![\"Retaking](\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Retaking-the-GMAT-with-a-score-of-700.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This may seem hard for some test-takers to believe, but sometimes even the high-scorers contemplate retaking the exam. It\u2019s not unheard of for someone with a score of 700 \u2013 or even higher \u2013 to retake the GMAT<\/a> to see if they can hit a higher number.<\/p>\n But should they? As is usually the case with admissions issues\u2026it depends.<\/p>\n Were our applicant here a Latin American brand manager or an African pharmaceutical salesperson \u2013 that is, if their demographic had little representation in the business school applicant pool \u2013 then there would really be no reason to retake the exam. Once they\u2019ve demonstrated competence in each section of the GMAT and present a total score of 700+ \u2013 meaning, their quantitative and verbal scores placed them above the 80th percentile in each section \u2013 then their GMAT score really becomes a (nearly) non-issue and retaking the test becomes a waste of time that could have been better spent elsewhere.<\/p>\n But here\u2019s the thing: if you have a more typical background, and especially if you find yourself in an over-represented part of the applicant pool at top business schools, then the above advice just may not apply to you.<\/p>\n You need a higher score.<\/p>\n Who might be in this group? Indian males in engineering and computer science. Investment bankers. Management consultants. All these group tend to do well on the GMAT and send lot of applications to business schools.<\/p>\n The GMAT score has risen dramatically this year. A couple of years ago you could talk about a balanced 700 being competitive in the top 10. No more:<\/p>\n Of the ten schools in the US News top 10, five programs now have average GMAT scores of 730+ and only one (Ross) is under 720. The year-over-year increase is on average the largest I can remember or track. They are even larger than last year's increase, which was the largest average increase in the previous five years.<\/p>\n So, if you score a 700 on the GMAT, should you retake the exam?<\/a> It depends on the schools you\u2019re applying to, and it depends on your demographic, not to mention the strength of the rest of your application. If you are applying from a common sub-group in the applicant pool with a fairly typical background and extracurricular profile, and you are aiming for a top 10 program, a 700 score will be a negative for you. You should consider a retake. For other applicants, that 700 will be just fine. And if you\u2019re still not sure, check out our webinar, The GMAT: Low Scores, Retaking & Strategies for Success<\/em><\/a>, for an overview of the factors to consider when deciding whether to retake or not.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Navigate the MBA Maze: 9 Tips to Acceptance<\/a>, a free guide This article<\/a> originally appeared on blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/em><\/p>\nWho are YOU? An MBA Applicant with a Distinctive Background<\/h2>\n
Who are YOU? An MBA Applicant with a Standard Background<\/h2>\n
Are YOU applying to Top 10 MBA Programs?<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Retaking-with-GMAT-chart.png\")
<\/p>\nWhat Should YOU Do?<\/h2>\n
\nDo your research, be as objective as possible, and figure out the target score \u2013 and the target schools \u2013 that are best for YOU.<\/p>\n![\"Watch](\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/The-GMAT-webinar-2018-CTA.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Linda](\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Linda-Abraham-150x150.jpg\" "\\"Linda")
By\u00a0Linda Abraham<\/a>, president and founder of Accepted and co-author of the definitive book on MBA admissions,\u00a0MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools<\/a>.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 What GMAT Score Do I Need to Get Accepted to Top MBA Programs?<\/a>
\n\u2022 Should You Retake the GMAT?<\/a><\/p>\n