Last visit was: 27 Apr 2026, 18:06 It is currently 27 Apr 2026, 18:06
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
pal2789
avatar
Joined: 26 Aug 2020
Last visit: 14 May 2021
Posts: 8
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 8
Kudos: 0
Should I retake the GMAT? 03 Feb 2021, 00:02
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I am looking to apply to Ph.D. Courses (strategy and business policy) this year, scored 690 (Q47, V38), AWA 6, IR 7
Have 10+ years of work exp. in strategy consulting and corporate strategy.

Should I retake the test - I was scoring 720-740 range in the mock tests. I felt that the actual GMAT was much tougher than the mocks. I also missed answering the last verbal question.
This score was after ~2 months of prep along with a full-time job. I don't think on a daily basis I can devote more time than what I did in the past 2 months.

I am a female working in the corporate strategy team (Sr. Manager) of leading MNC and, hold an MBA as well as a BTech degree from Top-ranked colleges in India.

Please advice.
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 26 Apr 2026
Posts: 3,906
Own Kudos:
3,586
 [1]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,906
Kudos: 3,586
 [1]
Should I retake the GMAT? 03 Feb 2021, 01:53
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
pal2789
Should I retake the test - I was scoring 720-740 range in the mock tests.
Show more
Would not hurt reappearing in GMAT pal2789, since you have a solid benchmark in the form of 690 already set.

Good luck with your prep and do write on this forum again, with hopefully an even better score :thumbsup: .
avatar
TheUltimateWinner
avatar
Schools: Harvard '24 Judge '23 LBS '24 McCombs '24 Mendoza Tepper '24 Ross '24 Cox Marshall '24 Fisher Kelley '24 Jones McDonough '24 Owen '24 Terry BU Simon '24 Katz GWU Mason Babson Gabelli Foster '24 Goizueta '24 Scheller Stern '23 CBS '23 Booth '23 Haas '25 Wharton '25 Stanford '26 Johnson'23 Fuqua '23 Kellogg '23 Kenan-Flagler'23 INSEAD Aug 22 intake Olin '23 Said '23 Sloan '23 Carey Arizona "22 Yale '23 UC Davis Madison '23 Anderson '23 Carroll Carlson '23 Darden '23
Posts: 2,465
Kudos: 2,460
Should I retake the GMAT? 03 Feb 2021, 07:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
retaking is totally depends on your university requirement. if your university wish to have 700 then you should take it again. it's simple.
as your mock score is good enough you should try again to increase the possibility of chances.
all the best..
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
13,055
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,055
Should I retake the GMAT? 03 Feb 2021, 22:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi pal2789,

Many GMATers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so if you studied for just 2 months, then there would have likely been a limit to how much you could have improved in that time. By extension, you might naturally continue to improve as you continue to study.

A 690/Q47 is a fantastic Score, so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice Program. As such, a retest might not be necessary. That having been said, the PhD application process tends to be a bit more 'rigorous' than the MBA application process is - since there tends to be a small group of highly qualified applicants competing for a relatively small number of PhD 'slots.' As such, beyond having a strong GMAT Score, you'll need a strong OVERALL profile and you'll need to properly 'market yourself' to each individual Program that you apply to. As such, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

If you do choose to retest, then we should discuss your prior studies in a bit more detail (so that we can better plan out the next phase of your studies).

1) How recently did you take the GMAT (the 690)? If it was recent (re: in the last couple of months), then did you previously take the GMAT before applying for your MBA? If you did, then how did you score on that attempt (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) What specific application deadlines are you facing?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
avatar
pal2789
avatar
Joined: 26 Aug 2020
Last visit: 14 May 2021
Posts: 8
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 8
Kudos: 0
Should I retake the GMAT? 03 Feb 2021, 22:52
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi pal2789,

Many GMATers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so if you studied for just 2 months, then there would have likely been a limit to how much you could have improved in that time. By extension, you might naturally continue to improve as you continue to study.

