Thanks for the good wishes! I got a 80 percentile numerical and 89 percentile verbal - so 710 is about right. I'm relieved that the deviation between these two numbers wasn't large, thereby showing some balance.
First to answer some questions from other posters -
How was the verbal section compared to GMATPrep and the OG guides? It seems that people are saying that the verbal section has gotten harder. Any tips on preparing?
I will say that the verbal section I got was much harder. I was doing really well to begin with but I was taking my time answering the questions. So much so in fact, that I was averaging over 2 minutes per question. So then around question 24 or so the difficult went up sharply. There was a RC passage so long that I had to scroll down the screen to read it. And the SC questions became difficult too - entire sentences were underlined and they were testing your ability to fix many parallel mistakes at once. I think my "hit rate" went down severely in the last 10 questions or so and I had to guess on the last 2 because I simply ran out of time. If I had more time left at the end I would have gotten a better verbal score I am sure.
Just to give you an idea I did all the verbal questions in the OG 11th ed in the 3 days leading up to the test. I timed myself on these and I got a 89% accuracy rate across all 400 of them. I doubt I got 89% of the questions on the actual test correct.
Also, how was the Quant at the 47 level? Did it seem in line with GMATPrep and OG or harder? Did you see a lot of Prob/Comb or Coordinate Geometry questions? Do you have a quant background?
I think the numerical section was VERY similar to the OG. The questions were along the same lines - so much so that with at least 2 or 3, I knew how to solve them almost like it had been programmed into me. I didn't run out of time but the last few questions I got were tough and I had to make best guesses on them. I have a quant background by my current numerical level is strictly the product of practice since without prep I would have fared much worse.
How did you final 710 GMAT score compare with your practice tests?
My test scores were:
kaplan Diagnostic (paper test, given at their center for free) - 740 46Q 43V
GMATPrep (test 1) - 660 (don't know breakdown)
GMATPrep (test 1 - retake #1) - 700 - 46Q, 40V
GMATPrep (test 1 - retake #2) - 760 - 49Q, 47V
GMATPrep (test 2) - 760 - 47Q, 48V
GMATPrep (test 2 - retake #1) - 710 - 48Q, 38V
Actual GMAT - 710 47Q, 40V
So clearly, the practice tests are a very very good indicator of how you will do on the real deal. I strongly recommend that all of you take each test more than once, but that by the third time you take either test, you no longer put total faith in your score. The only score I am a bit confused by is the 760 I got on test #2 on the first try. In the second go, I had a totally different set of questions and this time the score, a 710, was the most accurate prediction of how I would perform on test day.
I started studying for the GMAT last December. But I had to move in January and work became very intense - to the point where I was too tired to crack open the OG after coming home in the evening. So I will say that my prep began in earnest in the month of May. I spent all my time on numerical because that is where I needed help the most. I only did verbal prep in the last 4 days before the test. I first did flash cards based on the math review section in the OG, and thereafter I proceeded to do all the sample questions - under timed conditions, and then for all the ones I got wrong, I would copy the question on a flashcard, and then solve it myself. I would review my concepts and falied question flashcards on the train to/from work on a regular basis.
I did all my prep using the OG 11th ed. and the 2 free practice tests. I went into the test having decided that I was going to get a score I wanted and that I was going to report the scores to my schools. I sent the score to all 5 schools I am applying to, and I have no regrets with the entire process. The guys running my test center were very nice and made me feel comfortable. The only part I didn't like was that I felt the amount of workspace in front of the computer was not adequate and that I was running out of the dry erase boards too quickly -when I finished the numerical section I was on my 3rd booklet. I was the last test taker for the day so when I finished the exam room was empty.
This was also a cost effective enterprise - I bought my OG 11th edition for 30 dollars and I didn't spend a dime on any additional books, guides, tapes, lotions or balms. And my score reporting needs were covered in the $250 test fee.
