What is a good GMAT Focus score for top MBA?

Median admit GMAT Focus scores at top global MBA programs (2024-2025 admissions): Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Wharton: 735 (~99th percentile). Booth Chicago: 725. Columbia, Kellogg, MIT Sloan: 715-725. INSEAD, LBS, IIM Ahmedabad / Bangalore: 705. ISB Hyderabad: 695. Tuck, NYU Stern, Yale SOM, IIM Calcutta: 685. A score 10+ points above the program median makes you GMAT-competitive. A score within 20 points below median puts you in the competitive band — your overall profile (work experience, GPA, essays, recommendations) needs to compensate. Below median − 20 puts you in the long-shot band on the GMAT dimension. Important: a high GMAT alone does NOT guarantee admission. Top programs admit holistically — a 680 with stellar work experience often beats a 770 with a thin profile.

GMAT Focus vs old GMAT — what's the difference?

The legacy GMAT was scored 200-800 (in 10-point increments); GMAT Focus Edition (launched 7 November 2023) is scored 205-805. The scales differ but percentile-equivalent — a 645 Focus ≈ a 700 legacy (both ~85th percentile), and a 735 Focus ≈ a 750 legacy (both ~99th percentile). Other key differences: Focus is shorter (2h 15m vs 3h 7m). The AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment / essay) is removed. Integrated Reasoning is folded into the new Data Insights section. Old GMAT had AWA + Quant + Verbal + IR — the AWA wasn't part of the total. Focus includes ALL 3 sections (Quant + Verbal + Data Insights) in the total score. The Quant section is shorter (21 vs 31 questions) and Data Sufficiency questions moved from Quant to Data Insights. Most business schools accept BOTH formats through 2026 admissions cycles, with Focus-only intake starting at most programs from 2026-2027.

What is the Data Insights section?

Data Insights is the new third section of the GMAT Focus Edition — 20 questions, 45 minutes, scored 60-90, weighted equally with Quantitative and Verbal. It replaces the legacy GMAT's standalone Integrated Reasoning section and absorbs all Data Sufficiency questions (which used to be in the Quant section). Data Insights tests your ability to interpret and analyze data across multiple sources — including data sufficiency, multi-source reasoning, table analysis, graphics interpretation, and two-part analysis. It is the most predictive section of real-world business school workload (case method, data-driven decision making) and is increasingly weighted by admissions committees. A strong Data Insights score (80+) signals quantitative literacy without requiring you to top the Quant section alone.

Is GMAT Focus accepted by all B-schools?

Yes — all major business schools worldwide accept GMAT Focus Edition. The legacy GMAT had its last administration on 31 January 2024, and as of 2024-2025 admissions cycles every major program (HBS, Stanford, Wharton, INSEAD, LBS, ISB, IIMs, Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, MIT Sloan, Tuck, NYU Stern, Yale SOM, etc.) accepts Focus scores. During the 2024-2026 transition window, most programs ALSO continue to accept valid legacy GMAT scores (within the 5-year validity window). Beyond 2026, most programs will be Focus-only. Always check the specific program's policy. Note: ISB and IIMs also accept the CAT (Common Admission Test) alongside GMAT — many candidates apply with both scores in hand. GMAT Focus score validity is 5 years from your test date.

GMAT Focus Score Calculator — Total Score & Percentile

GMAT Focus Score

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GMAT Focus Edition Score Calculator

Calculate GMAT Focus Edition total score (205-805) from 3 section scores (Quantitative / Verbal / Data Insights). Includes percentile lookup based on official Q1 2025 GMAC distribution data.

Reviewed by the CalculatorKosh Editorial TeamUpdated June 2026Free · No sign-up

Raw correct counts (per section)

Quantitative correct (out of 21)

021

21 questions, 45 min. Score scales to 60-90.

Verbal correct (out of 23)

023

23 questions, 45 min. Score scales to 60-90.

