I recently took the GMAT and scored a 700. Q42 / V42. Although the verbal is high (95th percentile), the 42 quant score was very disappointing at around the 65th percentile. Is this quant score low enough to keep me out of top 10 programs? Do I need to retake the GMAT?
Candidate Profile:
- 3.5 GPA undergrad (BA, English)
- 3.7 GPA grad school (MA, International Affairs)
- 2 years work experience in government consulting (national security, foreign acquisition, intelligence analysis)
Your thoughts are greatly appreciated; Thanks!
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Advice Needed: Retake the GMAT?
This topic has expert replies
A 700 is a great score and unless you can guarantee a 30+ increase I would not spend the time and effort to retake the GMAT. To show the programs of the top 10 you are strong quantitaviely you might consider taking a college Math course (Calculus, etc...). It might be easier/funner and you could learn something new. Otherwise, good luck with your apps. Also, you can use the Ask StacyBlack Forum on this webpage where they will be able to give you an expert opinion. Looking at your brief profile it looks like you have a unique background and having a 700 is more than good enough to get you into your program of choice as long as the rest of your app is sound.
Btw - I'm taking the GMAT again in 3 weeks and would kill to have your score. Congrats!
https://www.beatthegmat.com/bombed-the-g ... t8577.html
D Terman
Btw - I'm taking the GMAT again in 3 weeks and would kill to have your score. Congrats!
https://www.beatthegmat.com/bombed-the-g ... t8577.html
D Terman
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That's some good advice given above.
My opinion is that you're just as likely to go down as you are to go up once you're at 700. Unless you have some reason to believe that you did especially poorly on the test (e.g., you freaked out and didn't finish a section, you were sick, the person next to you kept distracting you), I think I'd probably stick with the 700.
Proving your quant skills in some other way is a good idea, too. Quant may not be as important if you aren't going for finance or accounting, either.
My opinion is that you're just as likely to go down as you are to go up once you're at 700. Unless you have some reason to believe that you did especially poorly on the test (e.g., you freaked out and didn't finish a section, you were sick, the person next to you kept distracting you), I think I'd probably stick with the 700.
Proving your quant skills in some other way is a good idea, too. Quant may not be as important if you aren't going for finance or accounting, either.
Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep
Thank you for the encouraging and helpful feedback. Bolstering my math credentials through supplemental coursework is a great idea; I'll definitely look into that. To be certain, I am not getting an MBA to become a numbers cruncher. I'll be on the management/consulting side of things. Nonetheless, proving one's quantitative abilities is a must for the top schools, so I'll need to strengthen that area of my application. Thanks for the advice! And good luck to you, "D Terman".
