GMAT 760, IR only 4 - Retake?

Question

Hi everyone,

I know this question appeared many times already in this forum, but I would like to have an up to date assessment of my situation so here's my question:

Should I retake the GMAT with a current score of 760 Q49V44, but a poor IR 4?

My goal is to get into a Top European Business School (preferably UK). So do you think the poor IR score compromises my overall performance so much that I should retake it?

In the GMATprep exams (I did 4), I usually scored 750-770 overall, with IR ranging from 7-8. So the official IR score does not reflect my true skill.

And also: Do you consider a Q49/V44 score unbalanced?

Thanks!!

Posted from my mobile device

souvonik2k · Answer

Hi
Congrats on a great score in the GMAT.
An IR score of 4 is not very low and may not effect your overall assessment. 
IMO there is no need for a retake. Also, Q49/V44 may seem unbalanced but does not make much difference.
I think you should start working on your applications. All the best.

Toveran · Answer

Thank you souvonik2k! I'd be very grateful for some more insights if someone's around

Posted from my mobile device

billionaire · Answer

Hello Toveran First of all 760 is awesome score. For anybody, for any school. Period. Congrats

IR is relatively new section and somewhat less important to ad com, than quant and verbal score, or in another words total score. Q49V44 is not that unbalanced at all, and that is especially true if you are non native speaker and have international student status. Furthermore, usually verbal is kinda less important than quant, bur again that will depend mostly on your MBA or other Master specialization. You are set in your GMAT score you don't need to retake it . To show you how awesome your score is, pay attention to facts regarding your target, top UK schools: LBS has average GMAT score of 700. Oxford Said Average 692, Median 700. Cambridge Judge both average and median 690. Cass has average of 653. Imperial and UCL avoid to reveal it, but they are more in Cass range, than LBS/Oxford category. You still even think about retake ? I don't think so

Nobody is going to care about your IR. Goood Luck with application, UK is waiting for you !

mjmjn2611 · Answer

Hi Toveran, I have a question related to the exam. Did you do some mock tests before the real GMAT test? If yes, what were your scores for them? Thank you and congrats

Toveran · Answer

Hi  mjmjn2611

I did only 4 GMATprep exams towards the end of my study period, with the following results:

Gmatprep 1: 770 (Q49V47)
Gmatprep 2: 770 (Q50V44)
Gmatprep 3: 750 (Q50V41)
Gmatprep 4: 760 (Q49V44)
Actual Gmat: 760 (Q49V44)

HanoiGMATtutor · Answer

Q49/V44 is only slightly unbalanced. That said, getting a 51 on Quant is very difficult, and the difference between Q50 and Q49 is minimal, so I wouldn't worry about the Quant score.

Regarding the IR score, at this point no one really knows how business schools evaluate the IR portion on top of the traditional Q+V+AWA. Conventional wisdom states that the impact of IR is minimal. However, if that would ease your mind, do re-take if you are confident you'll score at least a 750 next time. Otherwise, don't worry about it. The 760 is plenty of evidence that you'll be a competent student and that you will boost the school's average GMAT score. Congratulations on a job well done!

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Toveran,

A 760 with a Q49 is fantastic, so your score is certainly balanced. Regarding your 4 on IR, I don’t think you need to worry about that score.

However, since you are asking an admissions-based question, you should reach out to one of the many admissions consultants here on GMAT Club to get some further advice.

If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out.

ccooley · Answer

Nope, don't retake. It's not that IR isn't important, it's that it's not  as  important as the Quant and Verbal sections. Unless your IR score is a big red flag and your overall score is marginal, I wouldn't ever retake solely based on IR. 4 is barely below the median if I recall correctly, so it isn't a huge red flag. And your overall score definitely isn't marginal - it's extremely strong. Nice work!

HanoiGMATtutor · Answer

Thanks for sharing your opinion, ccooley. I agree that in general IR doesn't matter as much. What I'm not getting is why a below median score is not a huge red flag. If your Q+V score is below median, don't you think that would be cause for concern? Or are you saying that a below median score is a red flag, but not a huge one simply because IR isn't as important?

Williamsson · Answer

I'm sure he'll reply, but I understood it this way: A "huge red flag" means that you should definitely retake the GMAT, as the score would be unacceptable no matter what your overall performance is. For instance, a AWA 2.5 score in combination with very good essays is considered such a red flag - if the Ad Com has serious doubts that you wrote the essays on your own, they will reject you no matter how good your overall application is. Now, a IR score of 4 is of course bad, no room for discussion, but does it really raise a red flag if someone has a 760 score? Probably not, especially with schools that accept the GRE, which does not have an IR section.

GMAT 760, IR only 4 - Retake?

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