I just Beat The GMAT!

My score:

710 (percentile: 92%)
Q: 48 (percentile: 82%)
V: 40 (percentile: 89%)
AWA: 6.0 (percentile: 91%)

My first post and contribution to BTG! I want to thank the forum for all the help it has provided. I spent around 4 weeks preparing for the exam, perhaps for a total of 2 hours daily on average.

4 weeks ago, my first attempt in GMATprep gave me a grand total score of 490 .... I was so dejected that I can't remember the breakdown. After analyzing the test, I knew my weaknesses were in SC (i got all SC questions wrong), and DS (again, almost all questions wrong). My strengths were in PS and RC, did okay for CR (but still pretty weak).

I took the exam earlier today. Here's a breakdown of the materials I used and some of my thoughts:

1. Kaplan Premier 2010-2011
2. OG (big orange book)
3. OG (Verbal)
4. OG (Quant)
5. MGMAT SC
-- Didn't find this to be most useful for SC.
6. 1000 SC
-- Did half the questions. I find this to be more useful for SC. You can find the questions with partial explanations here
https://thousandsc.blocked/2006/04/qn-1.html
7. 1000 CR
-- Did half the questions as well. This contains GMAT CR as well as LSAT CR, which can be mind-boggling and very challenging. Very good practice for those hoping to break the 700 barrier.
-- Questions and answers are attached in the same document below.
8. GMATprep software from mba.com
9. 198 Level 700+ quant questions from GMAT Prep
-- Did 75% of the questions. Very useful, but some answers in the attached answer sheet are wrong. When in doubt, google for the right answers.
-- questions and answers are attached in separate documents below.

The OG can be misleading as more than half of the questions can be easier than the questions the current GMAT tests. I find the current GMAT to be much more tricky, surprising, and with more traps relative to the questions in OG. Once you're familiar with the easy questions, be sure to practice the 700+ level questions from 1000 SC, 1000 CR and the 700+ level quant questions and other sources.

Point to note about GMATprep: I did the first test twice and the second once. For my first GMATprep before preparation, I scored a grand total of 490 (too dejected to even remember the breakdown) For both tests after preparation for 4 weeks, the breakdown is Q48, V38, total=710. Since my score at the actual GMAT shows Q48, V40, total=710, this may mean that the current GMAT has a much tougher grading standard relative to that in GMATprep.

When doing CATs other than in the GMATprep software, don't worry too much about your total score and breakdown. I haven't encountered any companies (Kaplan, princeton) that do have an accurate scoring algorithm. The GMATprep software is still the best predictor of your score, though the software still does inflate your score a little due to the easier nature of its questions (in my view of course)

My two cents. Good luck to everyone hoping to break the 700 barrier!! PM me if you want to ask any questions.