Ask the Test Maker

I think that Rebecca means that a quantitative verbal combination above 50,44 places a test-taker well within the 99th percentile. I was under the impression that the highest possible section score is currently 51, though higher section scores were possible long ago.

I have always found it interesting that 6 verbal section scores correspond to the 99th percentile, but that a 99th percentile quantitative score no longer not exists. That's probably how you should think about section scores above 51: currently, they are not awarded, even if a test-taker answers every question correctly.

I do not think it would be possible to get anything above 51 if the max. you can get in GMAT PREP (By answering all the questions correctly) is a 51. If a score above 51 were possible then either the computer algorithm is different on the real test as compared to GMAT PREP or a score of 51+ is dependent on the type of questions thrown to you, and since those are not in control of the test taker the only difference between a person who get all the questions right and scores a 51 and another who scores a 51+ with all the questions correct would be mere chance (where the computer threw out slightly tougher questions to the second test taker) which seems hard to believe...

I think that Rebecca means that a quantitative verbal combination above 50,44 places a test-taker well within the 99th percentile.

Much lower individual score (In q for example) can propel you towards a 99th percentile range... Given that a 760 means 99th percentile here are some ways to achieve it :

- Q43 , V51
- Q48 , V46
- Q45 , V48

You can find a compilation of various overall scores here :

https://gmathints.com/gmat-info/gmatscores

What I understood is that a combination Q V above 50 44 will place a test-taker well within the 99th percentile (GMAT 760+) (such a combination is a sufficient condition for a 760+ GMAT score). Other combinations will do as well, as you correctly noted.

What is interesting is that the Q Percentile keeps on getting better (More people scoring the highest possible 51.) and the Verbal percentile reaches a 90th percentile at just 40. Is it because more international participation in the GMAT or just due to the fact that many people are spending more time proportionally in quant when compared to the verbal ?

Hi Ron,

I asked this question last week to Dr.Rudner during the GMAC Testprep Summit in India.

The answer was this is a legacy issue i.e. having a scale upto 60. The initial plan was to use the scale for future testing purpose. However the current scale gives a fairly accurate measure of performance they will not be using it in the future.

The lower end of the scale was inadvertently mentioned as 11 in his own blog. So the range will continue to be between 6 and 51.

Arun