670-high verbal, very low quant- should I cancel my score?

Question

Hello ! I have just passed my first GMAT test today after 2.5 months of intense preparation and scored 670, Q44-57th percentile and v39-89th percentile. I'm aiming at top MBA in Europe, but the quant is quite low and I fear that keeping this score would harm my overall profile, even if I retake the exam and score better. Do you think I should cancel my score?
I felt that the first 10 to 15 questions in quant were really difficult (more difficult than in the mocks) and I think this is where my low quant score comes from. I usually score q47-48 and v38-40 in mock tests (so overall 690-710).
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks a lot !

mbaMissionJenK · Answer

Hi there,

Great job getting the first test under your belt! No worries as schools take the highest score, so if you do take it again and do better that is the score they'll focus on. I would recommend trying again, and given the practice test scores, as a long-time GMAT instructor and tutor, I'd advise taking it sooner rather than later! Keep up that prep just a bit more...keep in mind sometimes just a different day and different mindset leads to a stronger result, which you are obviously capable of. Good luck and keep us posted!!

TIMEBBA · Answer

9

lina87 · Answer

Thank you very much for your feedback, it keeps me motivated, as I felt quite disappointed when I saw that quant score.

I was wondering if simply cancelling this score and thus pretending it never existed would be better for my overall application (I’m aiming at INSEAD)?

True, keeping this score means keeping a great verbal score, but it also shows the adcom that I’m able to score poorly in quant... If I cancel, they will never see I scored poorly in quant.

I am wondering what are the advantages / value add of keeping this core vs cancelling it. I still have 48hrs to cancel my score and I clearly have no idea what to do…

If on my second official GMAT test, I score let’s say 71% in quant and 80% in verbal, well verbal will still be good, quant better but not amazing. So they might think, given I passed the exam twice, she’s good at verbal, but average in quant.. Wouldn’t it be better to cancel my first score and start fresh with a clean plate?

Many thanks again for you strong support and feedback !!

mbaMissionJenK · Answer

Hiya-- time may have already passed, and it's up to you, but I've yet to come across a b-school whose policy is not to take the HIGHEST score (not average or factor in a lower score etc... reason is because the test is adaptive, theoretically you can't out-perform your ability... but you can always have an off or poor day, hence a lower score that they wouldn't focus on. But just all food for thought.

670-high verbal, very low quant- should I cancel my score?

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