一篇关于GMAT分数的文章

braveMBA

以前记得有位MM贴过，现在重新看来还是觉得有些道理，同大家分享，但是仅是参考，主意要自己拿。

YOUR GMAT SCORE:    
It's sad, but it's true: your GMAT score is probably the most important factor in determining whether you will be admitted to a top business school.  I want to clarify that statement, though, so you won't misunderstand me.

Most applicants believe there is a significant difference between a 680 and a 720 on the GMAT.  There isn't.  The extra 40 points won't help your chances of being admitted.  That's why I'm frustrated when I hear from people who score 680 and insist on retaking the exam.  They would be better served by burning their GMAT-prep books and turning their attention to the application essays (the next step in the process).

If you hope to have a reasonable chance of being admitted to a top program, though, your GMAT score will need to be "in the ballpark."  If it isn't you'll have a hard time winning a spot at A-list schools no matter how good your work experience and undergraduate GPA might be.  That's why I believe GMAT score is the most important factor in being admitted to a top program.  If your score isn't in the ballpark, you won't be in the game.

So What's Considered "In the Ballpark?"

At virtually all of the top programs, the ballpark starts in the mid 600s.  That doesn't mean there is a strict cut-off -- there isn't.  But if you look closely at a school's numbers you'll see that below about 620, your chances of being admitted fall pretty dramatically.

Take a look at the graph below.  It shows the "middle 80 percent range" of GMAT scores for students admitted to a typical top MBA program.

[attachimg=364,200]7379[/attachimg]

You can see that the median score is about 680; but the median can be deceiving.  You don't need to beat it to be accepted.  It should be obvious that half of all accepted applicants score below the median, but for some reason many of my GMAT students feel they need to beat a school's median to have a reasonable shot at getting in.  I've had to talk quite a few of them into applying to MBA programs they are now attending (or have already finished) because they were initially discouraged when their GMAT scores fell slightly below their target schools' medians.

What Score Will I Need If I Hope to Attend a Top Program?

If your GMAT score is within a school's median 80 percent range, even if it's 60 points below the school's median, you have a reasonable chance of being admitted.  If it's below that 80 percent range you still have a shot, but it's a long shot.  (I'll discuss how applicants with GMAT scores below the median 80 percent range get admitted to top programs in the next section on application essays.)

Most MBA programs now print their median 80 percent ranges in their brochures.  For those that don't, you can make a rough estimate by assuming the range starts about 60 points below the median and ends about 60 points above it.  As long as you are within that range, you have a reasonable chance of being admitted.

Are the Separate Scores for Math and Verbal Important?

Yes, especially the math score.  The admissions people put a lot of emphasis on math skills when making their decisions.  (See the discussion on GPA for more on this.)  So it's important that you do well on the math portion of the GMAT.

The math and verbal scores range from 0 to about 52.  (I know that ETS claims the scale can go as high as 60, but it has never actually gone over 52).  My strongest students are those in the "40-40 Club."  That means they score in the 40's in both math and verbal.  

It's great to have that kind of balance, but if you are going to be stronger on one portion of the test than on the other, it's clearly better to be stronger in math.  

What if I Hope to Apply to Top Schools But My GMAT Score is Below 600?

You need to take the test again.  I'm not saying that you can't get into a top program -- you can.  But your chances are slim.  So if you have time to take the test again, you'd be foolish not to.  

And that brings up a good point about multiple test scores.  I'm not aware of a single top school (or even an average school for that matter) that still averages GMAT scores.  I'm sure that someone out there will find a program that does so, but until I hear from that person, let's stick to the general rule: Schools consider only your highest GMAT score.

Can I Take the Test 15 Times and Just Report My Highest Score?

Sort of.  Before the GMAT exam begins, the computer will ask you which schools you would like your scores forwarded to.  You get five schools included in the cost of the test, and any others will cost you $25 each.   
You can elect not to have your scores forwarded to any schools.  After you have seen your scores (you get them immediately after finishing the test), you can then pay $25 each to have them sent to the schools you choose.

Your "GMAT transcript" will report only your three most recent scores.  So if you took the test four times and scored 450 each time, but didn't have your scores forwarded, you could still pull off that miraculous 700 the fifth time and then send your scores.  The admissions office would see only two 450's and a 700.  

It doesn't really matter, though, whether you send your transcript after each test or wait until you score the number you want.  In the end, the school's application will ask you to specify the score you want the admissions committee to consider.  (And, no, you can't mix and match your best verbal score and your best math score from different tests.)

(By the way, two years ago the GMAT was $84 and additional score reports were $10 each.   Now it's $165 and additional score reports are $25 each.  That's a great example of what happens when a monopoly is allowed to operate.  Maybe someone in business school can come up with a way to introduce free market forces into the GMAT administration process.)

