whether to retake at 710(same score twice)

Question

I took the Gmat in 2005, and got a 710. Then I took it recently and got the same score again. Both times I used Princeton review, Kaplan, Official Guides for prep.

Feel kinda deflated, since I thought I would up my score at least a bit. But not so sure now. Should I try some new reading material and give one more attempt. I am in a competitive applicant pool as it is.

Thanks

emoryhopeful · Answer

I think 710 is a great score, and now it would really depend on everything else, essays, reco's, work experience, and interview. Now, if you have plenty of time to study more for the GMAT and feel that you should have done a lot better, then maybe retake. But, if your practice tests were similar to your final GMAT score, I wouldn't bother again, and just focus on the apps.

mba2010 · Answer

I got a 710. I don't see a reason to retake the test? Move on and work on your applications. You're at or above avg for all the top schools.

chitown2k7 · Answer

The only concern I have is being from a competitive application pool with that score will go against me..Indian, IT background etc..

kidderek · Answer

I understand your situation. But unless you can score a 770+, I don't see the point. No matter what you score on the 3rd attempt, the two identical 710s will stand out. I think a 700 and 710 would work more favorably for you. But having two identical scores, psychologically, no matter what you get on the third test, adcoms will see you as a 710. Make sense? 

At least if you score a 770, it shows that you have the ability to score that high. If you get a 750, adcoms will think that you finally got the "right" test that maximized your skillset.

Calamity Jane · Answer

I don't think a 710 will keep you out of anywhere, Indian or not. Just make sure your other stats are competitive, especially work experience. That's much more important. Have great recs, too.

anonymousegmat · Answer

710 is a great score (better than 93% of test takers) so spend your time making everything else in your application rock solid.

from an adcoms perspective, you are scoring at your ability, and you have demonstrated that by getting a 710 twice, two years apart. 

as other's have stated: any increases, unless exceptional, will most likely be viewed as luck and not ability. most likely they will view it as you scoring on the high end of the 30 point confidence interval... 

as far as being in a "competitive" applicant pool... i hate to break it to you but everyone is in a competitive applicant pool and it is not because you are indian, i think it has more to do with your job. 

many indians work in IT because of outsourcing, so there is a sameness which works against you. business schools want diversity - they want people to bring something interesting to the table. a team full of software engineers would make for a very dull group to work on a case study with, just as would a team full of I-bankers or accountants. 

spend some time thinking about what makes YOU different from everyone else and make it shine through your essays!!! that will pay off more than any GMAT score increase.

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whether to retake at 710(same score twice)

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