Clients often ask whether retaking the GMAT is worth it. Our answer? If you believe you can score higher, it’s usually worth the effort. Top MBA program admissions are highly competitive, and we want every client to present the strongest application possible. If your current GMAT score doesn’t reflect your true potential, we generally recommend a retake—even multiple times. In fact, most SBC clients retake the GMAT at least once, and many see meaningful score improvements on the second or third attempt.

We recently received an email from an applicant that illustrates this well:

“Thanks for these ‘real’ words last year. You’ll be surprised to know how many people told me to not to attempt GRE again. I just wanted to update you that I gave the GRE again and hit my goal. I would really like you to know that you made a positive difference in a my life. Thanks for the encouragement and the honesty.”

Expert Advice on Retaking the GMAT or Trying the GRE

Caryn is a former Kellogg MBA Admissions Officer who has been with the SBC consulting team for over a decade. She shared:

“For a low test score, I advise retaking the GMAT or GRE at least once which not only can show score improvement but also shows self-awareness that you are trying to improve. If you are having trouble with one test in particular, say difficulty with the quant section on the GMAT, it is worth it to try the GRE (or at least take a practice test) which still has quant, but it tends to be easier especially for those from non-quantitative backgrounds.”

Sometimes, our clients ask about tradeoffs, such as, “Should I put my effort into extracurricular activity or retaking the GMAT?” Our guidance remains the same: if you believe you can score higher, consider retaking the exam. However, that’s not a free pass for other aspects of the candidacy, such as extracurricular activities. Push hard on all you can do. Use practice test scores as your guide on what your potential should be.

Partner with best-in-class GMAT and GRE experts and increase your score significantly. Check out our test prep services here.  Request a free game plan chat with SBC’s lead test prep coach by emailing testprep@stacyblackman.com

Also read: GMAT vs GRE for MBA Applicants: What’s the Right Strategy?

Our latest intel on test prep for the GMAT Focus Edition here:

How Many Times Can You Retake the GMAT Without Hurting Your Chances?

It is okay to take a GMAT (or GRE, EA, or any other test) multiple times, to a point. Lisa, a former MBA Admissions Officer on our SBC team, says,

“It shows perseverance, self-awareness, and judgment; schools generally don’t hold it against you that you take a test multiple times and use the score report you indicate in your application.”

At the same time, some MBA programs don’t look favorably upon retaking the GMAT too many times. Based on our experience across the AdCom on the SBC team, we observe that retaking the assessment more than four times—with minimal improvement in scores—may suggest that the candidate lacks self-awareness. Right or wrong, it can be a red flag depending on the candidate, target schools, and test-taking history.

A former Booth Admissions Officer on our SBC team shared,

“A candidate applying to Booth got flagged in the application system if they took the GMAT more than three times. This signals to the Booth AdCom to take a deeper dive into understanding why they took it so often. We looked for an optional essay to explain the high number of attempts with minimal improvement. If there is improvement with each score, it is less of an issue, but it is flagged nonetheless.”

Consider switching to another test, such as the GRE, instead of retaking the GMAT a fourth or fifth time.

How to Report GMAT Retakes on Your MBA Applications

Retaking the GMAT vs. Switching to the GRE: What’s Best for Your MBA Strategy?

The GMAT and GRE are two entirely different tests that bear no resemblance to one another. We have had exceptionally quantitatively proficient clients who bombed the GMAT multiple times. (One took it four times and couldn’t break 650.) But once they switched to the GRE, they killed it. For example, the client who took it four times scored a 720 GMAT equivalent when converted. They reported both scores and were accepted into the programs they had hoped for.

So, are the GRE and GMAT equally accepted?

@stacyblackmanconsulting Are the GRE and GMAT accepted equally? StacyBlackman.com #sbcyourfuture #mba #mbaadmissions #gmat #gre ? original sound – Stacy Blackman Consulting

We have seen that the GRE could be a valuable differentiator and smart strategic decision for an MBA candidacy. MBA programs began accepting this exam to attract a broader, more diverse set of applicants. Because the GRE is accepted at diverse graduate programs, incorporating the test into an application strategy often bolsters positioning, especially for non-traditional applicants.

Those who submit GRE scores may highlight strengths outside the more common business skill set. When developing a complete strategy, choosing the GRE can be another way to highlight a unique path. Try a free practice test online to assess which test is best for you.

