High Verbal Low Quant, is it enough?

Question

Hi All,

I recently took the online version of the GMAT and scored 760, but the problem is with my target being the LGO program at MIT, I feel like my quant score was much too low (67th percentile) despite the high net score. Is this rationale enough for me to try and take it again for an in person exam? I feel like the online whiteboard really dampened my ability to perform.

Thanks in advance guys!

GMATinsight · Answer

Hi leweisun Since, LGO program is targeting students from a technology background and it's expected that students from such background perform well on Quant, So I am afraid but YES low quant score might reduce your chances to qualify the admission process. Now, one can take online exam with a whiteboard of size specified by GMAC so I think you should consider retaking exam with a minimum 77 percentile target i.e. scaled score of 49 in Quant. I hope it help! You can tag me for any further query on GMAT and admission related topics. All the best!!!

Raxit85 · Answer

It'd be better to appear for GMAT again in test center, if possible. However, you can approach MIT LGO program alumni to get more insights.

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EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi leweisun,

First off, a 760 is an outstanding Score, so you can comfortably apply to any Business Schools that interest you. Since you're ultimately asking an Admissions question, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. Those Experts should be able to answer your Admissions questions and help define the specific areas of your profile that could use some improvement.

There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi leweisun,

760 is a great score! Out of curiosity what were the scores of your official practice exams?

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  leweisun . When I first looked at this thread earlier, no one had yet congratulated you on a fine score, but I see that others have beat me to it now. Well done. With that said, I have taken a look at the LGO Class Profile from the last two cohorts (for  2020  and  2021 ), and a few points may be worth mentioning:

1) What is your work experience? GPA? Among the 45-48 matriculants from the two classes, 5 years was the average, and the average GPA was hovering around 3.7 on a 4.0 scale.

2) Your total GMAT™ score will likely put you at the upper end of the middle 80 percent, which was 770 and 760 the previous two years. If 700-710 represented the lower end of the middle 80 percent, then you have to figure that many people within the group, even those who may have earned a 51 in Quant, achieved a 35-36 in Verbal at best. Your balanced 48/48 (or so) might really set you apart.

3) The majority of students in both cohorts submitted GRE® scores, and the average Quant score there was 166 in both years. For that test, such a scaled score corresponds to the 89th percentile, but importantly, the percentiles do not drop as precipitously on that test as they do on the GMAT™ for Quant, particularly at the upper end. Sure, a perfect score might be in the 96th percentile, the same as that of the GMAT™ for Quant, but after that, each point lower, in terms of a percentile score, drops by 1 percent, then 2, then 3, then 1, 3, and 2 (such that a 164 is in the 84th percentile, and both years of data had a lower scaled score of 161 within the middle 80 percent). By comparison, the GMAT™ percentiles drop from 96 to 85 to 74 to 67, so scaled scores might carry more weight.

I understand your predicament. I would feel the same way. But at the same time, despite the reputation of the school for being top-heavy in math, these numbers suggest you may not be as out of place as you think. I would seek multiple opinions, just as you are, before strapping myself to the hot seat again and splashing another few hundred dollars to do so.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

- Andrew

leweisun · Answer

Thanks guys! You guys are all the best. I think I'm going to take the GMATs again ASAP with a real dry erase board. Also I only graduated undergrad June 2019. So this is still a ways off. Oh and for reference my official gmat practice scores were 750 and 740 for the free ones on GMAT dot com

High Verbal Low Quant, is it enough?

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