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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 shorter GRE scores compare to GMAT Focus scores? Is it possible to do shorter GRE to GMAT Focus score conversions?
In this article, I’ll answer those questions and other common ones test-takers have about shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus 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
- Shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Score Comparisons
- 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 computer algorithm and its own score scales. So, before we can understand how to compare or convert shorter GRE to GMAT Focus scores, we need to understand the two scoring systems.
Let’s start with the score ranges.
GRE Score Range vs. GMAT Focus 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. Analytical Writing is scored separately (in part by a human) in half-point increments on a scale of 0 to 6.
On the GMAT Focus, 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 Focus 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 one of 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 Focus 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 Focus 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 Focus total score is calculated separately, it is associated with a 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 Focus doesn’t make much sense, most notably because Data Insights is not part of both scores.
We’ll discuss soon how we can make valuable shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus 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 Focus total score is calculated separately and factors in all 3 test sections.
Computer Adaptivity: Section vs. Question Level
Both the GRE and the GMAT Focus 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 Focus Edition 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.
Furthermore, there is some crossover. For example, if you perform well on prior sections, the question you start off with in a subsequent section may be on the more difficult side, rather than a medium-level question, which is what you start with in your first section.
All of this matters because, on the GRE, you get “bonus points” for performing well enough to see a harder section. On the GMAT Focus, correctly answering difficult questions drives your score higher than correctly answering easier questions.
Score Penalty for Missed Questions
Another difference in the scoring algorithms that the two tests use is that only the GMAT Focus has a penalty for missed 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 Focus, 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 Focus 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 Focus scores, let’s explore how we can convert shorter GRE scores to GMAT Focus scores despite those differences.
Shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus Score Comparisons
We’ve already seen that the GRE and GMAT Focus have their own score scales and computer algorithms. (And let’s not forget, each has some unique content.) So, making 1:1 shorter GRE vs. GMAT Focus score comparisons is tough, particularly for total scores. After all, Data Insights factors into the GMAT Focus total score along with Quant and Verbal, while the GRE total score is simply the sum of your Quant and Verbal scores. So, comparing shorter GRE to GMAT Focus scores is somewhat like comparing apples to oranges in that respect.
Even before the GMAT Focus, GRE to GMAT score conversions were always an imperfect science. However, for the standard GMAT, ETS does offer a comparison tool that provides GRE to GMAT score conversions. So, if you were wondering, “What is a 700 GMAT score on the GRE?,” you could enter in different GRE Quant and Verbal section scores to see what would, by ETS’s estimation, equate to a 700 on the GMAT. (Incidentally, it’s GRE V165/Q163, or 328. Note, however, that 328 via a V164/Q164 equates to 710 on the GMAT. So again, for the GRE, section scores are more telling.)
Now, GMAC does not agree that GRE to GMAT score conversions are possible. And, ETS acknowledges a 50-point margin of error for total score conversions and a 6-point margin of error for section score conversions — pretty significant.
ETS has not yet released a comparison tool for the shorter GRE and GMAT Focus. Moreover, because of Data Insights on the GMAT Focus, we might expect such conversions for total scores to be associated with an even greater margin of error.
Nevertheless, converting shorter GRE scores to GMAT Focus Edition scores is possible in terms of Quant and Verbal section scores. Let’s discuss how.
The Key to Comparing Shorter GRE and GMAT Focus Edition Scores
Because most MBA programs accept both GRE and GMAT scores, it’s inevitable that B-school adcoms will be comparing shorter GRE and GMAT Focus Edition scores. And at least for the Quant and Verbal sections of the two exams, there is a powerful tool to make those comparisons: 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 shorter GRE and the GMAT Focus, we can look at which GMAT Focus Verbal score is associated with the 96th percentile in order to determine what GMAT Focus score is equivalent to our shorter GRE score. Again, the comparison won’t be perfect, because there are some content differences between the tests’ “shared” sections.
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 and do some score conversions. We’ll start with the Quant section.
GRE vs. GMAT Percentiles: Quant
The following table contains the GRE and GMAT Focus Quant score percentiles released in 2023.
