Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 11:32 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 11:32
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
BK1012
avatar
Joined: 09 Jul 2011
Last visit: 12 Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 7
Kudos: 0
HELP! 09 Jul 2011, 19:03
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi,

I took the GMAT today and am very disappointed with the 700 score I received. I had a distribution of 42(59th percentile) on the quant section and 44(97th percentile) on the verbal section.

I was surprised my quant was so low because I had been getting at least 80th percentile on all the practice tests and averaging a 730 total on those practice tests. I would like to apply to Harvard, Chicago, Wharton, and INSEAD and I know my quant is low for their ranges. However, as an undergrad I graduated with a 3.9 with a degree in both Finance and Economics (where Econometrics, a highly statistical field, was my major). Additionally, I will be working for an excellent, internationally known investment bank for the years before I apply (I just graduated as an undergrad). Given this entire package, should I retake the test in an attempt to improve my score? And if I do retake and I somehow get a lower score, will that be held against me during the application processes?

Thanks for your help.
User avatar
GMATveteran
User avatar
Joined: 19 Dec 2010
Last visit: 21 Mar 2015
Posts: 25
Own Kudos:
15
 [1]
Status:Ross MBA/MS (SNRE) class of 2014
Location: USA
Concentration: Operations & supply chain management; alternative energy
GPA: 3.5
WE 1: US Army logistics
WE 2: Client management & business development (Russian Auditing & accounting firm)
WE 3: Sales for renewable energy firm
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Ross '14 (WA)
GMAT 2: 710 Q44 V44
Posts: 25
Kudos: 15
 [1]
HELP! 10 Jul 2011, 16:40
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
From the stats I've seen, the highest average score from any student body was the low 720s (Yale, was it?). So I would say 720-740 is the "safe" score range to settle on for any school to which you want to apply. If you have time, it certainly wouldn't hurt to redouble your efforts & shoot for a slightly higher score. Since you'll be working at an I-bank, money certainly won't be an issue so don't be afraid to throw down another $250.

That said, 700 isn't bad at all, and certainly not a deal breaker on any application. But its FAR more important to focus on achieving excellence, gaining recognition, and seizing leadership opportunities at your work place, to demonstrate to the adcoms that you have solid potential for rapid career progression and the desire to be a leader.

Bottomline, IF you have time right now and want to retake, I say do it ASAP, because as an investment banker, you'll most likely be so busy that you'll barely have time for personal hygiene, let alone extensive test prep.

Don't worry about the possibility of doing worse. From what I understand, nearly 90% of people who retake the GMAT improve on their score, so your chances are favorable, to say the least.
avatar
BK1012
avatar
Joined: 09 Jul 2011
Last visit: 12 Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 7
Kudos: 0
HELP! 10 Jul 2011, 17:12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATveteran
From the stats I've seen, the highest average score from any student body was the low 720s (Yale, was it?). So I would say 720-740 is the "safe" score range to settle on for any school to which you want to apply. If you have time, it certainly wouldn't hurt to redouble your efforts & shoot for a slightly higher score. Since you'll be working at an I-bank, money certainly won't be an issue so don't be afraid to throw down another $250.

That said, 700 isn't bad at all, and certainly not a deal breaker on any application. But its FAR more important to focus on achieving excellence, gaining recognition, and seizing leadership opportunities at your work place, to demonstrate to the adcoms that you have solid potential for rapid career progression and the desire to be a leader.

Bottomline, IF you have time right now and want to retake, I say do it ASAP, because as an investment banker, you'll most likely be so busy that you'll barely have time for personal hygiene, let alone extensive test prep.

Don't worry about the possibility of doing worse. From what I understand, nearly 90% of people who retake the GMAT improve on their score, so your chances are favorable, to say the least.
Show more

Thank you so much for your response. I definitely understand what you are saying. Unfortunately, time is an issue for me right now. I cannot retake the test for another 30 days but I begin training next week, so I certainly wont have much time for training in the near future. I am afraid if I retake the test in a few months or a year that I might forget a lot of what I learned during my recent studies and thats the only reason I am concerned about getting a lower score, although it would be difficult to do worst on math than I did. Would I be a far more competitive applicant at a school like MIT or Chicago? Obviously, those are also amazing schools I would have no qualms about going to.
User avatar
GMATveteran
User avatar
Joined: 19 Dec 2010
Last visit: 21 Mar 2015
Posts: 25
Own Kudos:
15
Status:Ross MBA/MS (SNRE) class of 2014
Location: USA
Concentration: Operations & supply chain management; alternative energy
GPA: 3.5
WE 1: US Army logistics
WE 2: Client management & business development (Russian Auditing & accounting firm)
WE 3: Sales for renewable energy firm
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Ross '14 (WA)
GMAT 2: 710 Q44 V44
Posts: 25
Kudos: 15
HELP! 11 Jul 2011, 00:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
Thank you so much for your response. I definitely understand what you are saying. Unfortunately, time is an issue for me right now. I cannot retake the test for another 30 days but I begin training next week, so I certainly wont have much time for training in the near future. I am afraid if I retake the test in a few months or a year that I might forget a lot of what I learned during my recent studies and thats the only reason I am concerned about getting a lower score, although it would be difficult to do worst on math than I did. Would I be a far more competitive applicant at a school like MIT or Chicago? Obviously, those are also amazing schools I would have no qualms about going to.
Show more

Yes, time will be quite an obstacle. If you can manage to burn the midnight oil & squeeze in some GMAT review time during your training, then quickly slip in a GMAT exam, that would be ideal. Otherwise, I guess pop into forums like this and just do a few problems as often as possible to stay in healthy mental shape. I don't know what other advise I can provide. I would say focus a bit more on verbal, since I assume you'll have plenty of quant practice at your I-banking job (correct me if I'm wrong).
avatar
roble22
avatar
Joined: 10 Feb 2011
Last visit: 24 Mar 2017
Posts: 5
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Kellogg '16
Posts: 5
Kudos: 0
HELP! 11 Jul 2011, 15:52
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I do not think you should worry about a 700. It might be slightly below average but average means there are plenty below too. You should work on other parts of the app. That is my two cents at least.
User avatar
bizschoolprep
User avatar
Joined: 07 Jan 2011
Last visit: 17 Mar 2012
Posts: 235
Own Kudos:
11
Given Kudos: 1
Status:A-Z of MBA Admissions
Location: Boston
Posts: 235
Kudos: 11
HELP! 12 Jul 2011, 21:19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A retake will not be held against you. In fact most, almost all, of the business schools consider the highest GMAT score so you are good at that end. You have just graduated and if you are not planning to applying right now, you have time to retake it. 700 is not a bad score however if you feel that you can do better than that and achieve a 30-40+ improvement, why not give it a go? There is nothing to lose other than the GMAT fee and you are already in the GMAT prep mode.