Section scores range from 60 to 90 and each carries equal weight. Percentile rankings come from GMAC's official tables. The total is derived using the published 205–805 scaling relationship — GMAC's live exam applies small adaptive adjustments, so treat the result as an estimate within roughly one 10-point step of your official report.
Every GMAT Focus total ends in a 5 and moves in 10-point steps, so entries are snapped to the nearest valid score. Percentiles are GMAC's official published values.
The GMAT Focus Edition scores you from 205 to 805 in 10-point increments, built from three equally weighted sections — Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights — each scored 60 to 90. The mean total score is 554.67, which sits at roughly the 48th percentile. A 645 is the 86.7th percentile and is the closest equivalent to the old 700. A 685 is the 95.8th percentile, equivalent to about a 730. The maximum, 805, requires a perfect 90 on all three sections, and anything from 735 up is already the 100th percentile (GMAC score concordance tables, published July 2025).
How the GMAT Focus total score is calculated
Your three section scores are added together and mapped linearly onto the 205–805 scale. Because each section spans 30 scaled points (60 to 90) and all three are weighted equally, the combined 90-point section range stretches across the 600-point total range:
Total = (Quant + Verbal + Data Insights − 180) × 20/3 + 205
That works out to roughly 6.7 total-score points for every scaled section point. The relationship holds at the anchors: three 60s produce the 205 floor, three 85s produce 705, and three 90s produce the 805 ceiling. Applying it to GMAC's published section means (Quant 78.06, Verbal 79.34, Data Insights 75.03) returns 554.5 — within a fraction of a point of the published mean total of 554.67.
One practical consequence: since every section point is worth about 6.7 total points, and the sections have very different percentile curves, the cheapest route to a higher total is usually your weakest section rather than your strongest. Moving Verbal from 78 to 81 gains you 20 total-score points and jumps you from the 38th to the 66th percentile in that section.
GMAT Focus score chart: full percentile table (205–805)
GMAT Focus percentiles are published annually by GMAC and tell you what share of test takers you outperformed. The table below lists every valid GMAT Focus total score, its official percentile ranking, and the corresponding score on the retired GMAT 10th Edition. Highlighted rows are the scores most often used as admissions benchmarks.
GMAT Focus Edition total score percentiles — GMAC, published July 2025 (data period July 2020 – June 2025)
| Focus score | Percentile | Old GMAT (200–800) |
|---|---|---|
| 805 | 100% | 800–790 |
| 795 | 100% | 790 |
| 785 | 100% | 790–780 |
| 775 | 100% | 780 |
| 765 | 99.9% | 780 |
| 755 | 99.9% | 780–770 |
| 745 | 99.7% | 770 |
| 735 | 99.5% | 770–760 |
| 725 | 99.1% | 760 |
| 715 | 98.8% | 760–750 |
| 705 | 98% | 750 |
| 695 | 97.4% | 750–740 |
| 685 | 95.8% | 740–730 |
| 675 | 94.8% | 730–720 |
| 665 | 92.1% | 720–710 |
| 655 | 90.5% | 710–700 |
| 645 | 86.7% | 700–690 |
| 635 | 81.9% | 690–680 |
| 625 | 79.2% | 680 |
| 615 | 76.4% | 680–650 |
| 605 | 70.3% | 650 |
| 595 | 67.1% | 650–640 |
| 585 | 60.6% | 640–620 |
| 575 | 57.4% | 620–610 |
| 565 | 50.9% | 610–600 |
| 555 | 47.8% | 600–580 |
| 545 | 41.9% | 580–570 |
| 535 | 39.2% | 570–560 |
| 525 | 34% | 560–550 |
| 515 | 31.5% | 550–530 |
| 505 | 27.1% | 530 |
| 495 | 25.1% | 530–500 |
| 485 | 21.3% | 500–490 |
| 475 | 19.7% | 490–470 |
| 465 | 16.6% | 470–460 |
| 455 | 15.2% | 460–450 |
| 445 | 12.7% | 450–440 |
| 435 | 11.6% | 440–410 |
| 425 | 9.6% | 410–400 |
| 415 | 8.7% | 400–380 |
| 405 | 7.1% | 380–370 |
| 395 | 6.4% | 370–350 |
| 385 | 5.2% | 350 |
| 375 | 4.7% | 350–320 |
| 365 | 3.8% | 320–310 |
| 355 | 3.4% | 310–300 |
| 345 | 2.7% | 300–280 |
| 335 | 2.4% | 280–250 |
| 325 | 1.9% | 250 |
| 315 | 1.7% | 250–240 |
| 305 | 1.3% | 240–230 |
| 295 | 1.1% | 230–220 |
| 285 | 0.8% | 220–210 |
| 275 | 0.7% | 210 |
| 265 | 0.5% | 210 |
| 255 | 0.4% | 210–200 |
| 245 | 0.3% | 200 |
| 235 | 0.3% | 200 |
| 225 | 0.2% | 200 |
| 215 | 0.2% | 200 |
| 205 | 0.1% | 200 |
Source: GMAC GMAT Score Concordance Table. Percentiles are rounded to the nearest tenth and are updated annually by GMAC in the third quarter of each year.
