question regarding the percentiles in your score

by **sankarvg** Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:43 am

Hi,
I noticed that the percentile numbers being reported on my test I took previously are different when I re-ordered the score report! Back in December, when I took the test, my raw score/percentile were 660/84, Verbal 33/68 and quant 48/85. Now, in the official score report I got, the scores are 660/83, 33/66 and 48/84. The percentile numbers dropped a little bit. I guess they are 'updated' and 'live', would be the only explanation. Please comment..

regards,
-Sankar

by **mdinerstein** Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:55 am

Hi Sankar,

That is quite strange! I've never heard about the phenomenon before. Stacey, perhaps you could shed some light on the issue?

Best,

Michael Dinerstein
Marketing and Student Services Associate
michael@manhattangmat.com
800-576-4628
212-721-7400

by **StaceyKoprince** Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:15 pm

Yes, this can happen over time. The idea is that, even though students take the test at very different times, the schools need to assess people against each other at the same time. So, over time, there can be minor adjustments to which score numbers match which percentiles. (Over a really long period of time, things can change quite a bit. Something like 15-20 years ago, a score in the low 700s was 99th percentile!)

Within a year or two period, the changes are never more than minor changes - a point or two. That's not going to make a difference in your application (though I understand why it's disheartening to see!).

by **sankarvg** Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:59 pm

Okay, that makes sense. Especially considering that the GMAT scores are valid for 5 years. I guess this also partly explains why the average accepting score for schools keeps inching up every year.

thanks,

-Sankar

by **StaceyKoprince** Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:31 pm

You're welcome!