Schools consider the latest GMAT score or the best ever

[Ikonik]

I haven't taken the GMAT yet, but consider the situation that a candidate scores as follows:
First GMAT score: 700
Second GMAT score: 640 (after 45days)
After the GMAT, he opted to send both scores to a business school S. He has not yet sent the application for admission to school S.

Questions:
- When the school S evaluates the candidate (on receiving his application), which of the two scores will it consider eventually? The most recent or the highest?
- Is there a GMAC set policy on this or it varies from school to school?
- If the candidate (hypothetically) take the GMAT a third time, is it a major set-back or the schools don't care, as long as they get the highest or the most recent score?

[dmateer25]

I haven't taken the GMAT yet, but consider the situation that a candidate scores as follows:
First GMAT score: 700
Second GMAT score: 640 (after 45days)
After the GMAT, he opted to send both scores to a business school S. He has not yet sent the application for admission to school S.

Questions:
- When the school S evaluates the candidate (on receiving his application), which of the two scores will it consider eventually? The most recent or the highest?
- Is there a GMAC set policy on this or it varies from school to school?
- If the candidate (hypothetically) take the GMAT a third time, is it a major set-back or the schools don't care, as long as they get the highest or the most recent score?

It is pretty standard that schools will accept the highest GMAT score. I'm not aware of any schools where this isn't the case.

I have heard a lot of experts say that taking the GMAT 3 times is not an issue and adcoms won't frown upon that.

[bizschoolprep]

Almost all schools consider the highest score. So no reasons to worry.

[gimmeenergy]

Almost all schools consider the highest score. So no reasons to worry.

In my case I scored 690 2 years back. Now, just few days back, I have scored a 620. So would the adcoms consider 690 for my application.

[dasramakant2000]

Hello Gimmeenergy , Ideally the schools will consider the highest GMAT score , but you should be able to explain the lower score also when asked .

[apphelp]

Its school specific and GMAC can't set rules for which score to be considered.
But 99% schools take the better score. Also, the schools dont publish this on the website but say this during info/ chat sessions.

There is no issue will 3 GMAT attempts unless your best score is the first one which is lets say 4 years old. That can raise an eyebrow.

Apphelp Team