To Keep or to Cancel Your GMAT Score—That Is the Question
[Editor's note: Make sure you read the latest version of this article here.]
Have you heard? GMAC just announced that, as of 27 June, well be allowed to decide whether to keep or cancel our scores after we find out how we did. Exciting news!
What just changed?
Ill summarize the details, but you can also read the full press release yourself here: Score Preview Added to GMAT.
Heres what will happen when you get in there. Youll take the test and, when youre done, youll be shown your scores for everything but the essay. You will then have 2 minutes to decide whether to accept your scores.
You must actively accept them; if you do nothing, the scores will be canceled.
If you do cancel, you will then have 60 days to decide whether to reinstate the scoresfor a fee of USD100. (Also, if you cancel, the schools will still see that you sat for the exam, as always.)
Okay, so what is the significance of this new feature?
Technically, this new feature shouldn't really change anything because business schools really do use only your highest score. Its hard, though, to remember that while the clock is ticking. The single biggest value here is peace of mind.
Of course you dont want to become ill or have a panic attack or mess up your timing so badly that you dont finish a section of the test. If any of those things happen, though, then you can cancel your score. (Just as you could before, actuallythough you wouldnt have known your score when making the decision.)
The overall message is the same as always: if you dont hit your goal score, you can always take the test again, so just do your best and see what happens.
Know what youre going to do before you get in there
2 minutes to decide? That just ADDS stress!
It could, yes, but you will already have decided what youre going to do if faced with various scenarios.
Scenario #1: Goal score 720. Actual score 670.
Do NOT cancel this score. Sure, its below your goal, but its still a good scoreand you dont know for sure that youll hit 720 next time. In fact, some students score lower on their second test. Do not lose this score.
Scenario #2: Goal score 650. Actual score 450.
Most people will want to cancel this score. Several of my fellow teachers argued that we should tell everyone not to cancel anything, since the schools really do take the highest score. Still, realistically, I think most people will want to cancel a score 200 points below their goal. (But you really could leave itthe schools wont care!)
Where does the line flip? How far below your goal score do you need to be in order to consider canceling?
Ive been polling my colleagues since the news was announced yesterday afternoon and, while opinions vary, we all agree that anyone within 100 points of their goal score should definitely keep that score.
Id go a little further. I think you should keep (or consider keeping) the score if youre within 150 points of your goal. If you score 600+, keep the score even if your goal is 750.
Scenario #3: First official test Q 61st percentile, V 93rd percentile. Second official test, Q 76th percentile, V 84th percentile.
Even though the Verbal score went down on the second test, the Quant score went from a not-very-competitive score to one that is acceptable to all schools, so keep that score! This is true even if your overall score went down.
I canceled but now Im thinking I should reinstate the score
Come and talk to us on the forums. We can help you plan what to do before you get in there and we can also advise you after the fact. Post in the General Strategy folder in the Ask An Instructor section of the forums.
In sum
Definitely keep the score if you are within 100 points of your goal. Strongly consider keeping the score if you are within 150 points. (Pick a specific cut-off point for yourself before test day.) If you are more than 150 points below a reasonable* goal, then go ahead and cancel the score.
*Anything above 750 is not a reasonable goal, unless your real goal is not business school but teaching for us. :)