GMAT Dilemma - Would you retake?

Question

Hi there -

I've had a bit of a dilemma on my mind for the past year or so and the time has finally come to make a decision. Basically, I'm wondering if I need to retake the GMAT or not.

Context:
Took the GMAT July 2010 - scored a 710 : V40 / Q47, AWA 6
Retook the GMAT July 2012 (because retakes never hurt, right?) - scored a 710 : V41 / Q47, AWA 6, IR 2

Even though the scores are about the same, I'm afraid that the IR 2 will look bad, even if I just submit the first score (if that's even possible). Am I making this out to be a bigger deal than it is?

Biggest reason I am asking is because I currently find myself unemployed and looking for a job (Was working full-time to launch a startup for the past 2 years and funding dried up). I could use this time to retake the GMAT a 3rd time... or I could learn a new language, travel a bit, put extra energy into the job search, etc. I'm planning on applying for 2014, though if I find a particularly cool opportunity, I could be persuaded to delay my application until 2015 at the latest. (I'll be 30 on Christmas, and I already feel like I'm at the top end age range for a number of my target schools).

Many thanks for the help,

GMAT Confused

dave785 · Answer

I had a 710 with low IR score and I retook it, and I'm glad that I did.

however, my 710 and low IR score was mostly due to bad timing. I left questions in every section unanswered, and about half of IR like that.

If timing is your issue, I think you can practice timing and score better. But for me, even though I practiced about twice as long for the second one as for the first, I didn't get a higher percentage of questions right - the only increase in score came from simply answering more.

jumsumtak · Answer

Tough situation. Especially, when you don't know how schools are evaluating IR.

IR 2 is certainly a red flag. Although, it seems you have peaked on your test score, I will hesitantly say a yes to a retake because you plan to apply next year. Who knows, IR may be slightly more important factor then! If you feel you have a very competitive profile otherwise you might skip it. But, from the information you provided, it seems you're gonna do some explaining in the optional essay anyways. So, my rec. stands.

+ you can't submit just one score. Actually, you submit score reports and not just scores. The score report contains all the test scores for the ones that you have taken in the last 5 years.

GMATConfused2013 · Answer

Thanks for the suggestion. I know exactly how it happened... I was actually scheduled to retake the test in early June but had to move it back to mid-July due to some travel. Unfortunately this meant that IR was not at all incorporated into my studying and I froze up when I saw it (answered fewer than half of the questions in the section).

So far it sounds like the answer is a tentative yes, though I'm confused... because in the poll at the top, 2 people voted No while in the comments section 2 said Yes.

I know that they can view 5 scores on the report, but I remember that when I last applied, they only asked for one score. My assumption is that they go off of the score you give them and they only use the score report to verify that it is accurate (rather than scrutinizing the entire report).

Admissionado · Answer

Unless you are SURE you can get 20-30 points higher, no. The IR doesn't really affect your admissions chances that much, and you are perhaps better off spending more time to put that energy into the job search, because finding a better job will make a bigger difference.

GMAT Dilemma - Would you retake?

Should I retake the GMAT?

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