Data Insights correct (out of 20)

020

20 questions, 45 min. Replaces AWA + IR. Scales to 60-90.

Total Score

(percentile 60 · range 205-805)

QR scaled

VR scaled

DI scaled

Section breakdown

Each section scored 60-90 independently from raw correct count.

Section	Raw	Scaled	Out of
Quantitative Reasoning	17	80	21
Verbal Reasoning	18	80	23
Data Insights	15	75	20

MBA school benchmarks

Median admit GMAT Focus at top programs (2024-2025). Qualifies = score ≥ median + 10. Competitive = within 20 points below median.

School	Median	Your status
IIM Ahmedabad PGP	705	below
IIM Bangalore PGP	705	below
ISB Hyderabad PGP	695	below
Harvard Business School	735	below
Stanford GSB	735	below
Wharton	735	below
INSEAD	705	below
LBS	705	below
Booth Chicago	725	below

A high GMAT alone does NOT guarantee admission — top programs admit holistically (work ex / essays / recommendations / interviews).

How GMAT Focus differs from old GMAT

GMAT Focus (since Nov 2023) replaces the old GMAT 200-800 scale with 205-805. Replaced AWA + IR with the new Data Insights section. Total score includes ALL 3 sections (in old GMAT, AWA wasn't part of total). Test is 30% shorter (2h 15m vs 3h 7m). Most B-schools accept both during transition (until 2026).

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How It Works

The GMAT Focus Edition is the new format of the GMAT exam, launched by GMAC (the Graduate Management Admission Council) on 7 November 2023. It fully replaced the legacy GMAT (200-800 scale) by 2024 and is the format accepted by every major business school worldwide — HBS, Stanford, Wharton, INSEAD, LBS, ISB, IIMs, and 7,000+ other programs.

Test structure

Three 45-minute sections, 2 hours 15 minutes total:

Quantitative Reasoning (QR) — 21 questions, scaled 60-90. Tests problem-solving (no Data Sufficiency; that moved to Data Insights).
Verbal Reasoning (VR) — 23 questions, scaled 60-90. Tests reading comprehension and critical reasoning (no Sentence Correction; removed entirely).
Data Insights (DI) — 20 questions, scaled 60-90. NEW section that replaces AWA + IR and absorbs Data Sufficiency.

The exam is computer-adaptive at the question level. You can review and edit up to 3 answers per section.

Scoring

Each section is independently scaled 60-90 via Item Response Theory (IRT). The Total Score ranges from 205 to 805 in 10-point increments. GMAC computes the total via a proprietary algorithm — the widely-cited Manhattan Prep approximation is Total = round_to_10(245 + 6 × (QR + VR + DI − 180)), clamped to [205, 805]. This calculator uses that approximation.

What this calculator does

Enter your raw correct counts for QR (0-21), VR (0-23), and DI (0-20). The calculator maps each raw count to a scaled 60-90 score using published bracket tables, derives the Total Score and percentile, and compares your total against median admit scores at 9 top global MBA programs. The score is valid for 5 years from your test date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Each of the three sections is independently scaled to 60-90 using Item Response Theory (IRT) — the raw correct count is mapped through GMAC's IRT model which weights questions by difficulty. The Total Score (205-805 in 10-point increments) is then derived from the three scaled scores via a proprietary GMAC algorithm. The widely-used Manhattan Prep approximation is: Total = round_to_10(245 + 6 × (QR + VR + DI − 180)), where QR, VR, DI are the scaled 60-90 scores. Calibration points: 60+60+60 = 180 → ~245 (≈ 205 IRT floor); 75+75+75 = 225 → ~515 (~25th percentile); 80+80+75 = 235 → ~575 (~50th); 85+85+80 = 250 → ~665 (~85th); 90+90+90 = 270 → ~785 (≈ 805 IRT cap). Actual scaled scores from a live test may differ by ±20 points due to question-difficulty weighting under IRT.

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