The GMAT Focus Edition features an updated score scale designed to provide a renewed emphasis on percentile rankings. This new scoring system reflects changes in the global test-taking population and allows schools to better differentiate candidate performance. While Focus Edition scores cannot be directly compared to previous GMAT scores, concordance tables enable equivalence between the two versions. By leveraging percentile data, admissions officers can contextualize applicants’ scores and make informed comparisons.

About GMAT Focus Edition Scores

The GMAT Focus Edition features a Total Score ranging from 205 to 805, with all scores ending in 5. This differs from the previous GMAT, which had scores from 200 to 800. The Focus Edition Total Score now incorporates all three test sections – Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights – equally weighted. Section scores range from 60 to 90.

The adjusted scale accounts for shifts in the diverse, worldwide pool of test takers. Over time, scores gravitated significantly, resulting in an uneven distribution. The recalibrated scale corrects this imbalance to better differentiate candidate abilities.

Key changes include:

• Total Score comprising all 3 sections
• Refined content focusing on data skills, critical thinking, and problem solving
• Updated scoring algorithm
• New Question Review & Edit feature impacting test behavior

Evolving the Score Scale

Modifying the GMAT Focus Edition scale reflects changes in test-taker demographics and abilities. As the population has grown more diverse and international, scores have skewed considerably. The new scale fixes this imbalance, enabling schools to better distinguish candidate performance.

Along with the recalibration, critical updates like basing the Total Score on all sections, honing content areas, updating the algorithm, and introducing review options distinguish the Focus Edition. These adjustments allow for precise, meaningful differentiation of modern applicants’ skills.

Interpreting GMAT Focus Edition Scores

With the Focus Edition’s 205-805 score range differing from the GMAT’s 200-800, the scores cannot directly equate. Despite appearing similar, scores like 600 and 605 represent vastly different capabilities on separate skills.

To meaningfully compare candidates’ competitiveness, utilize percentile rankings. These indicate the percentage of test takers a candidate outperformed. A 75th percentile means the candidate scored better than 75% of peers.

Consult the percentile distribution tables to contextualize Focus Edition scores relative to previous GMAT scores. While the scores themselves cannot directly contrast due to different scales, the percentiles effectively link them.

Percentile Rankings

Percentiles rank candidates by indicating the percentage they scored better than. A 90th percentile means the candidate outperformed 90% of peers. Admissions officers can reference the following percentile distribution tables to compare Focus Edition scores to previous GMAT scores.

Though the score scales differ, the percentiles successfully link Focus Edition and GMAT scores for comparison. By leveraging percentiles, schools gain insight into applicants’ competitiveness.

Score Concordance

With its 205-805 scale, the Focus Edition’s scores do not directly equate to the GMAT’s 200-800 range. Since the scales are not identical, the scores cannot correspond.

While 600 and 605 appear similar, they represent vastly different levels of performance targeting updated skills. Comparing them directly would prove meaningless.

Conclusion

The GMAT Focus Edition features a renewed score scale designed to enhance differentiation of modern test-takers’ abilities. While these updated scores cannot directly equate to previous GMAT scores, admissions officers can leverage percentile rankings to make meaningful comparisons. By contextualizing scores into percentiles, schools gain insight into applicants’ competitiveness.

• Clever Academy GMAT Test Preparation Courses – available on-campus in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
• Vietdemy GMAT e-Focus Complete Course – available online, self-paced, 24/7 lifetime access