took the GMAT today but declined the score.gd or bad choice?

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Hi everyone. I am seeking some feedback on my decision today.

I've been studying the GMAT since June, and took it today on Nov.10.

I am a college student, and studying has been on and off, due to other works.

What i've done, in chronological order:

1. McGraw Hill 12 test (6 on paper, 6 on cd) :

scored about mid 600s on each test. low=620 , high =670

2. GMAT paper tests (all 3 sets purchased from gmat.com, 9 total tests)

I got high of 710, low of 670. mostly 670,680,690.

3. Princeton Review book and 4 online tests.

640, 590, 580, 620.

AWA improved (using live grader) 3-->4-->5.


Note: the PR review made me less confident, since the scores were lower.

My goal is 700+, and my mindset is to take GMaT only once, because I think graduate schools look down on applicants who do retakes.

So I felt okay on the math, but felt I could do better on the verbal, since I couldn't focus as well during the verbal section (partially because I kept thinking about the option to decline score if I felt I didn't do well). It was a 4pm test.

I am finishing my undergrad in March.

What do you guys think ? I declined to report/see my score at the end because I was unsure about 5th and 8th math question, and the overall verbal section. good or bad choice?

I appreciate your inputs, thanks.
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by Prasanna » Sun Nov 11, 2007 5:04 am
jerryjjy

Any time you ask GMAC to send your score information to a school, GMAC sends your GMAT score details for the previous five years.Your attempt yesterday will also show up there.

And about your question on retaking the exam. Your next attempt will show up as the second attempt. But the good news is that schools do not necessarily look down on multiple attempts. But they do look at improvements made over the attempts. They might also question you if you had taken multiple attempts without any significant score improvement. (this reflects poorly on your judgement).

Now in your case your first attempt will get registered as scores declined. Your school MAY ask you about that. At this point you need to focus on your next attempt. GMAT prep tests (free from mba.com) are the best available indicators of the actual GMAT performance. There are two free tests. You can take one of them now, to see where your score stands. Then you could prepare accordingly. You could take the other one days before the actual exam to see the improvement.

Hope this helps
Prasanna