| Official Score Availability | 8-10 days after test | typically 3-5 days after test(might be up to 20 days) |
| Score Reporting | – select 4 free recipients on test day after seeing unofficial score – additional score reports $40/each – recipients see only selected score(s) | – select 5 free recipients up to 48 hours after seeing unofficial score – additional score reports $35/each – recipients see only selected score(s) |
Note that in your official score report for the GMAT, you’ll receive detailed insights into your performance on the exam, including your accuracy and time management in the various sections. The GRE Diagnostic Service report is available about two weeks after your exam; it is accessible at your ETS account.
KEY FACT:
Both GRE and GMAT scores are valid for 5 years after your test date.
Key Takeaways
- The GRE and the GMAT have different scoring algorithms and score scales.
- The GRE is section-adaptive, while the GMAT is question-adaptive.
- The GMAT deducts points for unanswered questions. Conversely, the GRE does not deduct points if you answer a question incorrectly or leave a question blank.
- On the GRE, the total score is simply the sum of the Quant and Verbal section scores.
- On the GMAT, the Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights scores all factor equally into the total score, which is calculated on its own score scale.
- Score percentiles are provided for GRE section scores but not for GRE total scores. GMAT score percentiles are provided for both section scores and total scores.
- Score percentiles help in comparing GRE scores to GMAT scores for the Quant and Verbal sections.
- Both GRE and GMAT scores are valid for 5 years after your test date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the highest score on the GMAT?
The highest GMAT total score is 805. The highest Quant, Verbal, or Data Insights score is 90.
What is the highest score on the GRE?
The highest GRE Quant or Verbal score is 170. A 170 in both sections produces the highest total score possible, 340.
What is the impact of post-2023 GRE and GMAT scores on admissions to MBA programs?
Only time will tell how MBA programs perceive the post-2023 GRE and GMAT exams. However, for the time being, test scores continue to play an important role in distinguishing oneself among one’s peers in MBA applicant pools.
Additionally, keep in mind that these exams are periodically revised and updated to keep them as relevant as possible to both students and schools. So, we expect that many schools will continue to require, encourage, and scrutinize GRE and GMAT scores.
What’s Next?
Debating studying for the GRE vs. GMAT for MBA programs? This article comparing the GRE and the GMAT can help you decide which test to take.
Wondering how to improve your GRE and GMAT scores? Check out these high-scoring GRE strategies and these high-scoring GMAT strategies.
If you’re not sure what GRE score you need, read what may constitute a good GRE score for your particular situation. Similarly, read this article about what constitutes a good GMAT score.