GMAT Focus vs classic GMAT: what your score converts to
The two scales cannot be converted arithmetically. GMAC linked them by percentile, which is why the gap between a Focus score and its classic equivalent widens as you move up the scale — about 45 points at the median, but 55 at the top end. These are the conversions that matter most when you are reading a school's reported class profile:
Most-cited conversions between the two scales
| Old GMAT | GMAT Focus | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 760 | 715 | 98.8% |
| 750 | 705 | 98.0% |
| 740 | 695 | 97.4% |
| 730 | 685 | 95.8% |
| 720 | 675 | 94.8% |
| 710 | 665 | 92.1% |
| 700 | 645–655 | 86.7–90.5% |
| 690 | 635–645 | 81.9–86.7% |
| 680 | 615–635 | 76.4–81.9% |
| 650 | 595–615 | 67.1–76.4% |
| 600 | 555–565 | 47.8–50.9% |
| 550 | 515–525 | 31.5–34.0% |
Where a single classic score maps to a range of Focus scores, that reflects differences in score bin sizes between the two scales rather than any ambiguity in the data.
Why this matters for your applications. Many published class profiles and rankings still quote classic-scale medians. If a school reports a 730 median, the Focus equivalent is 685 — not 730 minus some fixed amount. Comparing your Focus score directly against a classic-scale median will make a competitive score look far weaker than it is. For a deeper breakdown of what changed between the two exams, see our guide to what the GMAT Focus Edition is.
Section percentiles: Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights
All three sections share the same 60–90 scale, but their percentile curves are very different. A 78 in Quant is the 50th percentile; a 78 in Verbal is the 38th. Knowing which curve you are on tells you where an extra point buys the most.
Quantitative Reasoning
| Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 90 | 100% |
| 89 | 97% |
| 88 | 96% |
| 87 | 94% |
| 86 | 91% |
| 85 | 88% |
| 84 | 85% |
| 83 | 80% |
| 82 | 75% |
| 81 | 70% |
| 80 | 64% |
| 79 | 57% |
| 78 | 50% |
| 77 | 43% |
| 76 | 37% |
| 75 | 32% |
| 74 | 26% |
| 73 | 22% |
| 72 | 19% |
| 71 | 15% |
| 70 | 13% |
| 69 | 10% |
| 68 | 8% |
| 67 | 6% |
| 66 | 5% |
| 65 | 4% |
| 64 | 3% |
| 63 | 2% |
| 62 | 2% |
| 61 | 1% |
| 60 | 1% |
Verbal Reasoning
| Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 90 | 100% |
| 89 | 99% |
| 88 | 99% |
| 87 | 98% |
| 86 | 96% |
| 85 | 94% |
| 84 | 89% |
| 83 | 83% |
| 82 | 74% |
| 81 | 66% |
| 80 | 56% |
| 79 | 47% |
| 78 | 38% |
| 77 | 30% |
| 76 | 23% |
| 75 | 18% |
| 74 | 14% |
| 73 | 10% |
| 72 | 8% |
| 71 | 6% |
| 70 | 4% |
| 69 | 3% |
| 68 | 3% |
| 67 | 2% |
| 66 | 2% |
| 65 | 1% |
| 64 | 1% |
| 63 | 1% |
| 62 | 1% |
| 61 | 1% |
| 60 | 1% |
Data Insights
| Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 90 | 100% |
| 89 | 100% |
| 88 | 99% |
| 87 | 99% |
| 86 | 99% |
| 85 | 98% |
| 84 | 97% |
| 83 | 95% |
| 82 | 93% |
| 81 | 89% |
| 80 | 83% |
| 79 | 76% |
| 78 | 69% |
| 77 | 62% |
| 76 | 53% |
| 75 | 47% |
| 74 | 41% |
| 73 | 35% |
| 72 | 29% |
| 71 | 25% |
| 70 | 21% |
| 69 | 17% |
| 68 | 14% |
| 67 | 12% |
| 66 | 10% |
| 65 | 8% |
| 64 | 7% |
| 63 | 6% |
| 62 | 5% |
| 61 | 4% |
| 60 | 4% |
Section percentile rankings reflect GMAC's 2020–2025 data release (approximately 531,400 exams per section). Verbal has the tightest distribution — a standard deviation of just 4.75 — which is why small Verbal gains move your percentile so sharply.
