GMAT Strategy

So I just took the GMAT for the first time today and scored a 620 (Q39, V37). This was substantially lower than what I've been averaging recently on the Kaplan CATs and official GMAT prep tests.

I took Kaplan's ultimate practice test a couple weeks ago so I was actually quite comfortable last night and this morning before the test. However, my experience at the testing facility was a nightmare.

Everything started out fine with the AWA section. After I finished this part I took a quick trip to the restroom and then returned to the testing room. After taking the ultimate practice test I realized that it would be in my best interest to request a new spiral dry erase notebook after every section so that I wouldn't waste any time during the test to raise my hand, etc. (I write big). Thus, when I returned I asked for and was given a new notebook.

I sat down and started on the quant section. Things were going well until I got to somewhere around question 10 and flipped to the third page in the spiral notebook...and to my surprise, there was already writing on that page...actually there was writing on every subsequent page after page two! The proctors had given me a used notebook! Wow was I upset and panicked at the same time!! Now what else could I do besides raise my hand? I did this and waited for about 30 seconds or so while trying to work out the next problem in my head until I realized that proctor was just staring into space and wasn't going to notice my waving hand. So I had to get up, run over to his peripheral and explain my urgent problem using hand gestures! From the time this happened until the time it was resolved (while it felt like it was an eternity) I probably lost at least 2 minutes. And my focus/groove was way out of whack for the next couple questions.

Now, after the quant section I calmed down a little bit during the break and was positive about the verbal section because this is the area that I truly excel in. However, during this section, about ~20 questions in, my pen completely ran out of ink. And again, the proctor was staring into space when I raised my hand. So, yet again, I had to run over to him myself and explain my urgent problem. Another loss of at least a minute or two when you consider the time that it took me to regain focus.

I don't blame the staff at Pearson completely for my score being significantly lower than I had expected, but I do partially attribute their lack of professionalism to my low score. I can understand a pen running out of ink....but giving me a used notebook!?! come on, this really really got to me! I'm paying $250 to take a timed test where every single second counts...and I have something preventable like this happen. I did everything I could to make sure that there would be no distractions (i.e. no reason to raise my hand)....but I cannot control the behavior and lack of professionalism of the test proctors.

I just really needed to vent, anyone have any opinions on this or heard of this happening. I have read about test takers pens running out of ink, but nothing about receiving a used notebook. Looks like I'm going to have to put my social life on hold for another month and give an upper 600s/lower 700s score another try, maybe at another testing facility.!