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charsiewfan90
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Joined: 21 Sep 2016
Last visit: 05 Apr 2017
Posts: 2
Location: Malaysia
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
Schools: LBS '19 (D) Melbourne '19 (A$) Imperial '19 (D) Judge"18 Oxford"18
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V35
GPA: 2
WE:Corporate Finance (Finance: Investment Banking)
Schools: LBS '19 (D) Melbourne '19 (A$) Imperial '19 (D) Judge"18 Oxford"18
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V35
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Should I retake? If yes when? 28 Dec 2016, 03:48
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Hi all, wrote the GMAT today for the second time after 2 months of intense preparation and scored a 580 (47Q, 24V). This was lower that my previous attempt of 620 (42Q, 33V). Was not my day for Verbal. I have been averaging high 600s to low 700s on all my CATs (GMAC, Manhattan, Princeton, Economist, GMAT Pill). Cancelled the score immediately.

Given the timing of the next appointment (in 16 days) and deadlines of the schools I'm targeting, the next sitting will go past R2 of my dream schools and into R3, I will still be in range of R2 of my safety schools. Should I retake in 16 days?

Background
4 years of Investment Banking
1 year in Strategy and Corporate Development
UK undergraduate from Top 5 university

Thanks in advance.

Posted from my mobile device
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,807
Own Kudos:
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Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
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GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,807
Kudos: 12,065
Should I retake? If yes when? 28 Dec 2016, 21:17
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Hi charsiewfan90,

Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied for each attempt at the GMAT?
2) What materials have you used for each attempt?
3) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?

Goals:
4) What is your goal score?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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charsiewfan90
avatar
Joined: 21 Sep 2016
Last visit: 05 Apr 2017
Posts: 2
Location: Malaysia
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
Schools: LBS '19 (D) Melbourne '19 (A$) Imperial '19 (D) Judge"18 Oxford"18
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V35
GPA: 2
WE:Corporate Finance (Finance: Investment Banking)
Schools: LBS '19 (D) Melbourne '19 (A$) Imperial '19 (D) Judge"18 Oxford"18
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V35
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Should I retake? If yes when? 29 Dec 2016, 02:02
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Hi Rich,

Thanks so much.

Studies:
1) How long have you studied for each attempt at the GMAT?
3 months for Attempt 1, 2 months for Attempt 2

2) What materials have you used for each attempt?
Official Guide, GMAT Prep - 3 tests, various question materials compiled online that cater to 700-800

3) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
Manhattan - 680 (48Q, 34V)
Platinum - 660 (50Q, 32V)
Economist - 730 (50Q, 40V)
Veritas - 670 (50Q, 32V)
GMAT Pill - 700 (47Q, 39V)
GMAT Prep 1 - 720 (49Q, 39V)
GMAT Prep 2 - 700 (50Q, 35V)
GMAT Prep 3 - 730 (49Q, 40V)

Goals:
4) What is your goal score?
700

5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
LBS, Cambridge, Imperial, Melbourne

Thanks again.
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,807
Own Kudos:
12,065
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,807
Kudos: 12,065
Should I retake? If yes when? 29 Dec 2016, 10:56
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Hi charsiewfan90,

When the types of score drops (such as the ones that you experienced) occur on the Official GMAT, the two likely "causes" involve either something that was unrealistic during practice or something that was surprising (or not accounted for) on Test Day. If you can answer a few questions, then we should be able to figure this out:

When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?

Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Test, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. Unfortunately, raising a 600-sh score to a 700+ will likely take at least 2 months of additional consistent, guided study - so you will likely need more study time than you've allotted.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich