Retaking the GMAT

[jdoong]

Hi, I have been prepping for the GMAT for a few months now and am due to take it in two weeks. However, I don't think I apportioned my time very well and didn't get to take many practice CATs yet. The scores I got on the GMATPrep tests and the MGMAT free test were not as high as I would have liked them to be. I'm doing pretty well on verbal because I was an English major in undergrad, but I am a bit overwhelmed with the Quant section and having trouble finishing the exam each time. I believe the highest score I've gotten has been a 690, but I'm thinking that I will need a much higher score to make up for my lack of work experience.

So what I'm wondering is....should I just prep like crazy these next two weeks and take the GMAT on Apr. 29 as planned? Then I would just retake it if the score isn't as high as I would like. Or should I postpone my date (again) and prep some more before I take it for the first time? I guess what I'm asking is does it look better to admissions officers if you only take the GMAT once and do really well vs. getting one ok score and one really good one? Do they take both scores into account or do they disregard the lower one?

[mbamission]

Hello,

Thank you for your inquiry. Taking the GMAT exam once and doing well will not be viewed more favorably than taking it twice and doing better the second time. The schools will use the score you choose to report when evaluating you - of course you would report the higher score. The report that they receive from GMAC includes all of your scores, but for evaluation purposes, they will use the score that you choose to report. So it’s really your call about whether to take it in two weeks or postpone it and prepare a bit more.

Sincerely,

Akiba Smith-Francis

MBA Mission
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