Which score to keep, low quant or abysmal IR?

Question

Long story short, because I like making my life difficult I scored higher on a retake but absolutely tanked the IR.

First score:
710 Q42 V46 IR 6 AWA (predicted 5/6)

Second score:
740 Q47 V45 IR 2 AWA (predicted 4/5)

The quant has been a nightmare for me and to score on the high range of any mock I took I was ecstatic and to be able to maintain that verbal score given how much I've focused on Quant I was very happy. Essentially, this was the exact score I was hoping to accomplish.

Except, for that damn IR score. I'm aware that a 2 is a red flag of sorts so my question is this, which score? The lower quant (I have a very non quant background), the lower IR, or yet again, retake this test.

I feel trapped in that I have the exact score I want and I probably can't use it, just need some input from those better versed in the big picture of admissions.

bb · Answer

Congratulations.... sort of I guess :-)

Did you take these 15 days apart? Why no AWA for the first one? I think the higher Quant score will absolutely win the lower IR (you can explain the lower IR in an optional essay if you have to). Q42 -->Q47 is better value than IR6 -->IR2. You can always explain the IR score with an optional essay. Schools still don't seem to care about IR.

redfield · Answer

"sort of I guess" pretty much nails it haha I'm not sure if I should be happy or not given I was just a few correct questions away in IR of all sections from no longer having to worry about the GMAT again.

I cancelled both scores with the expectation of reactivating the better one (or just accepting this last one had it not had the near negative IR score).

bb · Answer

The bottom line that makes this a pretty hard question to answer is that IR is a wild card - a big unknown. So I am struggling per se to give you a solid direction and the best answer is going to be the safe one, which is - try to retake, but again, it may not matter at all with your score.

Most schools don't seem to care about it but a 2 is going to raise an eye brow but this could be your unique story line - you are not a math jock person (80% of people in bschools are) and you have other strengths - yes, the math shows up but you can handle the load. There are so many quant-heavy people in bschools that they would love someone who can speak in sentences. A good example i like to show is  Michmax3  - she had Q41 and V42. She got into Booth, Ross, and Duke. Now that was before IR crapshoot was introduced.

redfield · Answer

Ya I'm just so inconsistent with the scoring on quant I had to go on this rollercoaster again but if it's that's the best solution then that's the best solution and much pain as it brings me to have the exact score I wanted but unable to use it. I appreciate the input, I'll reach out to the admission offices at the schools I'm looking at as well but I'm very much afraid the consensus will be to retake it yet again.

bb · Answer

Good move with the adcoms. I hope they can clarify so no concerns remain. 
PS. You are in your prime, so if you do have to retake, do so quickly, as tempting as it may be to postpone.

KarishmaB · Answer

In my opinion, you should keep the second score too. The Quant is way better in that. No harm is retaking (since you can cancel it if the score is way off base). The first score anyway has an IR6 so at the end of the day, it should help in convincing the adcom.

redfield · Answer

Ya I'm certainly bracing to retake it yet again (just can't get enough gmat in my life); but I cancelled those scores as well so I actually have my pick of the two. In relation to the first having the higher IR, do you think I should actually reactivate both scores? Or is the lower score not worth showing the 6 IR over?

KarishmaB · Answer

The lower score is the first score and that is quite decent too. The new score is obviously better and shows marked improvement in Quant. It reflects some serious effort. In your position, I would have considered re-instating both scores. Do check up with adcom of your target schools and perhaps a consultant too. Another thing you can do is get a free profile evaluation here: https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#-school/ Discuss your case and our admission consultants will suggest you a way out.

redfield · Answer

Hi BB, just wanted to respond give an update on this thread as not to hijack shadowfax1's thread. In short, schools agreed with what's been said here.

So I called the 3 schools I'm targeting Notre Dame, UT, and Kellogg and got these responses (in my own words):

Notre Dame:
 Shouldn't be an issue, maybe just send both scores to show that IR ability and also the progression

UT:
 "Wouldn't lose sleep over it" but might want to use the essay to explain the IR score and also send in both scores to show IR ability.

Kellogg:
 "We don't look at IR as closely as the composite score but it's definitely something we'll look at so you'll want to explain the IR score in the optional essay"

So while none explicitly said it's an issue I got the vibe that it's not at all something to just sweep under the rug and move on. Notre Dame being the lower average gmat score of the bunch seemed much more "it's a 740, send it in and let's roll". But all 3 to some degree suggested I use the optional essay and my GMAT quant tutor (who is by no means an admissions expert but still I value his input) believes that a year ago they wouldn't have likely even suggested the optional essay let alone suggest it be required to explain the IR score; and that that increase in importance might point to that by this next round of applications they'll absolutely be paying attention to IR score.

So for me, I score between 730-760 on my mocks generally (all up to quant score) and that IR 2 was the lowest I've gotten on any real test or mock so I figured I might as well take the test one last time, pour my soul into it, and never think about it again. My GPA is already around (or not far beyond) the 20th percentile for those schools so I didn't want to risk having to have them blink at the GPA and then again blink at the IR score, one red flag is enough for me.

bb · Answer

Thank you  redfield  for your feedback - this will help a number of test takers looking to figure what to do about their IR Scores. 
While I have myself predicted that this year or as soon as last winter we may see GMAC come out with a neat little research showing how IR is highly correlated with employment and alumni success, I am yet to see it.... so we are still in the waiting game.

