Harvard 2013 (HBS) - Calling All Applicants

To some extent, you answer your own question. Most schools aren't looking at IR this year until a better, more standardized curve is established. Will having a 3 affect you? Mostly not, but its there on your score report so the adcom can read it. Having said that, the adcom also realizes that this is a new questions type and hence you may not be prepared enough.

To address this, they would re inforce their belief by looking at your quant score, which to be honest is OK - if it was 50/51, it would have done you much better especially in this context. Overall, Harvard (you are posting on this thread so I am assuming your interest in applying) has an average GMAT score of 730. So across two main factors: 'lower' quant - its not low at all otherwise, but if someone were to look at IR score and then this, it doesn't help, and 2) a GMAT score lower than Harvard's GMAT - you may wish to reconsider taking the exam anyways.

However, please take this with a pinch of salt - a 700 is a good score any day, and you should go ahead and apply if you feel this adequately demonstrates your academic potential. After all, you have those 800 words and your resume to impress the adcom with as well

Cheers!