I am looking for strategies on efficiently using my scratch pad to maximize my time on test day. For example, should I divide my pad into quadrants during the school selection page? Will it be considered cheating if I am writing before the test officially begins?
Let's start with the second question. I have never heard that it was considered cheating to jot down a few notes during the 4 minutes of the "tutorial." However, what I would be doing there is not drawing quadrants, but writing down any math formulas, equations, or other notes that you might forget during the exam. Writing down the formulas is a nice reminder to yourself and even if they switch your notepad during the break before Quant you might still remember those formulas better for having written them down.
As Rich said, dividing every page in to four segments is not the best thing given the fact that some problems will require much more than 1/4 page and some will require almost no writing at all. So I see no advantage at all in doing this.
Does it make sense to use part of my break time before the Verbal section to write out A B C D E for elimination?
Okay now this is where you are "cheating." You are not supposed to write anything during the break. The proctor is not supposed to allow you to be at your seat during this time. If you are in your seat the time should be running.
Furthermore, I use writing out ABCDE as a little wall between questions. It takes 2 or 3 seconds to write out ABCDE, take a deep breath at the same time and let go of the prior question. Cleanse your mind. Maybe say something like "another one right!" So take 3 seconds, write out the letters, take a deep breath and clear your mind for the next question. Not wasted time I assure you!