What is a good GMAT Focus score?
A good score is the one that stops the admissions committee from asking questions about your academic readiness. In practice that means landing at or above your target school's median once you have converted it to the Focus scale.
Median-and-above at every M7 program. Removes the test as a question mark entirely.
Competitive everywhere, including Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton.
The new 700. At or near the median for most top-15 programs.
Competitive for strong regional programs and part-time MBAs.
Around the national median. Needs offsetting application strengths.
Two caveats worth internalizing. First, the scale compresses badly at the top: moving from 655 to 705 takes you from the 91st to the 98th percentile, while the same 50-point gain from 505 to 555 moves you from the 27th to the 48th. Points get dramatically more expensive as you climb. Second, the standard error of measurement on the total score is roughly 30–40 points, so a 645 and a 665 are not meaningfully different performances. Retaking to chase a 20-point gain is rarely a good use of a testing slot.
Frequently asked questions
What percentile is a 645 on the GMAT Focus Edition?
A 645 is the 86.7th percentile, meaning you scored higher than roughly 87% of test takers. It maps to a 690–700 on the old GMAT 10th Edition scale, which is why a 645 is widely described as "the new 700."
What percentile is a 685 on the GMAT Focus Edition?
A 685 is the 95.8th percentile — the top 5% of all test takers. It corresponds to a 730–740 on the classic 200–800 scale and is at or above the median for every M7 program.
What percentile is a 695 GMAT Focus score?
A 695 is the 97.4th percentile, equivalent to a 740–750 classic GMAT. Only about 2.6% of test takers score higher.
What is the highest possible GMAT score?
The maximum GMAT Focus Edition total score is 805, achieved with a perfect 90 on all three sections. On the retired 10th Edition the maximum was 800. Anything from 735 upward already sits at the 100th percentile.
What are the total marks in the GMAT?
The GMAT Focus Edition total score runs from 205 to 805 in 10-point increments, and every total ends in a 5. Each of the three sections — Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights — is scored from 60 to 90 in 1-point increments, and all three carry equal weight.
How is the GMAT Focus total score calculated from section scores?
The three section scores are summed and mapped linearly onto the 205–805 scale: Total = (Q + V + DI − 180) × 20/3 + 205, rounded to the nearest valid 10-point step. Because each section spans 30 points and all three are weighted equally, one scaled section point is worth about 6.7 total-score points.
How do I convert a GMAT Focus score to the old GMAT score?
Use GMAC's official concordance table, reproduced in full above. The mapping is percentile-based rather than arithmetic — a 645 Focus equals roughly a 700 classic, a 685 equals about a 730, and a 705 equals about a 750. Subtracting a fixed number of points does not work.
Is the GMAT Focus Edition easier than the old GMAT?
Neither is easier. GMAC anchored the Focus Edition to the same underlying percentile distribution, so a given percentile represents the same relative performance on both exams. The scale simply shifted. What did change is the content: Sentence Correction and the essay were removed, Data Insights was added, and the exam is now 2 hours 15 minutes.
What is a good GMAT Focus score?
It depends on your target programs. A 645 (87th percentile) is competitive at most top-25 schools. A 685 (96th percentile) is competitive everywhere, including M7 programs. Below 605 you will generally need strong offsetting strengths elsewhere in the application.
How long are GMAT scores valid?
GMAT scores are valid for five years from your test date. Percentile rankings are refreshed annually by GMAC in the third quarter, so your scaled score stays fixed while the percentile attached to it can shift slightly year to year.
Knowing your percentile is the easy part. Knowing whether to retake, which section to attack, and how to position a score that sits just under a school's median is where applications are won. MBA House has coached 2,000+ candidates into top programs and helped secure more than $90M in scholarships. Book a free strategy call and we will map your score against your target list, or sit in on a free GMAT class before you commit to anything.