ETS based the GRE percentiles on the performance of all people who took the GRE between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2022.
GMAC based the GMAT Focus percentiles on data from 866,664 tests administered from July 2017 to June 2022. Of course, the GMAT Focus was not available during that time. However, all of the question types on the GMAT Focus appear on the standard GMAT and the Executive Assessment. So, GMAC had plenty of relevant performance data on which to base these percentiles.
| GRE Quant | GMAT Focus Quant | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Percentile | Percentile | Score |
| 170 | 94 | 100 | 90 |
| 169 | 91 | 97 | 89 |
| 168 | 87 | 95 | 88 |
| 167 | 83 | 94 | 87 |
| 166 | 80 | 92 | 86 |
| 165 | 76 | 89 | 85 |
| 164 | 73 | 85 | 84 |
| 163 | 70 | 81 | 83 |
| 162 | 68 | 76 | 82 |
| 161 | 65 | 71 | 81 |
| 160 | 61 | 66 | 80 |
| 159 | 58 | 59 | 79 |
| 158 | 55 | 52 | 78 |
| 157 | 52 | 46 | 77 |
| 156 | 49 | 40 | 76 |
| 155 | 46 | 35 | 75 |
| 154 | 42 | 29 | 74 |
| 153 | 39 | 25 | 73 |
| 152 | 36 | 21 | 72 |
| 151 | 33 | 17 | 71 |
| 150 | 30 | 14 | 70 |
| 149 | 27 | 12 | 69 |
| 148 | 24 | 9 | 68 |
| 147 | 21 | 7 | 67 |
| 146 | 18 | 5 | 66 |
| 145 | 15 | 4 | 65 |
| 144 | 13 | 3 | 64 |
| 143 | 11 | 2 | 63 |
| 142 | 9 | 1 | 62 |
| 141 | 7 | 1 | 61 |
| 140 | 6 | 1 | 60 |
| 139 | 5 | ||
| 138 | 4 | ||
| 137 | 3 | ||
| 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 94th percentile, meaning that 6% of test-takers earn that score. However, the highest possible GMAT Focus Quant score, 90, is associated with the 100th percentile, meaning that less than 1% of test-takers earn that score.
So, is a Q90 GMAT Focus score equivalent to a shorter 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 Focus than it is on the shorter GRE.
The same goes for the respective next highest scores. A Focus score of Q89 is associated with the 97th percentile. So, only 3% of Focus test-takers earn that score. However, on the GRE, a Q169 is associated with the 91st percentile. So, 9% of GRE test-takers earn that second-highest score.
Nevertheless, in the eyes of MBA programs seeking to compare GRE test-takers with GMAT Focus test-takers, we can safely assume that they’ll consider Focus scores of Q89-Q90
roughly equivalent to GRE scores of Q169-Q170, as on either test, those scores would put someone roughly in the top 10% of test-takers.
In some cases, we can see that score percentiles do line up exactly. For example, a GRE Quant score of 165 and a GMAT Focus Quant score of 82 are both 76th 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 Focus than on the GRE. So, MBA programs may take that difference in difficulty into account when doing GRE to GMAT score conversions.
TTP PRO TIP:
MBA programs may take difficulty into account when doing GRE to GMAT Focus Quant score conversions.
GRE vs. GMAT Percentiles: Verbal
Again, the following table contains the GRE and GMAT Focus Verbal score percentiles released in 2023.
ETS based the GRE percentiles on the performance of all people who took the GRE between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2022.
