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feifei1171
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scored 710 first attempt, but consider retaking it 15 Jan 2015, 14:58
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I have read bb's post about who should retake the test, and I'm not intending to apply for a top 10 school.
In fact I submitted my application yesterday, for a school whose average GMAT score is around 610-640, so my score is definitely fine.
Then why consider retaking it? two days before the actual test, I took the free PREP test and scored 760 (Q48, V47) and my real GMAT score is 710 (Q49, V37).
Not saying this discrepancy is unreasonable since I heard PREP score is quite inflated, but I did not take those practice tests multiple times.
I believe the verbal score I got on PREP is closer to my true potential than on the actual one.
I'm not any kind of perfectionist, if my score would have been like Q45 V40 I would never have considered retaking, my math is just hopeless I don't even want to think about it.
With that said, I just couldn't believe my verbal is that bad.
I don't have anything to do in the next 30 or so days, and I guess money is not an issue, so I'm definitely retaking it.

The question is, how to prepare this time? I have pretty much exhausted majority of the study materials, I guess you can study the OG again and again and again, but it doesn't take 30 days to do that. I have read MGMAT SC and CR books, CR bible, and a handful of math guides.
My SC is decent enough, but RC is ......... I don't really know how to even approach RC, doesn't seem like there is a real way to improve it, CR is ok.
I feel like I'm kind of stuck. I mean the score has no impact on anything, but it will be devastating to retake it and get a similar score (700/720). So I really want to make sure that I improve and do well next month.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions, ideas or concerns. I appreciate it very very much.
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fireinbelly
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scored 710 first attempt, but consider retaking it 16 Jan 2015, 00:30
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You have a great score with a decent break up. Retaking is completely your decision but as you said that you are not very good in quants so just consider what if your quant score drops significantly and even with a higher verbal score your overall score drops. Just keep that in mind.

feifei1171
I have read bb's post about who should retake the test, and I'm not intending to apply for a top 10 school.
In fact I submitted my application yesterday, for a school whose average GMAT score is around 610-640, so my score is definitely fine.
Then why consider retaking it? two days before the actual test, I took the free PREP test and scored 760 (Q48, V47) and my real GMAT score is 710 (Q49, V37).
Not saying this discrepancy is unreasonable since I heard PREP score is quite inflated, but I did not take those practice tests multiple times.
I believe the verbal score I got on PREP is closer to my true potential than on the actual one.
I'm not any kind of perfectionist, if my score would have been like Q45 V40 I would never have considered retaking, my math is just hopeless I don't even want to think about it.
With that said, I just couldn't believe my verbal is that bad.
I don't have anything to do in the next 30 or so days, and I guess money is not an issue, so I'm definitely retaking it.

The question is, how to prepare this time? I have pretty much exhausted majority of the study materials, I guess you can study the OG again and again and again, but it doesn't take 30 days to do that. I have read MGMAT SC and CR books, CR bible, and a handful of math guides.
My SC is decent enough, but RC is ......... I don't really know how to even approach RC, doesn't seem like there is a real way to improve it, CR is ok.
I feel like I'm kind of stuck. I mean the score has no impact on anything, but it will be devastating to retake it and get a similar score (700/720). So I really want to make sure that I improve and do well next month.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions, ideas or concerns. I appreciate it very very much.
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feifei1171
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scored 710 first attempt, but consider retaking it 16 Jan 2015, 01:51
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well you are right, I guess I'll have to work on quant too. Though I have a suspicion that quant can't be improved in a short period of time ...
thanks for the input though, I'm definitely retaking it, a lower score on second attempt won't affect me in any way so if that were to happen, I'll just be done with the test.

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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
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GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
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scored 710 first attempt, but consider retaking it 16 Jan 2015, 14:44
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Hi feifei1171,

First off, a 710/Q49 is an outstanding score (it's right around the 90th percentile) and it would make any Business School happy. As such, you can comfortably apply to any Business School and there's really NO reason to retest. You seem focused on one particular practice CAT result and how that result might be the "better indicator" of your true ability. I have to ask WHY you think that?

Consider all of the possible/different ways in which that one practice CAT did NOT match up with the Official GMAT:

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take it in a 'test-like' environment?
3) Did you take it under 'test-like' parameters?
4) How does this result compare to your OTHER CAT results (re: is this score an outlier?)?
5) Had you seen any of the questions before (such as...in this Forum)?

To be fair, there's really no harm in retesting (and if you score lower, then you can always cancel that score), but there's not much of a benefit either. You've already 'checked' the high GMAT score "box" that Business Schools factor into their review of your OVERALL application. If you're interested in strengthening your OVERALL application, then there are plenty of other things that you can do with that time, money and effort.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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feifei1171
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scored 710 first attempt, but consider retaking it 16 Jan 2015, 17:03
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi feifei1171,

First off, a 710/Q49 is an outstanding score (it's right around the 90th percentile) and it would make any Business School happy. As such, you can comfortably apply to any Business School and there's really NO reason to retest. You seem focused on one particular practice CAT result and how that result might be the "better indicator" of your true ability. I have to ask WHY you think that?

Consider all of the possible/different ways in which that one practice CAT did NOT match up with the Official GMAT:

1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take it in a 'test-like' environment?
3) Did you take it under 'test-like' parameters?
4) How does this result compare to your OTHER CAT results (re: is this score an outlier?)?
5) Had you seen any of the questions before (such as...in this Forum)?

To be fair, there's really no harm in retesting (and if you score lower, then you can always cancel that score), but there's not much of a benefit either. You've already 'checked' the high GMAT score "box" that Business Schools factor into their review of your OVERALL application. If you're interested in strengthening your OVERALL application, then there are plenty of other things that you can do with that time, money and effort.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Thank you very much for your reply :)
I didn't want to discuss too much in my original post why I wanted to retake because I expected to hear that 'this score is fine you don't have to retake' as I wanted to focus on what I can do for the second attempt.
But no not based on ONE practice test result at all. I have taken at least 30 of those practice tests but they aren't traditional sources like what you would know i.e. veritas, gmatclub, MGMAT, so I only mentioned GMAT free PREP.
To answer your questions: yes I took at least 15 of those CATs with Quant/Verbal, and around 10 with Quant Verbal IR and essay. All of them were done in 'test like' environment where I finished within time limit/didn't pause/didn't leave to do anything else in the middle. I consistently score 42-45 on verbal in all of those tests and sometimes I could finish the section 15 mins earlier. And I have read many posts that discussed how their real test score is +-100 points compared to the practice ones.
Also I didn't mention that on the test day I did something really bad, and basically guessed the whole thing starting from question 16 to 41. This is the real reason that I think (or know) that the score doesn't reflect my true potential.
I agree that 710 is fine, it's just that I didn't think I gave my best shot this time. I don't want to regret it later since I have free time right now, and I'm basically going to waste the time doing nothing productive (application already submitted).
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