GMAT Scores

[mbaguy513]

Hi,

I am curious if schools look more at your overall score or the specific quant and verbal scores. I have heard many people quote the goal of 700+ with 80/80 for percentiles. I am just wondering because I have been reading many message boards and it seems very hard to predict what mix of quant and verbal scores makes up your total score. There seem to be many people with varying Q and V scores but with similar total scores. Specifically for me I scored a 710 Q 48/84% and V 41/92%. I have been seeing many profile eval posts where people have almost identical numbers to me in the Q and V scores but a higher total score. I am not too worried about my total score, but obviously would have loved a higher score. I am just wondering if the total score is what is truly evaluated for the gmat or if most of the weight is placed on in the individual Q and V scores.

Thanks in advance

[MBA Mission]

Thank you for your inquiry.

The answer is that both your aggregate and individual scores are important. Generally, an excellent score is a 700+ score with 80th percentiles on both sides of the exam. If your overall score is quite high, but your quant score is low, then your target school may still have concerns about your ability to manage a highly quantitative curriculum. So, in some cases, a single side of the test can "undo" a strong overall score.

In your case, you really have nothing to worry about as your scores are both above the 80th percentile.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

646-485-8844

Website: www.mbamission.com
Blog: www.mbamission.com/blog
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Hi,

I am curious if schools look more at your overall score or the specific quant and verbal scores. I have heard many people quote the goal of 700+ with 80/80 for percentiles. I am just wondering because I have been reading many message boards and it seems very hard to predict what mix of quant and verbal scores makes up your total score. There seem to be many people with varying Q and V scores but with similar total scores. Specifically for me I scored a 710 Q 48/84% and V 41/92%. I have been seeing many profile eval posts where people have almost identical numbers to me in the Q and V scores but a higher total score. I am not too worried about my total score, but obviously would have loved a higher score. I am just wondering if the total score is what is truly evaluated for the gmat or if most of the weight is placed on in the individual Q and V scores.

Thanks in advance

[amurrow]

Hi,

I know you recommend shooting for an 80/80 score. I received the following score:

Math: 47, 79th percentile
Verbal: 45, 98th percentile
Overall: 740, 97th percentile

Is my math score going to hurt me? I currently work in finance - can good recommendations and 4 years of relevant experience in financial services help offset this discrepancy in my score?

A little bit of background about me:
- Graduated from UC Berkeley in 2007 from the Haas School of Business (3.7 GPA)
- Currently an Investment Banking Analyst at Barclays Capital (formerly Lehman Brothers)
- Starting in August, I will be an associate at a large private equity fund (fund size $5 billion; total assets under management: $35+ billion)

I'm trying to figure out if it makes sense for me to take it again. I'm a little freaked out that the 79th percentile is going to turn off top schools such as Harvard or Stanford. I anticipate applying to b-school in Fall 2010, for a Fall 2011 start.

Thanks a lot!

[mbamission]

Hello,

Thanks for your inquiry. Your overall score is very good and your quantitative score on the GMAT should not hurt you. That written, I would emphasize the quantitative nature of your work and highlight any As that you got in math or quantitative classes in college.

With respect to your question about retaking the GMAT, I would say that if you think that you can increase your score significantly, you should retake it. If you do not think you can improve your quantitative score significantly, then I would invest your time elsewhere.

Sincerely,
Akiba Smith-Francis
MBA Mission

646-485-8844

Website: http://www.mbamission.com
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[SomeGuyinHermosa]

Post was deleted

[SomeGuyinHermosa]

My profile is fairly similar, but I am curious if a quant score of just under 80% will cause top schools (Harvard / Stanford) admissions to take a closer look at all of your undergrad grades in quant classes and your app overall than they would otherwise. My GPA is a little below average for those schools so I am wondering if there is any GMAT score that would cause any concern over my GPA to go away.

Current GMAT:
Quant: 47 - 78th percentile
Verbal: 44 - 97th percentile
Overall: 730 - 96th percentile

During practice tests I was consistently scoring around 750-770 with my verbal always 96th % and my math usually around 86th %, my nerves got to me on test day and I made some dumb mistakes on the math.

Other Background:
- Stanford Undergrad, major Management Science and Engineering - GPA 3.2
- Varsity athlete at Stanford
- 2 years investment banking, 2 years private equity ($3 billion fund)
- Consistently involved in a lot of extracurriculars / leadership activisities / community service, although less post-college since banking and PE took most of my time

I think the main weak points of my app are a slightly low GPA, fairly low community service during years I was working, and that I am competing against a lot of people with similar profiles. If I could knock out a 760 on the GMAT do you think that would move my profile from "borderline" to "likely" for top schools?

[mbamission]

Hello,

No, the difference between the 79th or 78th percentile and the 80th percentile is not so great that schools like Harvard and Stanford will be concerned with your academic abilities. Your overall GMAT score and percentiles are quite good. I do not think that you should spend your time studying to retake the test to try for a 760. A score of 760 will likely not make a significant difference in your chances of being admitted to Harvard or Stanford. The schools consider your entire application and the GMAT score is just one component, and you already have an excellent score. Overall you seem to have a pretty solid profile, so I would recommend that you focus your time on your essays to showcase your leadership and differentiate your candidacy from other applicants.

Sincerely,

Akiba Smith-Francis

MBA Mission
646-485-8844
Website: www.mbamission.com
Blog: www.mbamission.com/blog
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