Hey vb27

Generally speaking, you want to score decent enough on the IR section so as not to draw negative attention to a low IR score.

You don't want the admissions committee to focus on a really low IR score of like 1 or 2 -- that shows lack of effort or ability

That said, it's not that much more beneficial to have a perfect 8 versus a 6 or 7.

So ideally, you want to stay in the 4, 5, 6, or 7 range to efficiently get a score that is decent without putting a crazy amount of effort.

Best of luck!

Some schools won't like that. It's like deliberately getting a low score on the AWA section. Even if schools don't worry too much about the AWA, a combination of a low AWA score and a high GMAT score makes them uncomfortable, because they know that an applicant with such a combination did not take the GMAT as it was meant to be taken. The way it was taken by the majority of applicants. That applicant almost certainly got a major, and unfair, advantage (having to spend 1 hour less on the exam).

Please note though, that this opinion is based on a very small sample size and it may not be applicable to all schools. Also, the conversations I've had have been around the AWA, not the IR, section. I am assuming that they'll look at IR the same way.
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