Should I cancel my score? 720 48Q, 41V to 710 49Q, 38V

Question

1st Test 2DEC17: 720 48 Q, 41 V, 7 IR, 6 AWA (finished the quant section with ten minutes left)
2nd Test 2FEB18: 710 49 Q, 38 V, 8 IR, ? AWA

Best Two Official Practice Tests:
740 49 Q, 42 V
760 49 Q, 45 V

I chose to retake the GMAT because I thought I could improve my 720 (specifically the quant - finishing with ten minutes leftover was a big red flag.) I fell short on the retake, but I improved my quant score (and IR but that doesn't really matter.)

Should I cancel the 710?

I understand that it might be useful to keep the 710 to show the higher quant score. On the other hand, it might be good to cancel the 710 because it "waters down" the 720.

At this point, I don't think I'll take it a third time; I'd appreciate any advice on whether to try again though.

Thanks for your help.

rbsusa · Answer

Hi, keep you 1st test score as finally highest score matter. Also, a 3rd attempt is not required as 720 is the pretty good score.

ydmuley · Answer

Hello  2020Hopeful

I would recommend you not to cancel the score. I agree 720 is greater than 710 however, many times having multiple attempts with such good scores is not going to harm your application, it will rather help you as it will show your commitment to score high.

So, irrespective if you take the third attempt or not, you can keep the score.

Hope this helps! All the Best.

mcelroytutoring · Answer

Hi  2020Hopeful  ,

I agree that you should probably keep both scores--there is never much need to cancel any GMAT score in the 700s, and scoring consecutive 700s is an impressive feat. In addition, keeping both scores increases your "superscore" (best score on any one section of the test) to 49Q, 41V, 8IR, 6AWA.

However, your post also sheds light on an interesting conundrum when deciding to accept scores:  YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR AWA SCORE IS UNTIL AFTER THE SCORE CANCELLATION DEADLINE HAS PASSED , because the essay takes longer to grade. So if you got a solid AWA score the first time, and aren't so sure the second time around, then the unknown essay score becomes an (admittedly minor) factor in deciding whether to cancel as well.

-Brian

2020Hopeful · Answer

Thanks for the help! I definitely appreciate the feedback.

I kept the score, and I don't plan on taking the GMAT a third time.

The "superscore" point is particularly interesting to me. I hadn't considered that. Are there many schools that consider a "superscore"? I've always heard that the top score is the one that really counts.

mcelroytutoring · Answer

Happy to help! I don't know of any B-schools that officially accept a GMAT superscore, but you still want the adcoms to see your best scores in both Quant and Verbal.

Of course, it's best to achieve both your top section scores in one sitting, but that requires some luck and is not always realistic. Alternatively, taking the GMAT twice and sending both scores is still a solid strategy, especially in your case, when the Quant is higher on one score and the Verbal is higher on the other--and when your composite scores are about the same anyway. Your chosen programs can then "take" whatever scores they choose to take, but regardless of policy, they will still know your true potential.

-Brian

Should I cancel my score? 720 48Q, 41V to 710 49Q, 38V

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