I just Beat The GMAT!

Just completed my retake yesterday. I scored 51V (99%) and 42Q (59%) for a 740 (97%). The score was a completely unexpected combination.

In May I took the GMAT for the first time and scored Q42 (59%), V44 (97%) for a 700 (90%). The high verbal score wasn't completely shocking, as I had recently taken the GRE as well, before I decided that I wanted to pursue an MBA. On the GRE (new format) I received a 169 (99%). I was a bit unhappy with the balance of the 700 and decided to take again before the new format was instituted, studying math intensely for the next two months, and not even cracking the verbal material (honestly I had only studied for the verbal for a few hours before my first attempt as well). And well, there we have it. All my efforts on becoming better at math were for naught and I bumped my overall score by 40 points just from answering a few more verbal questions correctly.

No, I don't really have any study tips for the verbal portion. I read from a variety of sources (classic novels, NYT, Economist, etc.) for at least an hour a day, as I have done since I was a teenager, but I'm not a walking thesaurus, and would never win a spelling bee. On the SC, I just read them, and some responses sound right and others don't. Sorry I can't be more help.

So then, what are the committees going to say about my low quant score? What can I do to raise my quant abilities before my Fall '13 matriculation? I don't have a strong math background in my university transcripts, but am willing to put in some time to allay the committees' possible concerns.

Well... This really depends on where you are looking to apply. For some schools the only thing that you can do is take the GMAT and increase your quant score. A lot of top programs really want people who score in the 80th percentile and above. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that is just the way the game works.

You'd suggest a retake over taking quant classes with an A? It's my impression that the adcom's only evaluate the highest score, and I'm doubtful I would pull another 740+ score on a retake, even if it did prove my quant abilities. I've got no other option than getting a more conventionally balanced 97% percentile score now?

Original Poster, if you are not in a rush, I would highly suggest taking quant classes and getting an A instead.

Also, look at other areas of your application and determine the overall strength.

Why would you suggest the quant classes vs. GMAT? I'm essentially weighing:

Option 1: Study like crazy the quant stuff for GMAT. Retake the test in Sept. timeframe, hoping to score well enough on the quant section to use that as my "I can do this" credential. Essentially, I'm a good test taker, and I feel like the quant. material on the GMAT is much more narrow that in quant classes.

Option 2: Enroll in a few online math classes at nowheresville uni's. Hopefully I do well enough for an A. Note that I anticipate this will be more time consuming, much more expensive, and frankly I'm less confident in my abilities to accomplish A's than improve on the GMAT.

Option 3: Do both.

What would look better to most programs? 1) A GMAT quant score in the seventy-something percentile or 2) recent good grades in a calculus and stats course?

First of all Congrats on the 740 ! That's a phenomenal score !

Sorry to tell you this but I think you have to retake the GMAT to improve your quant score . 59% percentile will be a red flag for most of the top universities especially since you say you don't have a strong math background.

Well, I guess I'll begin studying for the GMAT again... Thanks for all the advice.

Highly recommend this book: https://www.totalgmatmath.com/

Create a schedule and go through it cover-to-cover. I'd be shocked if that didn't bump you up to the 70%ile range.