Importance of IR section

Question

To whom it may concern,

How important is the "IR" section of the GMAT? My score is: 760 Q49 V44 AWA6.0 IR5.0. Should I worry about my IR score?

My own research on reddit and this site leads me to think that I shouldn't worry too much about it. I should invest time into other aspects of my application.

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond.

mbaMissionJA · Answer

Hi almazovniko . You know, I think you are probably OK here, though I notice your other GMAT on your profile is lower, and I wonder if your IR is low there too. If you're submitting one score where it's on the low side (and a 5 is probably OK), I wouldn't worry too much, but if you are submitting multiple scores where it's consistently low, I think the schools will make a small note of it. Schools used to shrug the score off more, but I do think they are starting to take note of it...but luckily, less than the overall and Q score. I think the 760 and 49Q are great though and would probably not be too focused on it, but really concentrate on all the other areas of the app and have your recommenders speak to your analytical capabilities and logical mind.

Warmly, Julie-Anne Heafey

almazovniko · Answer

mbaMissionJA

Thank you for the reply! My older GMAT had an IR of 7. I might have sent both GMAT reports to the same 2-3 schools, but the overall plan is to submit the 760 one. Do you recommend sending both, since my IR is a 7 on the 710 one?

Thank you so much for the advice!

mbaMissionJA · Answer

Ah, so better on the earlier test? Great. If you haven't canceled your score, and you sent your most recent one to the schools, they are going to receive all the scores you've achieved in the last 5 years, so they probably have it. It's not like the GRE where you select which tests to send - the GMAT shows everything that wasn't canceled (within the 5 yr time frame). On the application, you will often just enter your best score (or whatever they ask for - sometimes schools do want all of them). I think you are fine here, score-wise. Now, it's up to the rest of the app to make your case!

Warmly,
Julie-Anne

Warmly,
Julie-Anne

almazovniko · Answer

mbaMissionJA thank you again! I kept that score

almazovniko · Answer

mbaMissionJA  I canceled two scores before, would schools see my "canceled" attempts?

mbaMissionJA · Answer

No. They used to see canceled scores with a C, but now they are omitted fully from the reports. Sometimes a school will ask you on the application how many times you've taken a test, and if you answer "5" and they see 3 on the report, they'll either know you canceled or assume they expired, but they won't see "canceled"-- at least these days.

Good luck!
Julie-Anne

Good luck!
Julie-Anne

almazovniko · Answer

mbaMissionJA  do you know when they implemented this? I have a "C" in 2018 and in early 2019.

mbaMissionJA · Answer

Hmmm, I think calling GMAC is the best course of action here. I do not know the date when they made changes but they can surely clarify what will appear on whatever report.

If you are just sending it now, cancellations shouldn't show, but if you've sent it in the past, they might see something. I would talk to them about the situation. Good luck!

Importance of IR section

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