Unlike the case with the M*A*S*H script the script to The Graduate and the movie are almost exactly the same. There was very little improvising on the final script as director Nichols was a firm believer in having everything mapped out beforehand with rehearsals to get everything just right.

The most noticible changes between the script and film are due to the inclusion of the Simon and Garfunkel songs which relayed what was going on inside the characters without the need for words. An example is during Ben's drive up to Berkeley. In the film we hear "Scarborough Fair" being played over those scenes. In the script we hear a series of imaginary conversations in Ben's head about his future life with Elaine - and in-law Mrs. Robinson!