Susan just left her test center after scoring a 670 on the GMAT. Disappointed with her performance, she started thinking about her strategy for a retake. A few hours later, she receives a mail from GMAC informing her about the GMAT ESR (Enhanced Score Report) and how it can help her improve the GMAT score. Many GMAT aspirants like Susan who wish to improve their GMAT score, don’t know the basics of an ESR or Enhanced Score Report. If you are one of them, keep on reading to answer the main question – “Is GMAT ESR worth purchasing?” and to understand the following. But, before going further take a look at this video to know more about GMAT:
- 1. What is a GMAT ESR (Enhanced Score Report)?
- 2. What information does an ESR provide?
- 3. Has GMAC released a new ESR? How is it different from the old one?
- 4. How to analyze an ESR?
- 5. Is GMAT ESR worth purchasing in 2023?
- See – Nishant’s inspiring journey from 570 to 740
- 6. If I buy the ESR, how will it help me in the next attempt?
- 7. Some FAQs on GMAT ESR (Enhanced Score Report)
- Takeaways – is GMAT ESR worth purchasing?
Take a free trial to get unlimited access to concept files, live sessions, and practice questions. For any strategic advice for GMAT or MBA Admissions, write to us at acethegmat@e-gmat.com. We are the most reviewed GMAT prep company on GMATClub with more than 2500 reviews
1. What is a GMAT ESR (Enhanced Score Report)?
ESR or Enhanced Score Report presents you with post-exam diagnostic information. In simple words, it tells you how you performed while taking the GMAT and provides data-driven insights on how you can plan your preparation to reach your target GMAT score. It answers questions such as:
- Did you perform well in one section and not so well in the other?
- Which sub-section did you struggle the most during the exam?
- Did you end up wasting your time on questions you answered incorrectly?
In addition, it helps you analyze your accuracy level, the difficulty level of questions you answered, and the time taken to answer the questions. With this information, the ESR provides insights into your GMAT performance. Overall, it gives you unparalleled insights into your performance.
2. What information does an ESR provide?
An ESR provides you with the following information-
- Total GMAT score and percentile
- Sectional scores and time management
- Sub-sectional scores and time management
- Accuracy level during the test
- The average difficulty level of questions you answered correctly and incorrectly
- Average time per response for both correctly and incorrectly answered questions
This information will help you craft a better strategy to ace the GMAT if you plan to retake it.
Retaking the GMAT? Read this article on how to create a winning GMAT retake strategy
3. Has GMAC released a new ESR? How is it different from the old one?
To give the GMAT takers more insight into their test performance, GMAC has introduced a new ESR with an additional section. The section is ‘Performance by Fundamental Skills’. This section tells your accuracy according to the questions which test the following skills in Verbal and Quant sections.
|
New GMAT ESR – Performance by Fundamental Skills | |
| Verbal | Quant |
| Sentence Correction | Geometry |
| · Grammar | Rates/Ratio/Percent |
| · Communication | Value/Order/Factors |
| Critical Reasoning | Equalities/Inequalities/Algebra |
| · Analysis/Critique | Counting/Sets/Series |
| · Construction/Plan | |
| Reading Comprehension | |
| · Identify Inferred Idea | |
| · Identify Stated idea |
GMAC also recently changed the format of GMAT. It is now 30 minutes shorter. Learn more.
4. How to analyze an ESR?
There are 3 aspects of analyzing an ESR
- Identifying the structure of ESR
- Understanding your ability and progression
- Path to improvement
If you need help with ESR analysis, you can write to us at acethegmat@e-gmat.com
We can help you with a personalized study plan and give you access to quality online content to prepare. We are the most reviewed GMAT prep company on gmatClub with more than 1900 reviews. Why don’t you take a free trial and judge it for yourself?
5. Is GMAT ESR worth purchasing in 2023?
While the ESR is an invaluable tool for most students, there are two scenarios in which the ESR is not worth the investment.
- Firstly, if you score high enough which means you don’t plan to take the test again. For example, if you score a 760 (which is a 99%ile score) and you do not want to retake the GMAT, the ESR won’t be useful for you.
- The second scenario is if you performed poorly in GMAT (less than 550). For students with extremely low scores, the ESR will generally show that the student needs to prepare both the sections – something that can be inferred from the scaled Quant and Verbal scores. In such cases, the ESR does not provide many useful insights.
- However, if you score 550 or higher and plan to retake the GMAT, the ESR will provide you insights on your strengths and weaknesses. It will also give you valuable information on average time spent on correct and incorrect questions and which fundamental skills and sections you need to improve upon.
