Hi KidGMATClubber,
I think that you'll hear a variety of opinions on this topic. Is it nice to show growth in your GMAT score if you take the test multiple times? I'd say yes. However, we can't say that schools "prefer" to see that growth, because some folks take the GMAT just one time and achieve their goal scores, right? So, if you want to be on the safe side, as long as you are taking the GMAT at a test center, if you don't get your desired score, then cancel it and retake the GMAT. If for any reason you need that score in the future, you can simply reinstate it. That way you'll have whichever option you want when submitting your GMAT score(s).
If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out.