kmalik wrote:
Hi everyone - this is my first post on GMAT club! I wanted to get some advice on whether I should retake the GMAT exam.
My goal is admission into a Top 20 US Business school, and I've already taken the GMAT twice. On my first attempt in 2018 I got a 730 (50Q/38V), but on my second attempt in 2020 I got a 710 (I don't remember by Q/V split because I cancelled the score as it was lower than my previous score, but I do remember I improved on 38V but got worse on my 50Q). I feel like if I make a third & final attempt at the GMAT that I can improve on my 38V and again get a 50Q, which should result in a 730+ overall score. This might be foolish thinking, but I feel like I need to get the highest GMAT score possible in order to compensate for the below average portions of my application to have a competitive application for the schools I plan on applying to.
My question is - should I retake the GMAT exam or am I better off standing on my current 730 score from 4 years ago and focusing on other aspects of my application?
Much thanks from a confused first-time poster!
Hi kmalik,
First of all, Congratulations! 730 with a Q50 is a solid score to secure and as such I don't think you need to retake the GMAT. That is, unless you feel you can improve on this by at least 30-40 points. Here's an article that you may find helpful:
In my opinion it really depends on how you would present your application and build your profile.
Bschools generally follow a holistic approach for the Admission criteria. The Adcoms look at your overall profile and not just the GMAT score in isolation. So, remember, it’s the overall profile that counts. Your chances of getting into a good B-school cannot be determined by any single factor such as your demography or any other factor. You then need to take into consideration the various other factors such as target schools, programs, overall profile. So, even if you improve your score to 750 or above, you still might not get the benefit if you don’t have a good profile as per the Adcoms. On the other hand, if your profile is good, then again there is no need to add 20-30 points anyways. The idea is that if you are below average in one area, you can compensate in others. For example, you can work on your essay(s) to give an edge to your application.
However, if you don't have an immediate deadline approaching for applications, you can consider going for a retake as you already have this score as a backup. A higher GMAT score obviously never hurts!
All the very best!
Feel free to reach out in case of any queries! Would be happy to take them up!
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