Verbal was a bit better - I think. I took the full 5 minutes break without getting up.
TIP-You can actually get 6 mins here. Just don't answer the question 'Do you want a break?'. The system will wait for 1 minute before the 5 minute timer starts.
The first question was an SC. A simple one and the next few were CS. I found the Qs quite simple probably because I had gone through the OG10 SCs a couple of times. During my prep SC was my weakest point. But this is also the section where you can save a lot of time. Except for a couple of long SCs, most SCs were short. And often you can eliminate 2-3 choices right a away. I developed a method during my prep for SC which actually went a long way in improving my scores. In verbal I ALWAYS start by eliminating. I drew 5 quick strokes(saves 3 seconds over writing the alphabet down - yes I timed it! That is 41x3=2 minutes) for each Q and would cross of the error ones. This would help me in focusing on the final choices.
For each choice I developed a code reflecting the reasons for the elimination. MF(Modifier error), NP(Non Parallel) etc. I had gone through all the
OG Qs with this method and redid the wrong ones. In the beginning I had to force myself to write the error code, especially for the ones I knew were obviously wrong, but then it became a lot easier. I didn't actually write the codes down during the test but I could easily determine the errors and cross off the corresponding stroke. And not writing the codes, saved some time compared to the prep times. I think this method helps prevent thinking in circles and re-reads of choices. During the final parts of the verbal your mind tends to wander and focussing is hard. Developing a method of elimination helps you NOT think too much about stuff that is not important. I also believe that after the mess I made with Quant, this method really bailed me out in verbal.
I really don't remeber much about CRs expect that there were a few on cause and effect. There was one BF which was easy. Even here, during my prep I realized that thinking too much about the answers messes with your mind. Elimination helps you to focus.
Of the RCs there was one with 70+ lines and 2 with 50+ and 1 40+. Nothing really interesting or memorable. Again I started and ended with elimination.
But all through the verbal the quant disaster was nagging me and I approached it as one would the gallows. In some cases when the Qs appeared a bit dicey, I just guessed instead of trying to figure them out. If I was going to retake the test, why bother?
Any way things went OK, but I think I am going to take the test again. I believe that I can do substantially better in Quant and better in Verbal.
I think the good schools pay a lot of importance to quant and my score in quant has been just above average. This test has left a bitter taste in my mouth. Or, doth me protest too much? Any suggestions???
In my next post if you guys are intereseted I'll share some tecniques I had developed and adopted during my prep. Nothing earth shaking, but I haven't seen them anywhere and they helped me get from 585 to 790 in my prep in about 120 hrs of study time. No, I never made an 800, I was leaving that for the actual GMAT:)
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21 Dec 2005, 17:06
Congrats! 
