720 GMAT - Good enough? - The Beat The GMAT Forum - Expert GMAT Help & MBA Admissions Advice

720 GMAT - Good enough?

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goodoldnic: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 3; Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:28 am

by goodoldnic » Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:02 am

OK. Sat the GMAT this morning and came out with a 720 (Q43 / V47). I want to apply to LBS / Insead. Is the low quant bad enough to make it sensible for me to retake the GMAT?

Pretty frustrating - I got 770 on a few of the mock exams I sat (I probably had a mean average of c. 730/740 on the mocks though).

I have always been better at the verbal than the quant section since I have an arts / law undergrad degree (2:1 Cambridge). Any views? Since I have the "verbal" background, would they be looking to see better maths scores than that on my application? Any thoughts appreciated!

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Source: Beat The GMAT — I just Beat The GMAT! | Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:02 am

AceofSpades: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 26; Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:56 am; Thanked: 4 times

by AceofSpades » Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:04 am

720 is a really good score. Given the average GMAT scores for INSEAD (704) and LBS (694), I'd say you're in good shape as far as your score is concerned.

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hk: MBA Student; Posts: 532; Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:39 pmFollowed by: 9 members; Location: Barcelona; Thanked: 33 times; GMAT Score:640

by hk » Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:59 am

I agree that the score is really good. But the top schools are really focusing on a score balance. I feel (and this is my personal opinion) that with a score of 690 (but balanced Q and V scores) you would be in a more stronger position. GMAT is a tool to measure your ability to withstand the course load in B-schools especially during the first year of study which is heavily quantitative in nature. It would be a tough decision to make whether to retake it or not but then its your own call.

Good luck

Wanna know what I'm upto? Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/harikrish

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VP_Jim: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1223; Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:29 pmFollowed by: 15 members; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 185 times

by VP_Jim » Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:54 am

If you were averaging around 730 on your practice tests, I don't think there is a point in retaking. The GMAT has a margin of error of 30 points, so you're well within your true score range. If you were to take the test again, you could get lucky and hit 760, but it's probably just as likely that your score would drop.

720 is a great score, and yes, ideally you'd like to see that quant a little higher. But unless you are absolutely certain that you'll do better on a second attempt, I'd hold steady with that score. As mentioned above, the average score at top schools is around 700, so you're in good shape. If you don't get in, it's probably not because of your GMAT score.

Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep

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indir0ver: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 45; Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:42 am; Location: UK

by indir0ver » Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:04 pm

All the instructors here are saying its too good, you also know anything above 700 is good, infact in the very good score.

Most of the top notch b schools ask for 680-720 range, you are already in that. I am amazed at '?' at the end of subject line:).

Digest your success with time, work more harder on apps you will definitely be in wherever you are aiming at.

Hearty congratulations and good luck ahead!

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