720 (Q45, V42) Retake?

Question

Just got back from the test center...I scored 720 Q45 V42. Should I retake the test? I'm concerned about the percentile breakdown, Q45 is listed as 77, which is below 80%...I actually thought I did well on verbal, guess I missed a bunch of Qs...all in all not the greatest of days.

Fistail · Answer

congrats.

720 is an excellent but Qt is on little lower side.

if you are confident to get 49+ in QT with an additional verbal, probably it makes sense. then you will be 750+ range.

goodluck..

riverripper · Answer

If you do anything quant related with your job or took a bunch of quant classes during UG you should be alright. All the comments on GMAT breakdown by admins I have read pretty much say the only time that it could be an issue (since you are right on that 80% border and not at 65%) is if you have no quant experience. Like you were an english major and work in publishing. 

You can just point out other ways your quant are displayed in the optional essay. Tell them about that A you got in calc in college as an indicator that you do have a clue about math.

You are probably better served focus on your applications unless you are in a very competitive demographic or aren't applying till R2.

eschn3am · Answer

how much do you think your score would improve if your V remained the same and your quant jumped to 48-49?

riverripper · Answer

It would then be in the 740-750 range

anonymousegmat · Answer

schmegs would have an incredible score! I got a 710 with 48Q 40V. I'd say he/she would be close to 99th percentile with a 48Q 42V. like riveripper said, 750 range.

Is it worth the extra $250 and all that stress? it depends I guess... there is always the risk that your score will go down. there is a 30 point standard error... so you've got a 1/3 chance of scoring lower than your true ability... do adcoms really see that much of a difference between 720 and 750? I don't know.

I think it depends on your background and your overall package. If you are an indian male who works in IT then you want to do as much as yo ucan to stand out from the crowd. if you've got an interesting background, a good transcript, etc... it might not make a difference.

don't worry about it right now. relax and enjoy your score --- a score which 94% of test takers would kill for!

riverripper · Answer

I actually got a 48Q and 42V and ended up with a 740 (97%)...so I assume a 49 would bring to a 750. In the end a 720 and 740 are so close its not worth it if you can show your strength in quant some other way.

kryzak · Answer

Congrats on a good score shmegs! As people have said already, if you have good quant background in school or work, then don't worry about your breakdown. Spend more time on your essays telling a good story and you'll probably be better off!

shmegs · Answer

Thanks everyone. I've already registered to take the test again...I think it was a bad day...I was averaging 47-49 on Quant on MGMAT and GMAT Prep and 46-48 on Verbal. I don't have a math background, was a history major but I am working in finance now...go figure. So I can't explain away a bad quant score, because I do work in finance.

kryzak · Answer

Alright shmegs, good luck to you again! I'm sure you'll ace it this time with the right attitude and relaxation! Just let yourself know that it doesn't matter whether you do better or worse, you already have a GREAT score!

shmegs · Answer

Thanks Krzak...I'll try my best...on a side note scored a 6 on the Essays. No idea how, I thought I bombed the second one. I guess it doesn't really matter what you say as long as you write a lot of stuff

.

kryzak · Answer

congrats! Yeah, I heard it's the length of the essays that matter for AWA...

jamesrwrightiii · Answer

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