The GMAT Scoring System
GMAT Computer Adaptation for Verbal, Quantitative, and Data Insight Sections
All three sections of the GMAT—Verbal, Quantitative, and Data Insights—are now adaptive on a question-by-question basis. With the introduction of the GMAT Focus Edition in 2023, Data Insights replaced the Integrated Reasoning section, which was not adaptive. The questions are classified by the probability of students at specific score levels answering them correctly. (Test writers calculate that a student who scores x will have a y% chance of getting a given question right.) Answering a certain question correctly produces a following question that is more difficult, while incorrect answers result in easier subsequent questions. These sections' scaled score is calculated from the difficulty level of both correct and incorrect answers. Test-takers are rewarded more for correct answers on difficult questions, and are conversely penalized more for incorrect answers on easier questions. Because of this question-by-question adaptation, students who give incorrect answers for several consecutive questions will receive lower scores than test-takers with the same number of non-consecutive mistakes. Furthermore, leaving a question unanswered results in a larger score penalty than an incorrect answer.
Scoring for Data Insights
The Data Insights score now contributes equally with the Quantitative and Verbal scores to the GMAT Total Score. Integrated Reasoning from the previous GMAT, which Data Insights replaced, used to be scored separately, meaning it did not contribute towards the total score. Only two outcomes are possible for two and three-part problems in this section: either all parts of the question are correct, or no credit is given. The Data Insights section includes experimental questions that do not count toward the final score. GMAC does not disclose the exact number of experimental questions, but they can number between two and four of the total.
Optimizing GMAT Performance through Understanding the GMAT Scoring System
Some standardized tests penalize students for guessing, but the GMAT is not among them. In fact, not only are students not penalized for guessing, on the multiple-choice sections of the test they are penalized for not guessing. Unanswered questions adversely affect scores more than incorrect answers. This means that test-takers will benefit from answering all questions, even if some answers are just random guesses entered haphazardly as time is running out. On the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GMAT, students should make every effort to avoid consecutive incorrect answers, because their scores will suffer more than from non-consecutive errors. This is best accomplished with disciplined time management. Students should not obsess over difficult questions and should not devote an inordinate amount of time to an individual problem. Due to the complexities of the adaptive algorithm, even test-takers who receive a perfect score didn't necessarily answer every single question correctly.
GMAT Section Scores and Business School Applications
Most available evidence suggests that business schools view total scores and Quantitative section scores as highly important to their admissions decisions. The value of the Verbal and integrated reasoning is more difficult to assess. Because high Verbal scores are less common than high Quantitative scores, admissions committees are likely to be impressed by strong verbal skills, and this may tip the scales in a candidate's favor. The integrated reasoning section is still rather new, and its credibility is still developing. However, low integrated reasoning can harm an applicant, and students who can perform well on these GMAT sections will derive at least some benefit.