Age of GMAT Score / Evaluation of Applicants with more than score

Question

Hey everyone!

First, please excuse me if my questions are already being discussed elsewhere - I had a look but could not find the threads.

1) Has anyone made experience with applying with a relatively old GMAT score? I know the scores are valid for 5 years, but I am wondering whether a school might say "This guy's score is 4 years old, maybe his skills have decreased by now" or something similar.

I plan on going to b-school only in 4 years from now, but I will have a 6-week break between jobs soon and would like to use the time for prepping for the GMAT. I wonder whether this is the right strategy.

2) I keep receiving contradictory info about schools evaluating applicants who took the test more than once. Will they evaluate both scores, the most recent one, or the best one?

I appreciate any advice

Best wishes from Germany,
Marc

Best wishes from Germany, Marc

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Marc,

Many Business School applicants take the GMAT early on (so they can 'bank' a competitive score), so that they can then focus on acquiring the proper Work Experience to apply to Business School later. Also, since the GMAT is the same consistent Exam every year, scores are comparable over time. This is all meant to say that applying to Business School several years after taking the GMAT will not 'work against you.'

Taking care of the GMAT in the near timeframe is a good idea. However, you might not have given yourself enough time to properly study. Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) on their studies to hit their 'peak' scores. Depending on your score goals, and how effectively you study, you might need more than the 6 weeks that you've allotted.

In real basic terms, Business Schools really don't care how many times you've taken the GMAT. Given the way that Score Reports are sent, and the current option to cancel your scores immediately upon seeing them, you can limit the information that you send to any particular School.

1) What is your score goal?
2) Have you done any studying for the GMAT yet?
3) While it might be too early to answer this, do you know which Business Schools you plan to apply to?

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

MarcMoody · Answer

Dear Rich,

Thank you very much for your helpful response!

I agree that allotting more time than 6 weeks would be reasonable, but unfortunately that is all will have. At least I will have nothing else to do at that time and can focus on studying. And if I get another chance later, I could just take the test again...

To your questions:
1) I am aiming at a 700
2) I did some studying already, but not continuously.
3) I looked into some schools that I like but have not made specific plans yet. I like Harvard (not just because it's Harvard but really because of the program), London Business School, IMD Lausanne and Chicago Booth.

Best wishes,
Marc

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Marc,

You've named some highly-competitive Schools, so beyond having a strong GMAT Score, you'll also need to have a strong OVERALL application.

Since you've done some studying already, have you taken any FULL-LENGTH practice CATs yet? If you have, then how did you score (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)? If you have not, then you should plan to take one soon. That 'baseline' score will help to establish your current strengths and weaknesses and give you an idea of how you might have to adjust your study plan going forward. Once you have that set of scores, you should post back here and we can go over your study plan.

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

MarcMoody · Answer

Dear Rich,

Yes, the overall application has to be great - that is why I won't take the GMAT until I have accumulated at least 4 years of proper work experience. As far as I know, GMAT and work experience are the two most important factors.

I have not taken any CAT yet - is there a particular supplier you would recommend?

I did take a practice exam with the GMATPrep software the day I started my first study sessions (to see where I stand without practice) and scored a 590, although I cannot remember the precise scores on verbal and quant. Quantitative was better than verbal though, and I think that verbal is where I need to work the most... Although I know that the software's test lacks the mechanism that picks the next test question based on one's answer to the previous question as the real test does, so the score is not entirely accurate.

I would love to take a practice CAT (is that different to the practice exam I took?) and discuss the result.

Thanks and best regards,
Marc

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

HI Marc,

I assume it was a 'typo', but in your prior post you wrote that you wouldn't apply for the GMAT until you had 4 years of work experience - I assume that you mean that you won't apply to Business School until you have that work experience.

When you say that you used the GMATPrep software, did you take the first practice Test/CAT? From what you've described, I think that you did. While those 2 CATs have limited 'pools' of questions, those Tests DO adapt to your performance. Thus, if you took the FULL CAT (including the Essay and IR sections), and did so under reasonably realistic conditions, then that 590 is accurate enough to assess your current skills.

1) What date did you take that CAT?
2) What date is your Official GMAT?

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

MarcMoody · Answer

Dear Rich,

Yes that was indeed a ‘typo’, I meant to say that I won’t apply to Business School before that time.

The practice test that I took was one of those that come with the default package of GMATPrep. It did not include an essay part, at least as far as I remember. It is great to hear that the tests actually do adapt to my performance (it has been a while since I took it, so please excuse my faded memory).

1)I took the test roughly nine months ago at the end of December 2014.
2)I plan on taking the official test between Christmas 2015 and New Year’s.

I will take another GMATPrep practice test this weekend to have an updated score and also more detailed information on my performances in the individual sections.

Best wishes,
Marc

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Marc,

Since that last CAT scores is 9 months old, it would be a good idea to take a new CAT this weekend (as you've planned). I suggest that you take the FULL CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) in a realistic, test-like fashion. Once you have those scores, you should report back here.

In your original post, it seemed that you were going to study and take the GMAT in a relatively short period of time (in the next 2 months or so, with about 6 weeks of study). In this last post, you mentioned how you were going to take the GMAT at the end of December. Since these two options are based around 2 very different lengths of time, I just wanted to confirm which plan is the one that you're going to follow.

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

MarcMoody · Answer

Dear Rich,

I will post the scores here once I completed the practice test this weekend.

As regards my study plan: The test will take place in the last week of December. I will study for the test in the period between my jobs - my current one finishes in mid-November, the next one begins in the first week of January). That leaves me with about 6 weeks to properly focus on the GMAT.

Best wishes,
Marc

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Marc,

If you honestly have no plans to study until mid-November, then there is really NO reason to take a CAT this weekend. The purpose of taking the CAT now would be so that you could begin your studies soon with that relevant information about your current skills.

I still highly recommend that you give yourself more study time than you've allotted - even if you're just studying part time until November, the overall benefit to your performance would likely be significant.

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

MarcMoody · Answer

Dear Rich,

As announced, here is my practice test result (see below).

I think that my skills relating to taking the GMAT will not significantly change between now and mid-November. But I agree with you in that starting to study now (even if merely part-time) can only be beneficial. I will try to fit in time and get going.

Here is my practice test result (in scaled score / percentile):

IR: 7 / 81
Quant: 39 / 48
Verbal: 35 / 74
Total: 620 / 69

I must say I was a bit surprised by the fact verbal was not even that bad this time.. but I need to improve my quant skills.

All the best,
Marc

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