Dear Instructors and Experts,

Here's my story:

I retook the GMAT on 09/06/2012 and scored 650 on my second attempt (48q 31v). On my first attempt (06/01/2012), though, I scored a 680 (47q 33v).

During my first test, I had difficulties in managing my time in the verbal section (I finished the test 5-7 minutes, earlier). This was happening to me even in my practice tests (Manhattan and GMAT Prep).

So I went back and worked on improving my timing in the verbal section and to some extent, I did. On all my practice tests, which I took after my first GMAT, I was consistently scoring in the 720s and higher with a very well balanced verbal and quantitative scores. This time, I thought, I was very well prepared for the exam only to find out that I scored lower than I did on my first attempt.

I did not have any nerves during my exam, never felt fatigued during the entire test, and was confidently cruising along the entire test.

I even got the feeling that I was doing really well on the quantitative section and the verbal section. Given the nature of a CAT, the better you do, the tougher the questions get. Not even for once, did I have the feeling that I was being asked a relatively easier question than the previous one. And that is what is baffling me ever since I saw a 650 on the screen with a verbal scaled score of 31. I did everything right that I could possibly do and still ended up with a disappointing score.

The first application deadlines for my target colleges (Tepper, Mc Combs, to name a few) are in 2nd or 3rd week of October, 2012 and I am in a real fix as to what I should do. Should I retake the test? If I do retake, what did I miss in the second attempt, that I should now keep in mind during the third attempt? Is a third attempt worth it?

Please advise.

I do apologize for the long post but I felt it necessary to explain everything.

Thanks for all you help and suggestions!

Ridhima Choubey