A 690/Q47 is a fantastic Score, so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice Program. As such, a retest might not be necessary. That having been said, the PhD application process tends to be a bit more 'rigorous' than the MBA application process is - since there tends to be a small group of highly qualified applicants competing for a relatively small number of PhD 'slots.' As such, beyond having a strong GMAT Score, you'll need a strong OVERALL profile and you'll need to properly 'market yourself' to each individual Program that you apply to. As such, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:



If you do choose to retest, then we should discuss your prior studies in a bit more detail (so that we can better plan out the next phase of your studies).

1) How recently did you take the GMAT (the 690)? If it was recent (re: in the last couple of months), then did you previously take the GMAT before applying for your MBA? If you did, then how did you score on that attempt (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
2) What specific application deadlines are you facing?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Show more

Thanks for the response - I'll check out the other forum.
On the 2 questions asked.
1) I took the test in Jan this year - this was my first attempt at GMAT, For MBA I had gone through CAT exam in India. I cannot devote more than 1-2 hours per day and 3-4 hours over the weekend as my current work and personal front (2 small kids) both are quite demanding.
2) First deadline is April for HEC Paris, other applications will start in Sept.
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
13,055
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,055
Should I retake the GMAT? 04 Feb 2021, 20:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi pal2789,

Since your available study time going forward will be somewhat limited, that is all the more reason to discuss your application plans with an Admissions Expert. If you ultimately don't "need" to retake the GMAT (with the goal of scoring higher), then you shouldn't go through all of that additional work.

If you do choose to keep studying, then before we can properly plan out that next phase of your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying up until now:

1) What type of study routine did you follow over the last 2 months? How many hours did you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

If you took your GMAT at a Test Center, then you might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong on Test Day (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
avatar
pal2789
avatar
Joined: 26 Aug 2020
Last visit: 14 May 2021
Posts: 8
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 8
Kudos: 0
Should I retake the GMAT? 04 Feb 2021, 23:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EMPOWERgmatRichC
Hi pal2789,

Since your available study time going forward will be somewhat limited, that is all the more reason to discuss your application plans with an Admissions Expert. If you ultimately don't "need" to retake the GMAT (with the goal of scoring higher), then you shouldn't go through all of that additional work.

If you do choose to keep studying, then before we can properly plan out that next phase of your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying up until now:

1) What type of study routine did you follow over the last 2 months? How many hours did you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

If you took your GMAT at a Test Center, then you might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong on Test Day (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Show more


1. I studied for 1-2 hour on weekdays, 5-6 hours on weekends + 1 Mock Test over weekend
2. I have finished the OG, verbal advanced questions, some GMAT club test, free tests available online from Kaplan, 500tests.com, all 6 GMAT mocks
4. Score of official mock tests:
1st GMAT Mock before starting prep - 550
Attempts post prep:
01 Jan - 710 Q50, V35, IR 5
03 Jan - 730 Q 49, V40 , IR 5
10 Jan - 690 Q49, V 34, IR8
22 jan - 730, Q50, V40, IR 8
24 Jan - 730 Q 49, V41, IR 7
25 Jan - 730, Q50, V40, IR 7

Took the actual GMAT on 27th jan, ESR Attached
Attachments

Anuradha Mishra_388196074_ESR.pdf [487.74 KiB]
Downloaded 73 times

User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
13,055
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,055
Should I retake the GMAT? 05 Feb 2021, 22:34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Anuradha,

I've sent you a PM with an analysis of your ESR and some additional questions.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
User avatar
GmatKnightTutor
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 31 Jan 2020
Last visit: 01 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,203
Own Kudos:
1,576
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 5,203
Kudos: 1,576
Should I retake the GMAT? 07 Feb 2021, 00:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Yes. There is another Online re-take available and your scores are consistently around the 730 range.
Moderator:
bb
Founder
43165 posts