Just sat in on the actual test for the first time on December 15th. My score was a 550 (38 quant-27 Verbal) 
Not what I expected at all.
First let me tell you about my experience. I visited the test center prior to the exam. You really could not see much though except for the waiting area because everything felt so "top secrect". The receptionist made me feel like I was weird for wanting to see the place before the exam. I didn't sweat it though because that is naturally what many people do and I think that it is a good thing to do.
When I showed up for the exam on Sat I had to read the test center rules, get finger printed and have a picture taken. I can not believe how secure this operation is. Have people really tried to cheat in the past??? There was a camera on every test cube and a person was watching at all times though a window to make sure no tomfoolery was going on.
Anyways after I was completely creeped out about the security of the exam it made me more nervous. I began with the 2 AWA'a and everything seemed fine. As soon as the Quant started my heart sunk into my stomach as I realized that everything that I studied for in the last 3 to 4 months came down to this. I gazed at the first problem for a minute before I even attempted to start. So weird. I somewhat regained composure 9 to 10 Q's into it. Too late though!
I had never put that much into the verbal studying because I was hopeing for a low 30 and a low to mid 40 on Quant to balance me out for a decent score.
The RC in verbal was tough. I caught myself reading the passage sometimes twice. They seem to word the passages so difficult that you have trouble understanding the jist of it.
Anyhow, I know I am capable of a better score. The nervousness of the test got to me on the first try. So much anticipation. I can't want to take it again.
Here is my advise...
1-Minimize telling people around you that you are taking it. Less presure on you.
2-When your testing well enough, take it for the first time and get it over with. I feel so much better now and am ready to reload and try again. Who cares about the $250 per test, it's a minimal investment in the grand scheme of things. I read about some dude that took it 10 times the other day.
3-Have confidence in yourself.
4-Practice timed testing as much as possible.
Now for all you 700 people out there...can you tell me where I can fing better (harder) stuff to study? Seems like everything I studied was geared towards cracking 600.
I bought the Kaplan book that comes with the 4 CATS on CD. I used Power Prep. I did most of the problems in OG 11. I used a Kaplan Math review book. I bought a series of 3 tests from MBA.com (which are soooo easy compared to the real test). I took the PR free test and the Manhattan GMAT free test which I got a 680 on?
Not what I expected at all.First let me tell you about my experience. I visited the test center prior to the exam. You really could not see much though except for the waiting area because everything felt so "top secrect". The receptionist made me feel like I was weird for wanting to see the place before the exam. I didn't sweat it though because that is naturally what many people do and I think that it is a good thing to do.
When I showed up for the exam on Sat I had to read the test center rules, get finger printed and have a picture taken. I can not believe how secure this operation is. Have people really tried to cheat in the past??? There was a camera on every test cube and a person was watching at all times though a window to make sure no tomfoolery was going on.
Anyways after I was completely creeped out about the security of the exam it made me more nervous. I began with the 2 AWA'a and everything seemed fine. As soon as the Quant started my heart sunk into my stomach as I realized that everything that I studied for in the last 3 to 4 months came down to this. I gazed at the first problem for a minute before I even attempted to start. So weird. I somewhat regained composure 9 to 10 Q's into it. Too late though!
I had never put that much into the verbal studying because I was hopeing for a low 30 and a low to mid 40 on Quant to balance me out for a decent score.
The RC in verbal was tough. I caught myself reading the passage sometimes twice. They seem to word the passages so difficult that you have trouble understanding the jist of it.
Anyhow, I know I am capable of a better score. The nervousness of the test got to me on the first try. So much anticipation. I can't want to take it again.
Here is my advise...
1-Minimize telling people around you that you are taking it. Less presure on you.
2-When your testing well enough, take it for the first time and get it over with. I feel so much better now and am ready to reload and try again. Who cares about the $250 per test, it's a minimal investment in the grand scheme of things. I read about some dude that took it 10 times the other day.
3-Have confidence in yourself.
4-Practice timed testing as much as possible.
Now for all you 700 people out there...can you tell me where I can fing better (harder) stuff to study? Seems like everything I studied was geared towards cracking 600.
I bought the Kaplan book that comes with the 4 CATS on CD. I used Power Prep. I did most of the problems in OG 11. I used a Kaplan Math review book. I bought a series of 3 tests from MBA.com (which are soooo easy compared to the real test). I took the PR free test and the Manhattan GMAT free test which I got a 680 on?
