Should I submitted more than 1 GMAT result? : Ask mbaMission

Hi there, I am deciding between submitting two of my GMAT scores or just one and would really appreciate some input. (For clarity, both of my scores right now are cancelled, and I am wondering if I should reinstate both of them or just one.)

My first score was a 43Q, 46V, 5IR for an overall 720.

My second score was a 48Q, 44V, and 3IR for an overall 740.

The main concern with submitting only the second score is the 3IR. I do not have a good sense for the weight that schools would assign to a 3IR when grading applications, so I am not sure how much I need to try to "make up for it." The thought processes behind submitting both scores would be to show that I can do better than a 3IR and to show that a 46V is within my range of outcomes (though, I am not sure how much weight schools would give to a 46V vs. a 44V).

Alternatively, I did take the GMAT a third time and got another 720 (44Q 44V), but on the third try, I received an 8IR. I would not want to submit my third score -- I do not want to show a Quant downtrend. But do you think it could make sense to submit only the 740, and then mention in my application something to the effect of "my 3IR was out-of-character with my other IR scores; the next time I took the GMAT, I received an 8IR." Or, do you think schools would find it odd for me to mention a GMAT score that I did not submit?

So, what do you think is my best course of action? Right now, I am leaning towards submitting only the 740 and then including the line about my IR score being out-of-character with my other scores. But let me know what you think, and thanks in advance!

Hi there nrg53,
Apologies if this response is too delayed to be helpful! Your second score is definitely the main one to submit. I would submit that and then address the IR score in the optional essay. If you're applying to Wharton and/or Tuck, they have said that they "superscore" tests (i.e., consider your highest scores on different tests) so I would advise submit all of your scores to those schools in particular.
Kate

nrg53 wrote:Hi there, I am deciding between submitting two of my GMAT scores or just one and would really appreciate some input. (For clarity, both of my scores right now are cancelled, and I am wondering if I should reinstate both of them or just one.)

My first score was a 43Q, 46V, 5IR for an overall 720.

My second score was a 48Q, 44V, and 3IR for an overall 740.

The main concern with submitting only the second score is the 3IR. I do not have a good sense for the weight that schools would assign to a 3IR when grading applications, so I am not sure how much I need to try to "make up for it." The thought processes behind submitting both scores would be to show that I can do better than a 3IR and to show that a 46V is within my range of outcomes (though, I am not sure how much weight schools would give to a 46V vs. a 44V).

Alternatively, I did take the GMAT a third time and got another 720 (44Q 44V), but on the third try, I received an 8IR. I would not want to submit my third score -- I do not want to show a Quant downtrend. But do you think it could make sense to submit only the 740, and then mention in my application something to the effect of "my 3IR was out-of-character with my other IR scores; the next time I took the GMAT, I received an 8IR." Or, do you think schools would find it odd for me to mention a GMAT score that I did not submit?

So, what do you think is my best course of action? Right now, I am leaning towards submitting only the 740 and then including the line about my IR score being out-of-character with my other scores. But let me know what you think, and thanks in advance!