GMAT Score Selection: 760 IR 5 vs 740 IR 8

Great scores! What were your Quant and Verbal subscores (out of 51) on the respective tests?

It's important to consider that some business-school adcoms put more emphasis on the Quant score, or even the Verbal score, so your individual Q/V subscores are a vital yet missing piece of this decision.

GMAT Quant + Verbal Composite Score Conversions and Percentiles (updated for 2020)

Another idea to consider: why not send both? That strategy would make your GMAT "Frankenstein score" aka "superscore" 760 with an 8 on IR, and would allow you to send your two highest subscores on Quant and Verbal. Prestigious business schools such as Wharton and UCLA are now known to consider your Frankenstein score, for example—your best individual section scores on Quant and Verbal from any attempt.

I agree with the commenters above regarding the relative importance of the IR section (and AWA, for that matter), but I think we can all agree that an IR 8 still looks better than an IR 5, and that a 740 composite (97%) is almost as good as a 760 (99%).

Gratz and all the best! If you're really concerned one thing you could would be to casually reach out to your intended uni(s) to ask what their thoughts are on such a matter.

I think you should go with the 760. All the best.

If you're applying to Wharton or UCLA, for example, then you should definitely consider sending both the 740 and the 760: both Wharton and UCLA are now known to consider your Frankenstein score (best individual score on Quant and Verbal from any exam).

https://www.reddit.com/r/MBA/comments/j ... om_wharton

Hi McElroyTutoring,

Is there any substance apart from the Reddit thread regarding UCLA considering 'Frankenstein' scores? I've score two 710's with very different breakdowns, though the best combined would be a 750. On the flip side, if they were to consider my worst Quant score (a 42) then that could have negative connotations too.

I've received an interview already (with the better Quant exam score) but I'm wondering if I should submit my other GMAT score at this late stage... Any advice?

Thanks!

Hi LondonGMATTER,

From an admissions perspective, the GMAT—like the LSAT, the GRE, the SAT and the ACT—has become a game of bests, not averages. Although this policy is not yet officially in writing on the school websites, we have verbal confirmation from representatives of adcoms at both UCLA and Wharton that they do indeed consider your "Frankenstein score"—aka your best Quant and Verbal scores from any sitting, also known as a "superscore." In some cases, the Frankenstein score could even be considered to include your scores on IR and AWA!

I think it's unfair to say that your Frankenstein composite is a 750, though: it's more like a 710 with a high Quant score on one exam, and a high Verbal score on the other. For example, I consider my GMAT superscore / Frankenstein score to be 770, Q50, V48, IR 8, AWA 6, even though Q50/V48 in one sitting is usually a 780 or 790 composite.

In other words, I would Frankenstein the best Quant and Verbal subscores, but keep the highest individual composite / total score, since it's unfair stats-wise for UCLA to add those two scores together to create a 750 composite, but it does show your potential on both sections, albeit on different attempts: the very reason why Frankensteining exists.

Hi mcelroytutoring ,

Thanks for your reply. In your opinion, is it worth reaching back out to the AdCom at this stage (3 weeks before decisions) to give them this update or do you think it has no bearing and if anything I could come off as pushy/needy?

Ultimately that's what I'm trying to figure out at this stage.

Thanks very much!

No problem! : )

You can always call UCLA to confirm the superscore / Frankenstein policy if you see the need to do so, but there's no need, in my opinion—just go ahead and send the second 710 score as well (the one with the higher Verbal score). Worst-case scenario, the school doesn't see the other score in time, and it has no effect. Best-case scenario, it helps raise your Frankenstein score, due to your superior performance in Verbal on the second exam.

As far as Frankenstein GMAT scores are concerned, your highest GMAT section score on Quant and Verbal is all that matters, regardless of any lower scores (either section or composite) to which they are attached.