The GMAT has two multiple-choice sections: verbal and quantitative. The verbal section consists of 41 questions that test reading comprehension, sentence correction and critical reasoning. The quantitative section covers problem solving and data sufficiency over 37 questions. The GMAT also includes an analytical writing assessment. This section has two essays, one on analysis of an issue and one on analysis of an argument.
A GMAT scoring report includes the composite score for the entire test. The lowest possible score is 200, while 800 is the highest score one can obtain. According to MBA.com, two-thirds of GMAT test takers receive a score somewhere between 400 and 600.
Average scores for the verbal portion of the exam range from 9 to 44, though test takers can score as high as 60 on that section. The top score for the quantitative section is 60 as well, but most individuals score somewhere between 7 and 50. The analytical writing assessment score ranges from 0 to 6 in half-point intervals. This section is scored by an electronic system developed for analyzing essays.
The percentile ranking for an individual represents the relationship of her score to the general pool of test takers. The scores used to measure percentile rankings are taken from the most recent 3-year period. If you receive a percentile ranking of 72%, your scores are equal to or greater than 72% of test takers from the last 3 years.
The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test, meaning that the difficulty of questions given will change based on the test taker's performance. A score will be lowered by random guessing or a low number of questions answered. The level of difficulty of the questions a test taker receives will also influence his scores.