One of the first milestones for students planning to study MBA or Master’s in Management abroad is taking the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). But once the test is over, many students feel confused about what their scores actually mean.
“How is the GMAT scored?”
“What are percentiles?”
“Do my AWA and IR sections even matter?”
At Mindverse Research Academy, we guide students through every step of the GMAT preparation and score analysis process. In this blog, we’ll help you clearly understand how GMAT scores and percentiles work, what counts as a good score, and how to interpret your results to target your dream business schools.
The GMAT total score ranges from 200 to 800, in increments of 10. Your overall score is calculated based on your performance in the Quantitative and Verbal sections, while the other two sections — Integrated Reasoning (IR) and Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) — are scored separately.
The GMAT measures your readiness for a graduate business degree (like an MBA or MIM) and is a critical part of the admissions process for top business schools around the world, including those in the UK, France, Ireland, and Australia.
Generally, scores below 400 are considered weak, while most successful applicants fall between 600 and 750+.
The GMAT consists of four sections, each with its own scoring range:
| GMAT Section | Score Range |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Reasoning | 6 – 51 |
| Verbal Reasoning | 6 – 51 |
| Integrated Reasoning (IR) | 1 – 8 |
| Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) | 0 – 6 |
Your total GMAT score (200–800) is derived only from the Quantitative and Verbal sections, but business schools often look at all four scores.
Every GMAT score also comes with a percentile ranking. A percentile shows how you performed compared to other test-takers.
For example:
If you scored in the 90th percentile, it means you performed better than 90% of all GMAT test-takers.
The higher your percentile, the more competitive your profile appears to business schools.
Here’s a quick view of total GMAT scores and their approximate percentile rankings:
| GMAT Score | Percentile | GMAT Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 760–800 | 99% | 520 | 31% |
| 740 | 97% | 500 | 27% |
| 720 | 94% | 480 | 23% |
| 700 | 88% | 460 | 18% |
| 680 | 82% | 440 | 15% |
| 650 | 73% | 410 | 11% |
| 620 | 62% | 380 | 8% |
| 600 | 56% | 350 | 6% |
| 550 | 39% | 300 | 4% |
A score of 700+ (around the 88th percentile) is considered excellent for most top global business schools.
The Quantitative section tests your mathematical and analytical skills and is scored between 6 and 51.
| Quant Score | Percentile | Quant Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 96% | 35 | 26% |
| 50 | 85% | 30 | 17% |
| 49 | 74% | 25 | 10% |
| 47 | 61% | 20 | 6% |
A Quant score of 49–51 is considered strong for competitive programs in Finance, Analytics, or STEM-related MBAs.
The Verbal section assesses reading comprehension, grammar, and critical reasoning skills.
| Verbal Score | Percentile | Verbal Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44–51 | 99% | 25 | 39% |
| 40 | 90% | 20 | 23% |
| 35 | 76% | 15 | 10% |
| 30 | 58% | 10 | 3% |
A balanced Verbal and Quant score often leads to a higher total GMAT score than excelling in only one section.
The Integrated Reasoning section (score range 1–8) evaluates your ability to interpret and analyze data.
| IR Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 8 | 92% |
| 7 | 82% |
| 6 | 68% |
| 5 | 52% |
| 4 | 35% |
Although IR is not included in your total GMAT score, many schools (especially European ones) still consider it important because it reflects your data interpretation and decision-making skills.
The AWA section measures your ability to evaluate an argument and express your thoughts in writing. It is scored from 0–6, in half-point increments.
| AWA Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 6 | 88% |
| 5 | 53% |
| 4 | 17% |
| 3 | 4% |
An AWA score of 4.5 or higher is usually good enough for most business schools.
Your percentile shows how many students scored below you.
You get separate percentiles for Quant, Verbal, IR, and AWA.
The total score percentile depends only on Quant + Verbal.
A higher percentile = better chance at top global business schools.
Conclusion
Understanding your GMAT scores and percentiles is the first step toward building a strong application for your dream business school. It’s not just about your total score — it’s about knowing where you stand, how to improve strategically, and how to align your GMAT results with your target programs.