Balance of Verbal vs. Quant?

Question

Just took the GMATs today. Am happy with my overall score - 710 - but worried about how extremely unbalanced my scores are: 50V and 39Q. 

I'm looking at programs in Europe - Oxford, Cambridge, ESADE and IE. The rest of my app is good - lots of work experience, 3.8 GPA (with good grades in quant courses). 

How bad is that quant score? Do I need to retake? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

SimaQ · Answer

What a Verbal score.... Unbelievable... :hair

As for quantitative, it depends on what program you are targeting... But your score is absolutely great... :good

shahnandan · Answer

what ?! 50 in verbal..and I was so elated that I got 42 in verbal yesterday...kayli you must be an absolute pro at verbal... !!

kayli · Answer

Thanks for your kind words! I'm definitely happy with my overall score, particularly since taking the test was a bit of a last minute decision, so I haven't been prepping all that long. 

But I should explain that verbal score. I actually AM a bit of a professional there, so don't feel bad about that 42 at all. It is great! 

I'm a native English speaker, plus I've been a writer and editor for 10 years, first in book publishing, now in financial services. So correcting sentences and figuring out the main idea of convoluted technical paragraphs is what I do all day long! Plus I'm also trained in Teaching English as a Second Language, so the rules of English are pretty much second nature to me....

But that math....it's been a while since I've been in a classroom and I use Excel for all my real-life quant stuff, so it's all a bit of a mystery!

-kayli

remgeo · Answer

Hats off to you Kayli. Wow.. I cant believe that someone can get 50 in Verbal. Congrats. I wish I could sit down with you and get my basics nailed.

kook44 · Answer

kayli,
710 is an excellent score, however, should you wish to improve your quant, it is highly possible.
The first time I took the GMATprep (with hardly any preparation), My quant score was around 37. Now after about 6 weeks of preparation, I've raised it to 46 - and I made a few silly calculation errors. I may actually be in the 47-48 range. It's up to you - if you really feel the need to try again, hit the books for a few months. If you've scored a 39 in quant with minimal preparation, you probably do have a math-oriented mind, you are just forgetting some of the rules & shortcuts.

Good Luck in your apps!

bewakoof · Answer

A verbal score of 50.. 

I think I need to bow down to you.. like multiple times, to show the respect you have earned in my eyes!

kayli · Answer

I just found this site last night - wish I knew about it in the weeks leading up to the test! You've all been so nice....

Bewakoof...no bowing please! (Or then I'd have to bow to the folks who ace math, my nemesis). I think it's really all about feeling comfortable with the stuff. Now I just wish I could transfer a few of those points over to the math side, since there's really no diff b/w a 47 and a 50 V, but there is a diff between a 39 and a 42 math! But I guess I can't really complain

Remgeo - If you have any specific verbal areas of confusion, happy to help if I can.

Thanks!

Remgeo - If you have any specific verbal areas of confusion, happy to help if I can. Thanks!

selene · Answer

Kayli, congrats on your score. It is very successful..

50 verbal is really stunning, no wonder your background with verbal is of great help. I am an English Teacher as well, but not a native speaker of English. I would really be happy to get such a score as yours. I must say that you inspired me!!

We would be glad to see you around.

All the best :king

rc1980 · Answer

Congrats kayli...gr8 score

GMATT73 · Answer

Wow Kayli, with a few months of serious math practice you could potentially score the almighty 800! Nevertheless, 710 is respectable :-D

I might reccommend that you take a calculus and statistics course before applying so that you can convince the adcoms that you have the math skills required to survive the first year core curriculum.

Gordon · Answer

I could marry your verbal score :marriage

vivek123 · Answer

Your verbal score is amazing :pray

Congratulations ! :-D

Professor · Answer

congrats.

your verbal score is probably the highest score that i have seen. great score. i would be happy to have my verbal equivalant to your math score.

if you enhance your math skill to the verbal level, you can hit 800.

you can be a perfect moderator for verbal section.

:gl

laxieqv · Answer

I'm really stunned by your GREAT verbal score!!!!! :shock:

Congratulation on your elite score!!!

BTW, can you have a look at this CR https://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=27696 and help us out?!!! :wink:

Praetorian · Answer

Congrats kayli. That verbal score is certainly very impressive. 

I am sure folks in the verbal forum could benefit from your expertise. We truly cannot afford to hire an expert, but I hope you will consider helping 
out from time to time.


Praetorian

kayli · Answer

Thanks all! Not sure about that 800 (Verbal's definitely more my thing than math) but one can dream, right?! Still trying to decide if I'm even going to retake. The idea of taking that thing again is very unappealing!

Anyway, happy to stop by the verbal forum...

kl

Professor · Answer

your score is perfect, imo retaking is not necessary for you. but you have to be ready for any possible question about your qt score? 

could you through some lights on the question posted above by laxi?

phdczar · Answer

What a verbal score! Wonderful.
Best Wishes

	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Target Test Prep - Save up to $599 $400 Discount + $99 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

Balance of Verbal vs. Quant?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards