If you just took the GMAT® and you're wondering whether to spend another $30 on the Enhanced Score Report, there's something you should know first.
It makes sense to want more data. You spent $275 or more on the exam. You invested weeks or months studying. You want to understand what happened on test day so you can improve.
That instinct is right. More information about your performance can help you plan your next move.
But here's the thing: if you took the current GMAT® (the version that replaced the Classic exam in early 2024), you probably already have the data the Enhanced Score Report would give you. It's included with your Official Score Report at no extra cost.
This guide covers what the Enhanced Score Report is, who actually needs to pay for it, what the free insights include, and how to use the data to plan a retake.
What the Enhanced Score Report Used to Be
The Enhanced Score Report (ESR) was a paid add-on that GMAC offered for the previous version of the GMAT® (sometimes called the Classic or 10th Edition).
For $30, you could buy a detailed breakdown of your performance that went beyond the basic score report. It showed your accuracy by question type, your timing patterns, your percentile rankings by content area, and comparisons to other test takers.
The standard score report only gave you your total score, section scores, and percentiles. The ESR filled in the gaps.
It was useful, especially for students planning a retake. The data helped you see where you lost points and where you spent too much time.
The Classic GMAT® was retired on January 31, 2024. The current version of the exam replaced it.
The Change: Detailed Insights Are Now Free
Here's what changed: the current GMAT® includes detailed performance insights with your Official Score Report, at no additional cost.
You don't need to buy anything extra. When you log into your mba.com account and view your Official Score Report, you'll see the same kind of breakdown that used to cost $30.
The old score report was bare bones — just the numbers. The current one gives you a full diagnostic view of your performance.
What the Free Insights Show You
The performance insights in your Official Score Report give you six views of your exam:
Performance by Section
Your total score, section scores (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights), and percentile rankings. This is the headline view — the same numbers you saw on test day.
Performance by Program and School
Your total-score percentile relative to test takers who sent GMAT® scores to the same MBA programs within the past five years. This view shows how admissions committees at your target schools might see your score in context.
Performance by Content Domain
Percentile rankings within each section, broken down by content area. For Quantitative Reasoning, that means separate rankings for Algebra and Arithmetic. For Verbal Reasoning, separate rankings for Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. For Data Insights, separate rankings for each question type.
This view helps you see which topic families are holding you back.
Performance by Question Type
Accuracy and percentile by question format. This separates pattern-matching issues from content knowledge issues. If your Critical Reasoning percentile is lower than your Reading Comprehension percentile, that tells you something specific about where to focus.
Performance by Fundamental Skills
Underlying cognitive skills that power multiple question types. This is the most granular diagnostic view. It shows you which core skills (like inference or quantitative modeling) need the most work.
Time Management and Performance
Your average response time per question, plus pacing patterns across the four quarters of each section. This view is usually the most actionable. A section that looks fine on average can hide a bad final quarter. And a bad final quarter can drag down your score. The adaptive algorithm rewards consistency.
Who Still Needs to Pay $30
If you took the Classic GMAT® (the 10th Edition) before it was retired on January 31, 2024, you can still purchase the Enhanced Score Report for that exam.
The $30 fee still applies to legacy scores. GMAC keeps the ESR available for five years from your test date, so if you took the Classic exam in 2023 or early 2024, you can still buy the ESR through your mba.com account.
You can also purchase an ESR for a canceled Classic GMAT® score. If you canceled your score but still want the diagnostic data, the ESR is available.
For anyone who took the current GMAT® after January 31, 2024, there's nothing extra to buy. Your detailed insights are already in your Official Score Report.
How to Use the Data
Having the data is one thing. Knowing what to do with it is another.
Most students open their score report, feel overwhelmed by the charts and percentages, and either ignore the data or build a reactive study plan around whichever number looks worst.
That's completely normal, by the way — the report throws a lot at you. But there's a better way to read it:
Start with the biggest gap
Don't start with your lowest section. Start with the section that's farthest below your target.
If your target is a 705 with section scores of 83/82/85, and you scored 79/81/76, your biggest gap is in Data Insights (9 points), not Quantitative Reasoning (4 points). Focus your retake prep on DI first.
Look at content domain next
Within that section, look at the content domain breakdown. If your DI score is low and the data shows you're struggling with Data Sufficiency specifically, that's your focus area. If Multi-Source Reasoning is the problem, that's a different study plan.
Check timing last
The timing view tells you whether pacing was a factor. If your average response time in the final quarter of a section is much faster than the first quarter, you probably ran out of time. That's a timing problem, not a content problem — and the fix is different.
