I blew my GMAT

Question

Hi, I have been extremely disappointed with my GMAT performance. Although I was scoring in the range of 750-770 consistently in my prep tests, I becaome to slow when it mattered the most and had to guess through some RC questions, pulling my score down.

I scored a 740 . I want to apply to the top 5 schools only.

You think I should retest in a week's time to get a better score ?

Tell me the truth - you are crazy, right? :evil:

. I want to apply to the top 5 schools only. You think I should retest in a week's time to get a better score ?

rjkaufman21 · Answer

You have to wait 31 days before retaking.

novanative · Answer

Unless your undergraduate GPA was sorely lacking (below 3.0), I think you should just apply with those scores. Would it really matter if you got in with a 740 as opposed to getting in with a 760? Maybe scholarship money, but getting in is the bigger problem when you look at the big picture.

A 740 is still above the median at Harvard, Stanford, MIT, UPenn, Northwestern, Chicago, NYU, and Dartmouth College. Even top schools not in the US like London and INSEAD don't have GMAT averages or medians above 740.

You also risk a good chance of scoring even lower next time around too. When you average scores at a certain level in practice, I would think that you should assume that you could score a good 30-50 points below that on test day as well.

shanghaizzle · Answer

Well if you severely underperformed your potential (e.g. having to guess on a bunch of questions), then you definitely should retake the test. A higher GMAT score can only boost your chances at top schools and may even land you a scholarship. The GMAT is also considered during on campus recruiting with many finance and consulting firms and again a higher score can only help.

But as rjdunn03 pointed out, you must wait 31 days before retaking.

But as rjdunn03 pointed out, you must wait 31 days before retaking.

mohater · Answer

Is this a joke? A 740 is blowing it?

Don't retake. Schools will think you are score hunting.

Belyok · Answer

Hi, I have been extremely disappointed with my GMAT performance. Although I was scoring in the range of 750-770 consistently in my prep tests, I becaome to slow when it mattered the most and had to guess through some RC questions, pulling my score down.

I scored a 740 . I want to apply to the top 5 schools only.

You think I should retest in a week's time to get a better score ?

Tell me the truth - you are crazy, right? :evil:

shanghaizzle · Answer

I assume the OP has only taken the test once, so no, schools will not think he's "score hunting" if say he retook and got a 790.

What does "score hunting" even mean? I don't think I've ever heard of that term.

novanative · Answer

I'm guessing that it applies to people who score extremely well, and take the test just to get the pride of saying, "I got an 800" or hoping for a chance to get a better score to guarantee admission to the best school and that too isn't a guarantee at the best schools.

The only known score hunter I've ever heard of for grad school tests is Robin Singh,the Testmasters guy.

shanghaizzle · Answer

Yes but taking the test twice is very different from taking it 392754 times just to prove he could score an 800.

If the OP thinks he can easily get into the 99th percentile without additional studying then I don't see what the downside of retaking (other than $250 and 4 hours of his time) is. The upside for retaking is debatable and will vary between different schools and different firms, but I see very little downside.

mohater · Answer

Score hunting is when you score well enough to be on the table, but you continue to take the test.

It's not it WILL reflect badly, but it can potentially hurt a candidate.

740 is good enough for all top 10 programs.

shanghaizzle · Answer

I don't think any schools discourage applicants from trying to be exceptional on any part of his application.

For someone who has only taken the test twice? Doubt it.

True, but a higher score can only help.

AbhiJ · Answer

Dude, study like hell for 1 month and get a 780-790.

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