Official score report
Also called GMAT official report · GRE institution score report · unofficial score
An official score report is the file the testing agency delivers to the school. Screenshots, downloaded PDFs, and the printout at a test center are unofficial. MBA programs let you self-report on the application, then require an official send if you enroll — and many want the official report before a decision (mba.com; ETS).
An official score report is the file the testing agency delivers to the school. Screenshots, downloaded PDFs, and the printout at a test center are unofficial. MBA programs let you self-report on the application, then require an official send if you enroll — and many want the official report before a decision (mba.com; ETS).
Will a PDF of my GMAT work?
No. GMAC says screenshots, PDFs, and printed copies are not official. You send GMAT scores through the mba.com account after the Official Score Report posts, typically in 3–5 days (sometimes up to 20 if GMAC is reviewing). mba.com support describes a short free-send window after the score becomes available, then paid Additional Score Reports. Once a program has the score, GMAC will not unsend it.
What the school sees vs what you see
| Item | Test taker | School | Source / date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMAT total and sections | Yes, plus DI/QR/VR insights | Scores, percentiles, basics | mba.com |
| GMAT performance vs other senders to that program | On your detailed report | Not the same insight pack | mba.com |
| GRE ScoreSelect | You pick sittings | Only chosen dates; no unused tests listed | ETS |
| Unofficial printout | At the center | Not accepted as official | GMAC / ETS |
GRE official scores post in 8–10 days. ScoreSelect hides other GRE dates from the institution report. TOEFL and IELTS have their own portals; a scan of a Test Report Form is not verification. Plan the send against the deadline, not against the day you felt good walking out.
Example: unofficial GMAT 675 on Monday, Round 1 due Friday. If the official report is still pending, self-report the 675 and check whether the school will read the file without the official send. If the instructions say “official scores by the deadline,” you are already late.
Common errors
- Uploading a screenshot and calling the file complete
- Missing the free-send window and paying later in a panic
- Sending every GRE sitting when ScoreSelect would hide a weak one
- Assuming GMAC can retract a send
FAQ
How fast does a school receive a GMAT send?
GMAC says programs typically see the score within eight hours after you submit the send in mba.com. That is after the Official Score Report exists, which itself takes 3–5 days in ordinary cases. Do not book a Thursday exam for a Friday deadline and expect the official file to land.
Can I cancel a GMAT score so schools never see it?
You choose recipients after you see the official report, so there is no need to cancel a sitting to hide it. If you never send it, the school cannot view it. Once you send it, GMAC cannot undo the school’s access, even if you regret the sitting the next morning.
Is the test-center printout official?
No. GMAC treats the center printout as unofficial. The Official Score Report in the mba.com account is the document that can travel. ETS draws the same line for GRE: the institution report is official; your download is for you.
Related terms
Sources
- Official Score Reports GMAT Official Score Report in 3–5 days; detailed insights for the test taker; send after you see the score
- How Do I Send My Official Score to a School or Program? Limited free sends after the score posts; screenshots and PDFs are not official; schools typically receive within 8 hours
