Are Schools Interested in GMAT Integrated Reasoning Scores?

If you’ve flubbed the GMAT’s Integrated Reasoning section, and your MBA application deadlines are fast approaching, fear not: It turns out relatively few MBA programs care according to a Kaplan Test Prep study.

For those of you who need a refresher course, GMAT added the Integrated Reasoning section back in June 2012. It was, and remains, one of the most radical changes to the business school entrance test in its nearly 60-year history. The new section, which replaced a writing section, features charts, graphs, diagrams, and data tables, which test takers are expected to analyze to answer the questions.  It’s enough to strike terror into the hearts of humanities majors everywhere.

It’s also, at least for the time being, a little pointless.  A survey of more than 200 business school admissions officers by Kaplan Test Prep, released on Thursday, found that 60% do not consider the score of the Integrated Reasoning section “an important part of their evaluation of a prospective student’s overall GMAT score” and MBA application. 

Integrated Reasoning could become as important as rest of GMAT in time

Make no mistake though, they still consider the GMAT important –50% said a low GMAT score was “the biggest application killer”—but the IR section? Not so much.

Brian Carlidge, executive director of pre-business and pre-graduate programs at Kaplan, notes that one reason relatively few admissions directors place great importance on IR scores is that the section is new, and since GMAT scores are good for five years, most of their applicants have not submitted GMAT scores that include the IR section.

“The fact that a majority of MBA programs are still not currently placing great importance on the Integrated Reasoning section of GMAT is somewhat understandable since they may want to gather additional performance data before fully incorporating it into their evaluation process,” Carlidge says. “As more and more applicants submit scores from the current GMAT over the next couple of years, business schools may decide that Integrated Reasoning performance should play a more critical role. “ 

It’s worth noting that the Integrated Reasoning section is scored separately from the rest of the test, so doing really well on the quant, verbal, and analytical writing sections, while nice, will not hide the fact that you bombed on IR.

So when prepping for the GMAT, Carlidge and Kaplan advises applicants not to ignore IR. Even if your target school doesn’t put too much stock in it, it’s still a good way to differentiate yourself from thousands of test-takers with sub-par IR scores on their MBA application.