I think schools have not changed their stance by much on the issue of IR (though it is always easy to speak in retrospect). I think the IR of 2 is bad enough (sorry) that it does throw a red flag.... and even a year ago, I think schools would still be suggesting an optional essay (designed for any red flag basically) to explain that it is an anomaly. I am curious, however in validity of the IR if you can so easily go from 6 down to 2 while increasing your overall score - does not that invalidate the IR in theory?

redfield · Answer

1) Haha we're realists here on gmatclub BB no need to apologize. I appreciate the insight and even if it's true that their stance has not changed, even a bit, the suggestion of the option essay is enough of a red flag, as you have said yourself, that I feel a retake is indeed the best route. Especially given my lower GPA.

2) This is a very interesting point indeed, I do wonder how often this is the case.

KarishmaB · Answer

Hey bb,

Yes, it would be great to have a clear direction from the adcom whether the previous scores are looked at while considering a candidate, but I would like to discuss my opinion on the matter with you.

The admission process involves a lot of subjectivity and is based on impressions - from the essays, interview, resume etc. Brilliant performance will obviously shine with all evaluators and no matter what the other profiles look like, but I doubt there is an exhaustive tick list of one-on-one comparisons while comparing two competitive applications. 
I think that B schools usually consider just the highest score because of the following reason - We know that without ability, it is not possible to guess through GMAT and get a high score but it is easy to mess up despite ability. Hence, given two scores, say two months apart, I would bet on the applicant having the ability depicted by the higher score. I would assume that the applicant has the ability to handle the rigours of the curriculum. The execution on one day could have failed because of a multitude of reasons. This is the reason I think that while comparing two applications in which both applicants have very similar scores, a much higher score in the recent history of one applicant could turn the table in his/her favour.

What do you think?

redfield · Answer

Alright  bb  and  VeritasPrepKarishma  I could really use your advice once more.

I just retook the test and scored 10 points lower but my highest quant yet (I come from a non quant background)

730 Q48 V42 IR7

So all in all my scores are (in order of taken):

710 Q42 V46 IR 6 
740 Q47 V45 IR 2 
730 Q48 V42 IR 7

Any tips on how I should submit one or two of these? I imagine schools see the date they were taken so I'm afraid to do the 740 and then 730 and they see I actually went down 10 points (though higher in Q by 1) a month later.

In case you're wondering "Redfield, buddy, what happened on your verbal?". Fun story, my computer crashed in the middle of the test and it took them close to an hour to fix it so by the time verbal was finishing I was more drained than I had anticipated and I must have made a silly mistake somewhere. If you're keeping count of my life, for the 3 tests now I have 1) gone to the wrong test center, 2) had a bloody nose, and 3) had the computer crash on me.

KarishmaB · Answer

Your latest score is great! Overall 10 points less than second attempt, but very balanced. If I were to pick one of the three, no doubt I would go with the last one. I would just reinstate the second and the third scores and say goodbye to GMAT. Additionally, you don't need to use the optional essay to explain IR anymore. Start working on your stories for the essays.

redfield · Answer

That's very encouraging to hear thank you I needed that! Do you however, not think that it looks bad if given 5weeks extra I scored 10 points worse? I know schools only need to report one score so having the 740 is good and the 730 shows quant and IR capabilities however I'm just afraid of how they look at a 740, then 5 weeks later a 730?

KarishmaB · Answer

Your IR was a red flag in 740 so you took additional 5 weeks to work on it. You improved that a lot and Quant a bit too. The verbal went down from "exceptional" to plain old "brilliant" but it is still "brilliant". Overall, 730 and 740 are almost the same scores so the adcom is unlikely to view it as "gone down". Your second score shows "exceptional" verbal and that is the only reason I would re-instate it too. There is nothing in your GMAT profile that will keep you back (assuming you get a 4.5+ on AWA).

redfield · Answer

Thank you as always for your input Karishma! You should know I also took your advice and have been in touch with the admissions consulting crew at Veritas as well.

bb · Answer

Congrats on the score. While it is 10 points lower overall, it is a much better looking one than the second - nobody can pick on you for it. Would definitely send the latest one. Great job with IR, Quant, and Verbal!

redfield · Answer

I was one or two misses away in verbal to not even having to ask this question, the GMAT is a cruel mistress... But you think send the 730 only and call it a day versus sending in both scores? Sending in both lets them use the higher score in reporting and the newest one shows the IR and Quant go up but the verbal/composite also went down which is why I'm hesitant.

It's always something with me and these tests, first was low quant, second was 2 on IR, this one was my worst verbal yet (I know it's good but when the expectation was 2-3 points higher it's not good for this particular situation). I only care so much because my GPA is going to be a red flag for some schools so I want to ensure the GMAT balances it and then some.

Which score to keep, low quant or abysmal IR?

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