What About the Essay Score on the GMAT?

You will have to write two essays on the GMAT (the "Analytical Writing Section").  They will be scored on a scale of 1 to 6, and those points will not be added to your other GMAT score.  

The essays are extremely simple.  I teach my students a basic template to follow and they seem to do very well with it.  They regularly score perfect 6's (the 99th percentile) just by following the template.

It's been my experience, though, that your essay score is pretty much worthless, so I spend very little time on it in class.  A few years ago I asked the admissions director of a Top-5 school what she was doing with the essay scores.  She laughed at me and said she wasn't really using them (though that isn't what her brochures say).  

I have to agree with her.  The GMAT essays are ridiculous.  Given how well some students have done by just following a formula, the scores seem pretty meaningless.  And now the essays are being graded by computer, making them even more worthless.  So don't spend a lot of time studying for the AWA essays, and don't put too much emphasis on your essay score.  I can assure you the admissions committee won't.   

A Special Note:  The actual essay topics you will see on test day are disclosed in advance!  You can find a complete list of them in the current edition of The Official Guide for GMAT Review.  

Having the list tempts some people to try to write their essays ahead of time.  The pool of essay topics is so large, though, that it would be impossible to write an essay for each (and remember them all) before test day.  Your time would be better spent studying the other sections of the GMAT.

The Bottom Line On GMAT Scores  

Take the GMAT very seriously.  If you score 560 you won't be going to Wharton, and all of your excuses for not finding time to study will be little consolation.  Work hard in your course!  And if you don't like your first score, take the test again.  Keep taking it until you get the score you want.

[此贴子已经被作者于2003-11-13 10:34:08编辑过]

joice

Thanks.

[此贴子已经被作者于2003-11-13 10:46:08编辑过]

八戒

多谢师傅了！！呵......

八戒现在的水平连平均都不到！！555555555555

真是菜鸟呀！！

yanjuji

有两事不解：
1、作者开篇提出GMAT很重要，但后面内容似乎在说GMAT不重要，只要在RANGE以内都可以。晕了。是否我没看懂？盼高手指点。
2、成绩在730以上的人的机会如何呢？他们也不在RANGE之内啊？作者似乎没有给出答案。

dz

顶一下！

eyesy

经典啊！！
我要给brave gg一朵小花：）

superkun

多谢！
只是还不明白，在其他条件相差无几的时候，高一点的gmat分数是否还是会多点优势？
图表右尾部得高分少的另一个很重要的原因就是考到高分的人本来就很少。

braveMBA

偶觉得，这篇文章不管他的卖点何在，有几点我们可以考虑：
1、他/她所说的GMAT重要，指的是 very seriously， 同时，GMAT是所有好的BS的重要参考依据之一。这点我同意，即要慎重。
2、如果你的分值落在（670--710）之间了，你是否要重考？这是争论最大的一点。偶的观点：
A）如果你是在校生，再考！考到750以上。其实工作了5年以上的人都知道，学校的时间固然美丽，不如花在今后想干的事情上，享受生活固然重要，别30岁的时候再背单词，多辛苦呀，因为不是所有单词工作都有用，但是考试有用。
B）如果你想申请明年FALL入学的，如果你还没有动手准备申请材料，要慎重考虑。因为文章里的这个观点我很赞同，ESSAY的重要性一点也不亚于GMAT。
C）如果你想申请后年的，北美的，TOP20的，建议考，为什么不考呢？时间还有的是，为什么不把自己的条件搞得越来越好呢？但是，我依然认为，要考就考到750，因为这时候GMAT已经成了你申请的真正的优势了，它甚至可以弥补你的劣势，这是何等地爽？否则，670--720我认为在一个档次上，因为每个人的ESSAY差别最大，很难量化，它完全可以弥补50分的差距。
3、关于落入哪个竞争区间的问题，我认为各个学校一定不同。但是，整体有比例的倾向，例如亚洲，甚至中国。对于行业和工作经验，也一定有些默许的规则。所以，这些因素我们在考GMAT的时候往往热血早已把理性淹没，变成了同ETS的战斗，其实ETS在这里充当的是一个上梁小丑的角色，连BS都不一定看得上它们。同志们，我们是在申请MBA，是在同BUSINESS SCHOOL打主要的交道，不是同ETS玩游戏。
4、我始终同那些考试失手的XDJM战在一起，因为流血的感受，刺痛是真切的，根本不需要言语就能知道，只想默默地拥抱。但是，我们要冷静，我们要达到一个我们最实用的目标，有时，不一定是最完美的，我们的战斗之路还很长。