For a full system on how to review performance data and turn it into a study plan, see our guide on how to review GMAT® practice tests. The same three-layer approach works for official score data.
Common Mistakes When Reading the Data
Overweighting a single data point
One percentile ranking doesn't tell the whole story. If your Algebra percentile is low but your overall Quant score is close to target, Algebra may not be the highest-leverage area to focus on. Look at the full picture before deciding what to prioritize.
Ignoring timing data
Timing issues can mask content mastery. If you know the material but run out of time, your score will look like you don't know the material. The timing view helps you tell the difference.
Building a study plan from every weakness
You don't need to fix everything. Pick one area per section that would turn the most wrong answers into right answers. Spend most of your study time on those three areas. Maintain everything else with lighter review.
This is the approach we describe in detail in our guide on what to do if your GMAT® score goes down. The same principle applies whether you're reviewing a practice test or an official exam.
If You Took the Classic GMAT®
If you took the previous version of the exam and you're deciding whether to spend $30 on the ESR, here's our take:
If you're planning to retake the current GMAT®, the Classic ESR data is still useful as a general diagnostic. It can show you broad patterns — timing tendencies, content area strengths and weaknesses — that may carry over to the current exam format.
But the two versions of the exam are different enough that the specific question-type breakdowns probably won't map perfectly. The Classic GMAT® had four sections (Quant, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, AWA). The current GMAT® has three (Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights). Data Sufficiency moved from Quant to Data Insights. The scoring scale changed from 200-800 to 205-805.
So the ESR can give you a general sense of where you stood, but it won't tell you exactly what to study for the current exam. Use it as a starting point, not a blueprint.
If you're not planning to retake and you just want to see your old performance data, the ESR may not be worth $30. The Official Score Report you already have gives you your scores and percentiles. The ESR adds diagnostic detail, but if you're not using that detail to plan a study effort, it's mostly curiosity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GMAT® Enhanced Score Report?
The Enhanced Score Report (ESR) is a detailed performance breakdown that GMAC offered for the Classic GMAT® (10th Edition). It costs $30 and shows your accuracy by question type, timing patterns, percentile rankings by content area, and comparisons to other test takers. For the current GMAT®, similar insights are included free with your Official Score Report.
Is the GMAT® Enhanced Score Report worth it?
If you took the current GMAT® (after January 31, 2024), you don't need to buy the ESR. Detailed performance insights are included with your Official Score Report at no extra cost. If you took the Classic GMAT® and are planning a retake, the $30 ESR can be useful as a general diagnostic starting point.
How much does the GMAT® Enhanced Score Report cost?
The ESR costs $30 for Classic GMAT® (10th Edition) scores. It's available for purchase through your mba.com account for five years from your test date. For the current GMAT®, equivalent insights are free.
Can I buy the Enhanced Score Report for a canceled GMAT® score?
Yes. You can purchase the ESR for a canceled Classic GMAT® score. The data is the same whether the score was canceled or not. This can be useful if you canceled a score but still want the diagnostic information to plan a retake.
What does the current GMAT® Official Score Report include?
The current Official Score Report includes your total score (205-805), section scores (60-90 for each section), percentile rankings, and detailed performance insights. The insights cover performance by content domain, question type, fundamental skills, timing, and comparisons to applicants targeting the same MBA programs.
How long is the Enhanced Score Report available?
For Classic GMAT® scores, the ESR is available for five years from your test date. For the current GMAT®, the performance insights are available in your mba.com account alongside your Official Score Report.
Does the Enhanced Score Report help with a retake?
Yes, the data can help you identify what to focus on before a retake. The most useful views are the content domain breakdown (which topics need work), the question type breakdown (which formats are causing problems), and the timing data (whether pacing was a factor). But having the data only helps if you use it to build a focused study plan.
Can I get the Enhanced Score Report for the GMAT® Online?
The legacy ESR wasn't available for the Classic GMAT® Online exam. For the current GMAT®, the detailed insights are included with your Official Score Report whether you test at a center or online.
Want to learn even more?
Episode 49 of our podcast series, "What Everyone Should Know About the GMAT® in 2025," covers score reports, score sending, retake rules, and all the key policies for the current GMAT®. If you want the full picture of how the exam works, give it a listen:
We also have guides on how to review GMAT® practice tests, what to do if your GMAT® score goes down, and how to send GMAT® scores to schools — all of which connect to score report data in different ways.
If you're planning a retake and want help turning your score report into a focused study plan, reach out to us. We're happy to help you read the data and build a plan that targets your biggest gaps.