GMAC based the GMAT Focus percentiles on data from 866,664 tests administered from July 2017 to June 2022.
| GREVerbal | GMAT FocusVerbal | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Percentile | Percentile | Score |
| 170 | 99 | 100 | 90 |
| 169 | 99 | 100 | 89 |
| 168 | 98 | 99 | 88 |
| 167 | 97 | 99 | 87 |
| 166 | 96 | 98 | 86 |
| 165 | 95 | 96 | 85 |
| 164 | 94 | 91 | 84 |
| 163 | 92 | 86 | 83 |
| 162 | 89 | 79 | 82 |
| 161 | 87 | 70 | 81 |
| 160 | 84 | 60 | 80 |
| 159 | 81 | 51 | 79 |
| 158 | 77 | 42 | 78 |
| 157 | 73 | 33 | 77 |
| 156 | 70 | 25 | 76 |
| 155 | 65 | 19 | 75 |
| 154 | 60 | 14 | 74 |
| 153 | 56 | 11 | 73 |
| 152 | 50 | 8 | 72 |
| 151 | 46 | 5 | 71 |
| 150 | 41 | 4 | 70 |
| 149 | 36 | 3 | 69 |
| 148 | 32 | 2 | 68 |
| 147 | 29 | 2 | 67 |
| 146 | 25 | 1 | 66 |
| 145 | 22 | 1 | 65 |
| 144 | 19 | 1 | 64 |
| 143 | 17 | 1 | 63 |
| 142 | 15 | 1 | 62 |
| 141 | 12 | 1 | 61 |
| 140 | 10 | 0 | 60 |
| 139 | 9 | ||
| 138 | 7 | ||
| 137 | 6 | ||
| 136 | 5 | ||
| 135 | 4 | ||
| 134 | 3 | ||
| 133 | 2 | ||
| 132 | 2 | ||
| 131 | 1 | ||
| 130 | |||
Analysis
At least at the higher end, the GRE and GMAT Focus 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 conversion is straightforward. For example, a GRE V156 is basically equivalent to a GMAT Focus V81, as both scores would land you in the 70th percentile.
But even when percentiles don’t line up exactly, we can still make useful rough equivalencies. For example, we could say that a GRE V162 or V163 (89th-92nd percentile) is roughly equivalent to a GMAT Focus V84 (91st percentile).
Here is a quick reference with some useful touchpoints:
| Verbal Score Percentiles | GRE | GMAT Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1%(99th percentile) | 169+ | 87+ |
| Top 2%(98th percentile) | 168+ | 86+ |
| Top 10% (~90th percentile) | 162-163 | 84 |
| Top 15% (~85th percentile) | 160-161 | 83 |
| Top 30% (70th percentile) | 156 | 81 |
| ~50th percentile | 152 | 79 |
How to Account for Differences Between the Exams
We know that there is no perfectly precise way to convert shorter GRE to GMAT Focus scores, though percentiles certainly help. 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 “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 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.
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 Focus have similar policies regarding test score validity and reporting. Below are some useful data points:
| GRE | GMAT Focus | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Score Validity | 5 years | 5 years | |
| Unofficial ScoreAvailability | upon test completion | upon test completion | |
| Official Score Availability | 8-10 days after test | typically 7 days after test(may be up to 20 days) | |
| Score Reporting | – select 4 free recipients on test day after seeing unofficial score – additional score reports $30/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 | |
Note that in your official score report for the GMAT Focus, you’ll receive detailed insights into your performance on the exam, including your accuracy and time-management in the various sections. Your GRE official score report will not contain such data.
KEY FACT:
Both GRE and GMAT Focus scores are valid for 5 years after your test date.
Key Takeaways
- The shorter GRE and the GMAT Focus have different scoring algorithms and score scales.
- The GRE is section-adaptive, while the GMAT Focus is question-adaptive.
- The GMAT Focus 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 Focus, Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights 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 Focus score percentiles are provided for both section and total scores.
- Score percentiles help convert shorter GRE scores to GMAT Focus scores for the Quant and Verbal sections.
- Both GRE and GMAT Focus scores are valid for 5 years after your test date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the highest score on the GMAT Focus Edition?
The highest GMAT Focus total score is 805. The highest Quant or Verbal score is 90.
What is the highest score on the shorter 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 new GRE and GMAT scores on admissions to MBA programs?
Only time will tell how MBA programs perceive the new 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 in order 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 shorter GRE and GMAT Focus can help you decide which test to take.
Wondering how to improve GRE and GMAT scores? Check out these high scoring GRE strategies and these high scoring GMAT strategies.
