How Have GMAT Scores Changed Over Time?

How have GMAT scores changed over time? The GMAT, or Graduate Management Admission Test, assesses the knowledge and aptitude of potential graduate students who are interested in pursuing graduate degrees in business, such as a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Interestingly, GMAT scores have changed very little throughout the years even after changes to the test. The trend line goes up, meaning that there has been a very slight improvement over time, but it is not a statistically significant increase.

GMAT Scores Have Changed Over Time

The GMAT has changed many times since its inception and is scheduled to have another change in 2012. According to gmat.com, despite these changes, candidates scores have remained relatively stable with a slight upward trend in the line.

GMAT Mean Scores and Percentiles

While the mean scores seem to remain consistent over time, the score itself is not as important as what percentile that score represents. Over time, percentile scores have shifted. A GMAT score that would have put a candidate in the 90th percentile ten years ago may only be 85th percentile now. This occurs because scores always resemble a bell curve. A few people score very high and very low, and the majority have scores in the middle. If more people score higher, then the mean score becomes the higher score and the bell curve then shifts to the right. (Similarly, if more people score lower, the curve would shift to the left.) This then shifts the percentile rank score.

Why Would Scores Shift?

There seem to be a few theories as to why the GMAT scores seem to be getting higher over time:

1. The applicant pool is getting smarter. The candidates, themselves, may be of a higher caliber student than in previous years.
2. Testing preparation has improved dramatically. Candidates have access to many different types of test preparation: classes, books, online tutorials. They are coming to the tests more prepared than ever before.
3. Some students may cheat. While the test makers attempt to limit this possibility, information may leak out. Test takers may post information about the tests online for others to use.

GMAT Test Sections

The current GMAT format:

• Analytical writing sections - 30 minutes each for a total of 60 minutes; candidates will analyze an issue topic and an argument topic.
• Verbal reasoning section - consists of 41 multiple choice questions on reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and correcting sentences.
• Quantitative reasoning section - consists of 37 multiple choice questions in problem-solving and data sufficiency. Candidates are given 75 minutes for this section.

However, the new GMAT section to be added in June 2012 will take the place of one of the writing sections and will assess how candidates analyze, interpret, draw inferences, convert and assess data similar to the types of questions that they may be asked in their graduate level business courses.

When to Take the Test

Some candidates may be concerned that their test scores will become invalid once the new test goes live. However, GMAT scores are good for five years. After that time, scores become invalid and the test must be retaken. If someone takes the test prior to the new test being implemented, it is unlikely that any graduate school would ask or expect students to retake the test if their GMAT scores are currently valid.

One exception to the scores remaining consistent issue presented above is that scores do go down for a few years after a change is made to the test. This is because test takers are not fully prepared for the changes in the test and the test preparation material needs to catch up with the test as well. Once the new section of the test has been in use for a while, scores go back up. Consequently, candidates interested in taking the GMAT may want to take the test before the new section becomes part of the overall score.