670 (43 Q 40 V) Should I retake?

Question

Hi Guys,

I took my first GMAT this past Saturday and got a 670. It's a solid score but I'm pretty disappointed in terms of my Quant score.
My quant is only at 52% percentile and according to some of the threads I've read on here that might end up hurting me during applications.

Time is not an issue for me since I'm probably going to apply next year instead of this year. 
My target schools right now are UCLA and Duke Full Time.
Do you guys think it's worth it to retake? I personally think there's a lot of room for improvement in Quant if I just put more emphasis on it when studying.

Any feedback is appreciated, thanks.

Purvil311 · Answer

Since you are not applying this year and have a considerable amount of time, I would suggest retaking it to improve your Quant score. You might even end up increasing your verbal score with some extra prep. While a 670 doesn't automatically put you on the reject list, schools like UCLA and Duke have quite high average GMAT scores (700+).

JeffTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi xiaoyuzhan,

Because time is not a factor, you may consider retaking the GMAT to get a more competitive score. I’m also happy to provide some advice for a retake strategy but first have a few questions:

1) Did you get your enhanced score report? If not, could you do so and share the score breakdown from your most recent GMAT?
 
2) Did you take any official MBA.com practice exams prior to your GMAT? If so, can you provide us with the dates and score breakdowns from those practice exams?

3) Describe your study routine. For how many hours a day have you been studying and for how many total months? What resources have you been using for your prep?

4) For how many hours a day and for how many months can you study for your retake?

Once you provide us with some more detailed information, we can provide some more personalized advice.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi xiaoyuzhan,

First off, a 670 is a strong score (it's above the 80th percentile overall), so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Based on the Schools that you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of them here:

ask-admission-consultants-124/

If you do choose to retest though, we have to examine how you were studying for the Quant section before. Once you've decided on whether to retest or not, you should post back here (or you can PM me directly) and we can talk through your study options going forward.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

justinwashere · Answer

I was in a similar position. I have a 690 and wanted to apply to top schools. However, a 690 would mean I really really need to shine in all other areas. That is a huge risk considering that improvement on the GMAT is much faster than making improvements on your resume, personal story, etc. Because you are not applying this year, you got a ton of time to retake. I know the studying sucked. But do it. You can totally do it. Trust me, I am not saying that because I want to be positive. I am saying that because I know anyone can get a high score. Even I doubted myself when I couldn't break 700. But I eventually got it. Why? Cause everyone kept telling me I could. I was the only one who thought it as an insurmountable chasm whose sole purpose in life was to swallow me whole.

Trust, you can totally do it. I freaking (you know what I mean, :lol:

) believe in you.

In caes you are curious about how I did it:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/broke-the-barrier-690-to-224969.html

) believe in you. In caes you are curious about how I did it: https://gmatclub.com/forum/broke-the-barrier-690-to-224969.html

99Colleges · Answer

Hi xiaoyuzhan,

The bigger concern between 670 and 52 percentile is 52 percentile, especially if you don’t have other shining Quant things in your academic or professional experience.

In this regard, you may find this post useful:

Why Quant Is More Important than Verbal in GMAT, and How to Compensate for a Low Score?

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

I would certainly consider reapplying given your target programs. Right now your GMAT is fringe for your targets. I would aim to hit or exceed the avg scores to maximize your chances especially since you left some points on the table

bd428 · Answer

Like others have said, I'd consider reapplying. With a couple of weeks and some determination you can definitely get that quant score up which will likely get you in that 700+ club. Plus you don't want the stress and constant second guessing yourself while applying to schools

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