Should I Re-take the GMAT? - Part 1
How do you know when your GMAT score is good enough or whether you should re-take the test? Well discuss a few different scenarios in this installment.
Next, if you do decide to re-take, whats the best study path? Well discuss that topic in the second half of this series.
Context
First, MBA programs typically publish middle 80% ranges of test scores for their admitted students. They also publish average scores for admitted students. The first question, then, is how you stack up against the competition at a particular program. In other words, you'll need to do some research.
Lets say that youd like to apply to a school whose middle 80% range is 650 to 750 and whose average score is 708. (I just pulled these figures from the University of Michigans Ross School of Business website, by the way.)
Scenario #1: Your score is below the 80% range.
What if your score is 640: Do you re-take?
You probably know what Im going to say: Yes. Only 10% of the previous years admitted candidates scored below 650. Those arent great odds, so youre going to want to hit the books again to see whether you can lift yourself into the middle 80% range.
Scenario #2: Your score is in the 80% range, but in the bottom half.
Lets say your score is 690. Youre not that far from the average (708) and the school did admit a decent number of people with your same score, 690, or even lower. You are still below the average, however.
In this case, its not essential that you get yourself above the average (by definition, a lot of people with scores below the schools average are admitted!). What is critical, though, is to show them that youve really tried; the admissions officers want to know that youre a diligent worker. So how do you show that?
One way to signal that intention is to take the GMAT again and try your best to raise your score. Even if you arent able to, you will still show the schools that you are willing to put in the hard work necessary to succeed in an academic environment.
Anecdotally, I have spoken with several students in the past year who were wait-listed with slightly below-average GMAT scores. All were told directly that the fact that theyd taken the GMAT only once, despite having a below-average score, was a concern. (One student was asked flat-out: "Why didn't you take the GMAT again when you knew your score was below our average?" This was someone with a 690!)
In one case, a student actually had taken the test multiple times but had canceled all scores except his highest score. He promptly reinstated his other scores (which were close to his high score) to show that he had, indeed, tried multiple times. He was accepted off of the wait-list.
In another case (at the same school), the student really had only taken the test once. She was not accepted off of the wait-list. This past summer, she studied and took the test again but was unable to raise her score. She applied again to the same program (using the same high score as the year before) and I just heard yesterday that she was accepted.
I cant say that the multiple-GMAT factor was the deciding factor in either of these cases, of course. But I think its suggestive that multiple students have explicitly been told that taking it only once when your score is below average is considered a negative. Its also suggestive that, in at least two cases, those students ultimately did get in after having taken the test at least twiceeven though they didn't actually achieve higher scores.
To be safe, then, my best advice is to re-take the GMAT if you find yourself in the position of scoring in the middle 80% range but below the average. If you are able to hit a higher scoring level, great! If not, at the very least, you have demonstrated that you are very serious about your education and are willing to work hard to achieve your goals.
Scenario #3: Your score is at the schools average.
You scored exactly a 708! Well, obviously you cant do that. :) But if youre at 710, do you go with it? Or do you re-take? (Technically, a 710 is above average, of coursebut, effectively, youre at the average.)
You might consider taking it again to see whether you can eke out another 10 points (or, at the least, just to show that youve tried).
Id also compare your GPA to the schools average (if they report that figure). If your GPA is above that schools average, then maybe youre fine. If your GPA is below that schools average, though, then its probably a good idea to take the GMAT again.
Scenario #4: Your score is above the schools average.
Best case scenario! If your score is solidly above the schools average, then you probably dont need to take this test again. Yay!
One caveat: If you are applying for a particular scholarship or grant that uses GMAT scores when evaluating the applications, then youll need to think about whether an even higher GMAT score would increase your odds of winning the scholarship. In this case, try to gather as much intelligence as you can directly from the source. Ask them what scores they consider competitive and how much weight they place on the GMAT.
Lets recap:
- Scenario 1: Below the schools 80% range. Re-take. Main goal is to lift score.
- Scenario 2: Within range but below average. Re-take. Main goal is to show perseverance; even if you dont lift, you might be fine.
- Scenario 3: At the schools average. May or may not re-take. Evaluate your GPA to help decide.
- Scenario 4: Above the schools average. Probably no need to re-takeunless youre aiming for a scholarship that uses GMAT scores.
Now, lets say that you decide you need to re-take. What is the best path to do so? Join us next time, when well talk about the different re-take goals and paths depending upon your specific scenario.