Retaking the GMAT -- is it bad?

Question

Hey all,
Sorry if this has been covered already. I did a quick search and didn't find anything.

I'm wondering if it's bad to retake the GMAT many times. Do MBA programs see your historical set a scores? If I remember correctly, for the SATs, it was ill-advised to take the SAT2s many times, because college admissions could see all your scores, but they couldn't for your SATs.

Thanks.

Yahsek · Answer

It's not set in stone or anything but I think the rule of thumb is it'll start to hurt you if you take the GMAT more than 3-4 times. Schools will see all attempts you choose to accept and will generally take your highest score but some do average all your attempts.

refurb · Answer

I think I saw it in the Manhattan GMAT blog, but they actually approached Harvard, Standford and Wharton and asked them how many GMAT repeats was too many. If I remember correctly, all of them said you could take it up to four times and it would have no impact on your application.

I'll see if I can find the article.

NN

I'll see if I can find the article.

NN

dtang4 · Answer

Thanks for the quick responses!

Do you know which schools take the avg of GMAT scores? Thanks.

kidderek · Answer

The general consensus is THREE max. However, why would you want to put yourself through taking the gmat 3 times? Do it right the first time.

marymayi · Answer

I have not heard of any major schools averaging scores.

kidderek · Answer

Anderson "considers" all scores if taken more than twice. Not an average, but close enough.

altaurus1 · Answer

I don't think averages are used although the schools have all your scores. I just can't see them using averages for all the applicants.

mlchang616 · Answer

There is no said limit. As long as you feel that you can do better, you should take it. At some point, you will need to shift your priority to other parts of your application. The GMAT is only a piece of your over app. I would suggest taking no more than 3 times. But, if you truely feel that you can do better...more than 30-50pts...then do it.

Tarmac · Answer

In the end, a human being looks at the application and looks at your scores, whether single or multiple. Think about the human reaction.

Ask yourself. All else being equal or similar, would you prefer a person who took the test once and got 740, or someone who got 540, 660, and then finally 740?

kidderek · Answer

+1

With all this said. Try the best that you can in your first attempt. You really don't want the test lingering over you, over and over. Studying it a second time around will feel like a 2nd marriage and studying a 3rd time, like a third marriage.

Better to do it right the first time, and if your nerves get the best of you, you still have another shot.

dtang4 · Answer

Thanks all for the great advice.

mbawaters · Answer

Well its how you look at it. Having failed test few times but not giving up can also tell you something about the person and I dont believe that necessarily a negative impression!

kidderek · Answer

I've always felt that that's a positive spin to a negative result. If someone is capable of scoring 700+, why does he endure a string of 500 scores to get to the 700 mark? Is it perseverance or poor planning?

mbawaters · Answer

Well may be the guy did not belong to the same league earlier but now he does and as humans we are expected to make mistakes every now and then but to me, atleast, its getting back up after being knocked out matters more and it tells me something about the character! IMHO, what you saying is not wrong but its just one way to look at things.

navy01 · Answer

3x is typically the most. Although schools say they won't hold it against you, they may subconciously.

mlchang616 · Answer

Now, what do you think an adcom would think subconciously if you took the GMAT a second or third time and your score was lower than your previous exam?

westsider · Answer

Lets go with the rule , rather than the exception . All things being equal arguments:(this means you shouldn't refute this by positing a situation where things are not equal) All things being equal, a 740 first try beats a 740 in three tries. All things being equal, a 650 in three tries beats a 550 in one try. Rule: It is better to get the high score in less tries. After all, if they cost the same, do you buy the refurb laptop or the brand new one? :-D

navy01 · Answer

hmmm...if you got a lower score?

I would probably think that the guy was happy with his first score and didn't try really hard on the second test and probably choked the third. If it was off by like 100 though, I'd question the reason for the difference in results.

kidderek · Answer

I've often thought that as well. but where do you stop? 
Example:
For the sake of possibilities, I'll keep the comparison to 1 time vs. unknown lower previous scores:

1 time 700 vs. 2 time 710
1 time 700 vs. 2 time 720
1 time 700 vs. 3 time 710
1 time 700 vs. 3 time 720
1 time 700 vs. 2 time 730
1 time 700 vs. 3 time 730

how about 1 time 700 vs 3 time 750?

I just think a score a third time around is heavily diluted. I have more compassion for the 2 time scores.

Of course this is all for our personal egos; adcoms just want you to clear the hurdle.

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Retaking the GMAT -- is it bad?

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