Hear more about how taking the GRE® General Test can be a wise strategic decision to display your quant skills from Stacy Blackman Consulting principal Esther Magna:

What are my options for reinstating or canceling my GMAT test?

The GMAT has undergone numerous policy and process changes over the past five years. We will highlight one that is worth noting from an admissions standpoint.

“You are allowed to reinstate a previously cancelled score for up to 4 years and 11 months after the test date. Note, you still only have the opposite option of ‘accepting and then later choosing to cancel’ for 72 hours after your test date.”

SBC’s lead test prep tutor advises the following practical implications here:

1. Students who go in and receive a score that is borderline/”iffy” should probably cancel. You can undo your cancellation for up to almost five years. However, to accept and then decide to cancel retroactively, you still only have 72 hours to do so—for a small fee.
2. If you have an older test score that was higher (and has since been canceled), ask your consultant how to proceed. This has happened from time to time with clients who have slightly to moderately higher canceled scores. At the time, those scores weren’t their desired score, but then they couldn’t achieve a higher score or even replicate it.

If You Submit a GRE Score, Do You Still Need to Report the GMAT?

On some applications, such as Wharton, the related application question is “Have you taken the GMAT?” It’s unclear whether you should answer honestly, even if the applicant submits their GRE scores.

It is usually acceptable to say “no” for this as AdCom understands that how they phrase the question could stress applicants out. Just answer “yes” for the test the applicant plans on using for the evaluation, even if they’ve taken both tests.

We have asked AdCom at several programs to rephrase the question in the application. It sounds like they made some changes to accommodate online vs. in-person testing.

When will I receive my test score: for the in-home exam or the in-person GMAT exam?

Unlike the in-person exam, the online exam has a policy of not sending scores until approximately seven days later. Some of our clients have received their scores after four days, so a test score may be released sooner rather than later.

The test company’s delay in issuing test results is a precaution to guard against cheating. Over the years, we have had a couple of clients impacted by inadvertently overlapping with cheating rings in the GMAT, so it does happen!

What do schools truly see if someone cancels their score?

SBC’s lead test prep tutor shares this insight:

“It used to be that the schools would see the date and that the student had canceled next to that date. Or, more accurately, a “C” would be listed by any canceled test dates. So, it was a bit of a concern to take too many times and have “C” keep showing up.

However, another recent change to the GMAT is that schools can no longer view any of those cancellations. Only the test takers themselves can see them. So, if a student takes the test five times and cancels four, then AdCom will only see the one test score the student accepted, with no other indication that the test was taken more than once.”

If you have your official score forwarded to the schools, do canceled tests appear in the number of times you’ve taken them?

According to GMAC, official test scores sent to schools will show no indication that a test was ever canceled. Official reports sent to schools will only display dates and scores of accepted tests. Essentially, it is like the canceled tests do not exist.  Rest assured that if a school is seeing the official report from GMAC, there is no indication of the canceled tests. GMAT’s stance is that those canceled scores don’t count, so the score of a canceled test will never be passed along to a school.

What happens when you self-report GMAT scores?

That being said, an issue can arise when students self-report scores. If students upload the sheet of paper they received right after completing the test, it will show only that test score. But, if students go to their GMAT accounts and upload a full score report there, canceled tests do show on the students’ accounts (so that students have an accurate record of their test-taking). Accordingly, doing so will display to the schools that multiple non-reported tests were taken if that is the case.

In self-reporting, if a student needs to upload their own document initially and doesn’t have the original printout from the test day, this will display all tests. So, the student should play it safe and report the total number of test administrations, including tests canceled. If there is any ambiguity (i.e., uncertainty about whether they’ll be asked to provide their own proof later, before the GMAC score verification), it is probably best to report the total number of test administrations to indicate the number of times the test was taken.

Some schools request that applicants upload an unofficial score report. They can see the cancellations in this scenario since it’s a user-generated report. Any advice?

The unofficial score report is the printout you receive when leaving the testing center. That should be fine because the unofficial score report should not contain older test results. It should just have what happened that day, except for the AWA.

However, if a student needs to upload the official score report (available online, which includes not just Q/V/IR scores but also AWA, overall percentiles, student information, and undergraduate details), which becomes available a few weeks later, then this might be more of an issue.

What is the sign-up process for the GRE virtual/at-home exam?

Candidates select their date and time and must perform an equipment and environment check-up upon initial registration. Here’s their step-by-step breakdown.

Find more Testing Advice from our blog

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