Should I retake the gmat?

Question

I am wondering if I should retake the GMAT. I originally studied just using the OG and got a 640 on my first try. Then decided to study using the Economist Gmat tutor which guarantees a 70 point increase. After completing that course I retook the gmat and scored a 590. Huge drop. I then went back to just studying OG for a month and took it again and got a 610. I am wanting to apply to schools in the top 25 but don’t know if a 640 will make the cut. I am Native American applying through the consortium. Should I try one last time on the gmat or risk it with the score I have? Thank you!

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camthewizard · Answer

I am wondering if I should retake the GMAT. I originally studied just using the OG and got a 640 on my first try. Then decided to study using the Economist Gmat tutor which guarantees a 70 point increase. After completing that course I retook the gmat and scored a 590. Huge drop. I then went back to just studying OG for a month and took it again and got a 610. I am wanting to apply to schools in the top 25 but don’t know if a 640 will make the cut. I am Native American applying through the consortium. Should I try one last time on the gmat or risk it with the score I have? Thank you!

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IanStewart · Answer

It's a bit hard to advise without more information, but I think in part you'd want to base your decision on your diagnostic test scores on official tests (ignore any prep company test scores). If you had been scoring, say, in the 670 range on official practice tests, then you'd have very good reason to expect an improved score on the real thing, and since a better score is likely going to be helpful to your chances of admission, a retake would be a great idea. If instead you were scoring in the 610 range, then there wouldn't be much reason to expect a score higher than 640, and I'd only suggest retaking the test if you're able to make some genuine improvement to your overall level first. Based on your score split, Q39/V39, it shouldn't actually be too difficult to make genuine improvement - your Verbal score is outstanding, and that's the hard section to improve at with study. With a Verbal score that high, you surely have the logical and conceptual ability to do very well in Quant, with the right kind of study, so you'd want to get good resources to study from and focus on that area almost exclusively.

That said, your 640 might be good enough for your applications already, but I wouldn't be able to say - that's a question you'd want to direct to a reputable admissions consultant, who would need to know more about your profile to give an answer.

That said, your 640 might be good enough for your applications already, but I wouldn't be able to say - that's a question you'd want to direct to a reputable admissions consultant, who would need to know more about your profile to give an answer.

souvonik2k · Answer

Hi  camthewizard 
It would help if you could find out the average Gmat score in your target schools. 
Then you will come to know whether your score is sufficient or not.

udaypratapsingh99 · Answer

what was your quant and verbal score split?

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi camthewizard,

GMAC has publicly stated that the Official Score that you earn on Test Day is within +/- 30 points of actual ability. Your 3 Official Scores show that you essentially performed the same each time (about 610 +/- a few points). You handle certain aspects of the GMAT consistently well, but you also make certain consistent mistakes. While a 640 - along with a strong OVERALL profile - might be enough to get you into your first-choice Business School, there might be an issue with your Quant Scaled Score.

Many Business Schools view an Applicant's Quant Scaled Score as an indicator of how that Applicant might handle the 'academic side' of the Program - and a Q29 won't impress anyone (and it might also be seen as a 'red flag' at certain Programs). That score implies that you did okay on many of the "math" questions that you saw on Test Day, but you made a lot of little mistakes throug that section and you missed out on LOTS of 'strategy-based' points. Thus, beyond working on your general 'math skills' and note-taking, by focusing on Quant Tactics, you'll be better able to increase your GMAT Score AND better impress how Business School Admissions Officers will view your potential to handle their respective Programs.

If your Verbal Scores are consistently this strong, then you could focus on your Quant skills and potentially retest in a month. Before we can discuss how best to approach this next phase of your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long did you study before each of your 3 Official attempts?
2) Have you used any study materials besides the ones you listed?
3) How have you scored on EACH of your CATs/mocks (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

IanStewart · Answer

GMAC would never say that, because it's not true. All they have said is that the standard error of GMAT scores is just less than 30 points, but that's not synonymous with what you're saying.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi camthewizard,

I agree that you first need to look at average GMAT scores at the schools to which you plan to apply to determine whether 640 would put you “in the mix.” That said, you also may find it helpful to reach out to one of the many admissions consultants here on GMAT Club to get another opinion.

If you do decide to retake the GMAT, please reach back out here, and I’d be happy to provide some further advice.

Good luck!

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