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MycroftTreet
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance 29 Mar 2025, 03:00
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Hey everyone,

so I just did the GMAT Focus for the second time and got a 675. That in itself is of course completely fine, seeing that it is basically the Median for all top schools. However, I am unsure about my scores in the different sections. I was great in Verbal and Data Insights (both 98th percentile) but I wasnt so good in Quant (57th percentile).
Do you think that is something that Adcoms have an issue with or do they care more about the overall score?
Greetings from Germany!
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance 30 Mar 2025, 22:26
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Hi MycroftTreet,

Schools lay a fair bit of emphasis on your quant score. Hence, if you have some time in hand, a retake would be worth it.

All the best!
MycroftTreet
Hey everyone,

so I just did the GMAT Focus for the second time and got a 675. That in itself is of course completely fine, seeing that it is basically the Median for all top schools. However, I am unsure about my scores in the different sections. I was great in Verbal and Data Insights (both 98th percentile) but I wasnt so good in Quant (57th percentile).
Do you think that is something that Adcoms have an issue with or do they care more about the overall score?
Greetings from Germany!
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance Updated on: 31 Mar 2025, 04:52
Originally posted by MBAandBeyond on 30 Mar 2025, 22:40.
Last edited by MBAandBeyond on 31 Mar 2025, 04:52, edited 1 time in total.
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MycroftTreet
Hey everyone,

so I just did the GMAT Focus for the second time and got a 675. That in itself is of course completely fine, seeing that it is basically the Median for all top schools. However, I am unsure about my scores in the different sections. I was great in Verbal and Data Insights (both 98th percentile) but I wasnt so good in Quant (57th percentile).
Do you think that is something that Adcoms have an issue with or do they care more about the overall score?
Greetings from Germany!
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Hi MycroftTreet , factors adcoms are likely to consider:

- earlier quant scores
- if course is quant centric ( Finance MBA)
- career profile, role

Overall, 675 is good. But might need to retake.

Lastly, we’ve also worked with an applicant who initially prepared for the GMAT but later switched to the GRE, feeling it was a better fit. Despite getting an average GRE score, she received admission offers from 2 schools with scholarships, checkout her SUCCESS STORY here

Feel free to connect for a Profie Evaluation Session
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance 31 Mar 2025, 04:31
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How many mistakes did you make in the quant section? The reason I ask is that we keep seeing these weirdly low quant scores with just 2-3 mistakes. If that is the case with you, you can also use the optional essay to explain why that score is not representative of your quantitative abilities. Highlight other quant related work/achievements you may have had in the past as well.

However, if you were scoring higher in quant in your mock tests, then retaking would be a good idea.
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance 31 Mar 2025, 06:28
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Hi MycroftTreet What schools are you applying to? Not all schools will be overly concerned about your quant percentile, but some will definitely examine your academic background and other indicators to determine whether this was just an anomaly or if quant is genuinely a weak area for you. Your overall score is strong, so you should take the opportunity to acknowledge that you’re aware you didn’t perform as well in the quant section. As long as the rest of your application is compelling, schools are often willing to overlook a lower sectional score, provided you demonstrate awareness of this shortcoming and a commitment to addressing it, whether through a business fundamentals course, quant courses, or other preparatory steps.


Feel free to seek professional guidance

Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-sahni-83b00819/ |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com­
MycroftTreet
Hey everyone,

so I just did the GMAT Focus for the second time and got a 675. That in itself is of course completely fine, seeing that it is basically the Median for all top schools. However, I am unsure about my scores in the different sections. I was great in Verbal and Data Insights (both 98th percentile) but I wasnt so good in Quant (57th percentile).
Do you think that is something that Adcoms have an issue with or do they care more about the overall score?
Greetings from Germany!
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MycroftTreet
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GMAT Focus 1: 675 Q79 V87 DI85
GPA: 3.5
Schools: HBS (D) Yale '27 (D) Stanford (S) Haas '27 (S) Kellog '27 (S)
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance 01 Apr 2025, 07:13
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I am applying to Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, and Kellogg. I have just finished my engineering undergraduate and so I hope that they take that as enough evidence for my quantitative ability, together with one mathematics award.

MBAGuide
Hi MycroftTreet What schools are you applying to? Not all schools will be overly concerned about your quant percentile, but some will definitely examine your academic background and other indicators to determine whether this was just an anomaly or if quant is genuinely a weak area for you. Your overall score is strong, so you should take the opportunity to acknowledge that you’re aware you didn’t perform as well in the quant section. As long as the rest of your application is compelling, schools are often willing to overlook a lower sectional score, provided you demonstrate awareness of this shortcoming and a commitment to addressing it, whether through a business fundamentals course, quant courses, or other preparatory steps.

MycroftTreet
Hey everyone,

so I just did the GMAT Focus for the second time and got a 675. That in itself is of course completely fine, seeing that it is basically the Median for all top schools. However, I am unsure about my scores in the different sections. I was great in Verbal and Data Insights (both 98th percentile) but I wasnt so good in Quant (57th percentile).
Do you think that is something that Adcoms have an issue with or do they care more about the overall score?
Greetings from Germany!
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance 01 Apr 2025, 08:09
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From your other post, it seems that you are applying for deferred MBA programs and do not yet have work experience that will back up your quant capability.

May I ask what is your undergraduate major?

MycroftTreet
Hey everyone,

so I just did the GMAT Focus for the second time and got a 675. That in itself is of course completely fine, seeing that it is basically the Median for all top schools. However, I am unsure about my scores in the different sections. I was great in Verbal and Data Insights (both 98th percentile) but I wasnt so good in Quant (57th percentile).
Do you think that is something that Adcoms have an issue with or do they care more about the overall score?
Greetings from Germany!
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MycroftTreet
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GMAT Focus 1: 675 Q79 V87 DI85
GPA: 3.5
Schools: HBS (D) Yale '27 (D) Stanford (S) Haas '27 (S) Kellog '27 (S)
GMAT Focus 1: 675 Q79 V87 DI85
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance 01 Apr 2025, 08:21
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I studied Mechatronics which is basically a mix of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and a bit of Computer Science.

yc168
From your other post, it seems that you are applying for deferred MBA programs and do not yet have work experience that will back up your quant capability.

May I ask what is your undergraduate major?

MycroftTreet
Hey everyone,

so I just did the GMAT Focus for the second time and got a 675. That in itself is of course completely fine, seeing that it is basically the Median for all top schools. However, I am unsure about my scores in the different sections. I was great in Verbal and Data Insights (both 98th percentile) but I wasnt so good in Quant (57th percentile).
Do you think that is something that Adcoms have an issue with or do they care more about the overall score?
Greetings from Germany!
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance 01 Apr 2025, 08:31
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If you are strong in math, you can always use an optional essay.
If you are not strong in Quant, you don't have to be - schools do want people who are diverse and this is one aspect of diversity. As long as you are not claiming to want to go to Finance, it may be just fine, being more of marketing focus.
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance 01 Apr 2025, 08:33
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Then your Quant section score should not be too big of an issue, as long as you have good GPA in your challenging STEM major.

It may be helpful to provide some explanation about your Quant section score in your application though, as adcom would likely expect a somewhat better quant score from people with background similar to yours.

Best of luck.

MycroftTreet
I studied Mechatronics which is basically a mix of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and a bit of Computer Science.
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GMAT Section Score Imbalance 03 Apr 2025, 20:52
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MycroftTreet
Hey everyone,

so I just did the GMAT Focus for the second time and got a 675. That in itself is of course completely fine, seeing that it is basically the Median for all top schools. However, I am unsure about my scores in the different sections. I was great in Verbal and Data Insights (both 98th percentile) but I wasnt so good in Quant (57th percentile).
Do you think that is something that Adcoms have an issue with or do they care more about the overall score?
Greetings from Germany!
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Hi MycroftTreet,

Congrats on the 675—that’s a competitive overall GMAT Focus score for many MBA programs, especially with such strong performance in Verbal and Data Insights.

As for your Quant percentile—while 57th is on the lower side, it’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, especially since your overall score is competitive and your other sections are stellar. Adcoms typically focus on the overall score first, but they do consider the section breakdown to ensure balance, particularly for candidates from non-quant backgrounds or those aiming for quant-heavy post-MBA roles like finance or consulting.

If your academic or professional background already demonstrates quantitative strength—through coursework in math, economics, or statistics, or data-heavy work experience—it can help offset the lower Quant percentile.

Unless your profile lacks other quantitative signals, you should still be in a strong position. If you're concerned, you could briefly address it in the optional essay and highlight other ways you've demonstrated quantitative ability, such as through your work experience, extracurricular activities, or relevant preparatory courses.

Feel free to schedule a complimentary call with our MBA consultants for a more detailed discussion. You can also connect with them via call or WhatsApp at +91 7780769732.