This information will help you make a customized, efficient, and trackable study plan to ace the GMAT on your retake.
Nishant improved from 570 to 740 on the GMAT by leveraging GMAT Online course. Learn how he mastered our “proprietary application processes” and used “data analytics in Scholaranium” to succeed. Watch his inspiring video interview.
See – Nishant’s inspiring journey from 570 to 740
6. If I buy the ESR, how will it help me in the next attempt?
There are 3 categories of assessment in the Enhanced Score Report
- Performance by sub-section
- Performance by fundamental skills
- Performance progression
Performance by sub-section
This section provides you information on sub-sectional percentiles (CR, RC, and SC in Verbal and PS, DS and Arithmetic, Algebra/Geometry in Quant) along with response time per question.
- Scope of improvement for a retake
ESR will tell you which sub-section is your weakest and on which sub-section you spend the most time. Once you know this information, it will be much easier for you to improve your weakest sub-section along with mean response time per question.
Performance by fundamental skills
This is the new section added in the new ESR. GMAT tests various fundamental skills during the test and in this section, it highlights your performance in questions testing a particular skill.
- Scope of improvement for a retake
With this information, you improve your weak skills by practicing relevant questions.
Performance Progression
This section provides information on accuracy level, the average difficulty level of correctly and incorrectly answered questions, and average response time per correctly and incorrectly answered questions.
- Scope of improvement for a retake
This section highlights your ability level. It also gives you insight into the role of mental fatigue in your GMAT score.
7. Some FAQs on GMAT ESR (Enhanced Score Report)
7.1 Is GMAT ESR available in languages other than English?
As of now, GMAC only provides ESRs in English.
7.2 Do I have to pay extra for the GMAT ESR? If yes, what is GMAT ESR cost?
Yes, for the ESR you pay an additional amount. Since the launch of the new ESR, this price has been increased to US $30 as compared to the previous price of US $25. So, the cost of GMAT ESR is $30.
7.3 How do I purchase the ESR?
You can purchase the ESR before or after taking the GMAT from mba.com store. You’ll receive a confirmation mail and an activation code within 24 hours of purchasing the ESR. However, once you have taken the GMAT, it could take up to 72 hours for your ESR to be available.
Sign up for a free trial to kick-start your GMAT Preparation and get access to video lessons, Quant and Verbal Diagnostics and live sessions conducted by top-rated GMAT club instructors. Also, write to us at acethegmat@e-gmat.com. We are the most reviewed GMAT prep company on GMATClub with more than 2500 reviews
7.4 Is the GMAT ESR available even if I cancel my score?
Yes, the ESR is available even if you have canceled your score. You can apply the ESR authentication code to the canceled GMAT score. Read the next point for more details.
7.5 How long do I have access to ESR after my exam? | Validity of GMAT ESR
The authentication code that you’ll receive is valid for 5 years from the date of purchase. However, you have access to your ESR for as long as the GMAT score is valid.
The validity of a GMAT score is one aspect you must know. There are other important aspects of a GMAT score as well. Read this article on ‘Understanding GMAT score’ to know more.
7.5.1 I took the GMAT 3 years ago, can I get an ESR for that attempt?
Yes, you can get your ESR for the GMAT you took 3 years ago. However, you’ll have access to your ESR for the remaining 2 years. In short, you have access to ESR as long as your GMAT score is valid.
Takeaways – is GMAT ESR worth purchasing?
- If you plan to retake the GMAT, buying the GMAT ESR (Enhanced Score Report) is beneficial.
- GMAT ESR will help you make a focused strategy to improve your score
- You will also be able to devise a fool-proof study plan. Read about the benefits of a study plan
If you need help with the analysis of your GMAT ESR, write to us at acethegmat@e-gmat.com
As of now, GMAC only provides ESR in English.
Yes, for the ESR you pay an additional amount. Since the launch of the new ESR, this price has been increased to US $30 as compared to the previous price of US $25. So, the cost of the GMAT ESR is $30.
You can analyze your ESR in 3 simple steps. Take a look at this article to know these steps.
Yes, the ESR is available even if you have canceled your score. You can apply the ESR authentication code to the canceled GMAT score. Read the next point for more details.
Take a free trial to get unlimited access to concept files, live sessions, and practice questions. For any strategic advice for GMAT or MBA Admissions, write to us at acethegmat@e-gmat.com. We are the most reviewed GMAT prep company on GMATClub with more than 2500 reviews