胡言乱语，只是想同还没有战斗和继续战斗的XDJM一起，直到天亮。

joywzy

以下是引用braveMBA在2003-11-13 13:28:00的发言：
偶觉得，这篇文章不管他的卖点何在，有几点我们可以考虑：
1、他/她所说的GMAT重要，指的是 very seriously， 同时，GMAT是所有好的BS的重要参考依据之一。这点我同意，即要慎重。
2、如果你的分值落在（670--710）之间了，你是否要重考？这是争论最大的一点。偶的观点：
A）如果你是在校生，再考！考到750以上。其实工作了5年以上的人都知道，学校的时间固然美丽，不如花在今后想干的事情上，享受生活固然重要，别30岁的时候再背单词，多辛苦呀，因为不是所有单词工作都有用，但是考试有用。
B）如果你想申请明年FALL入学的，如果你还没有动手准备申请材料，要慎重考虑。因为文章里的这个观点我很赞同，ESSAY的重要性一点也不亚于GMAT。
C）如果你想申请后年的，北美的，TOP20的，建议考，为什么不考呢？时间还有的是，为什么不把自己的条件搞得越来越好呢？但是，我依然认为，要考就考到750，因为这时候GMAT已经成了你申请的真正的优势了，它甚至可以弥补你的劣势，这是何等地爽？否则，670--720我认为在一个档次上，因为每个人的ESSAY差别最大，很难量化，它完全可以弥补50分的差距。
3、关于落入哪个竞争区间的问题，我认为各个学校一定不同。但是，整体有比例的倾向，例如亚洲，甚至中国。对于行业和工作经验，也一定有些默许的规则。所以，这些因素我们在考GMAT的时候往往热血早已把理性淹没，变成了同ETS的战斗，其实ETS在这里充当的是一个上梁小丑的角色，连BS都不一定看得上它们。同志们，我们是在申请MBA，是在同BUSINESS SCHOOL打主要的交道，不是同ETS玩游戏。
4、我始终同那些考试失手的XDJM战在一起，因为流血的感受，刺痛是真切的，根本不需要言语就能知道，只想默默地拥抱。但是，我们要冷静，我们要达到一个我们最实用的目标，有时，不一定是最完美的，我们的战斗之路还很长。

胡言乱语，只是想同还没有战斗和继续战斗的XDJM一起，直到天亮。

brave GG 真好啊!!!!!

读你的贴子,总是让我热血沸腾,同时,更要重视思考.对考试,对生活....

你的GMAT七罪宗,还有挫折教育,人生财富,还有这篇文章,真真是好文章.让人回味.

多谢brvae GG,祝你一切顺利!!!!

[此贴子已经被作者于2003-11-13 15:04:40编辑过]

remeo

1、他/她所说的GMAT重要，指的是 very seriously， 同时，GMAT是所有好的BS的重要参考依据之一。这点我同意，即要慎重。
2、如果你的分值落在（670--710）之间了，你是否要重考？这是争论最大的一点。偶的观点：
A）如果你是在校生，再考！考到750以上。其实工作了5年以上的人都知道，学校的时间固然美丽，不如花在今后想干的事情上，享受生活固然重要，别30岁的时候再背单词，多辛苦呀，因为不是所有单词工作都有用，但是考试有用。
B）如果你想申请明年FALL入学的，如果你还没有动手准备申请材料，要慎重考虑。因为文章里的这个观点我很赞同，ESSAY的重要性一点也不亚于GMAT。
C）如果你想申请后年的，北美的，TOP20的，建议考，为什么不考呢？时间还有的是，为什么不把自己的条件搞得越来越好呢？但是，我依然认为，要考就考到750，因为这时候GMAT已经成了你申请的真正的优势了，它甚至可以弥补你的劣势，这是何等地爽？否则，670--720我认为在一个档次上，因为每个人的ESSAY差别最大，很难量化，它完全可以弥补50分的差距。
3、关于落入哪个竞争区间的问题，我认为各个学校一定不同。但是，整体有比例的倾向，例如亚洲，甚至中国。对于行业和工作经验，也一定有些默许的规则。所以，这些因素我们在考GMAT的时候往往热血早已把理性淹没，变成了同ETS的战斗，其实ETS在这里充当的是一个上梁小丑的角色，连BS都不一定看得上它们。同志们，我们是在申请MBA，是在同BUSINESS SCHOOL打主要的交道，不是同ETS玩游戏。
4、我始终同那些考试失手的XDJM战在一起，因为流血的感受，刺痛是真切的，根本不需要言语就能知道，只想默默地拥抱。但是，我们要冷静，我们要达到一个我们最实用的目标，有时，不一定是最完美的，我们的战斗之路还很长。

很理性的观点，所以我还是打算重考一次。