Scored a 750 (Q49, V42) yesterday with a week of studying

Just saying it can be done. I have a history of doing well on standardized tests, so if that's you, and you're an engineer, don't sweat the test too much.

Background:
Studied chemical engineering, went into consulting.

Study Strategy:
- Downloaded the Economist GMAT app at one week out to get some light practice in during work and walking my dog. Used it for around an hour per day during the 7 days before my test. I would have to say, for the practice, it was worth it, but I didn't use a single strategy they taught me.
- Bought the KAPLAN GMAT book ("Cracking the GMAT Premium 2015 edition"), did one practice test four days before test in their pretty awesome test portal. Can't compare their test portal to other practice test vendors, but I can vouch for the realism of Kaplan's. Got a 640. Started to freak out a little bit.
- Did another practice test 2 days before. Got another 640. Was looking up how to cancel the test appointment at this point.
- Did another practice test 1 day before. Got a 690. Okay.

Test Day:
- Morning before exam, I reviewed all the problems I got wrong and why I got them wrong.
- Based on my previous performance, I thought the best scenario I can hope for is get 100 points within my target score of 750. I was preparing myself psychologically for the very likely possibility of getting a 600-level score.
- **** up my quant royally. Kept second-guessing myself on the early problems because I wanted to be sure I was getting them right. Didn't manage my time right, mostly due to lack of preparation, and just picked random answers for the last 3 or 4 questions. Brutal. At this point I thought I was for sure done.
- I was pissed all throughout my verbal section, didn't take the break after my quant. Kept on thinking about how much I **** up, somehow ended up with 15 minutes on the clock when I finished.
- Saw the score at the end. First thing I saw was my quant percentile. Heart sank when I saw 79%. I mean, I've been relying on my quant scores as my main weapon for all of my standardized-testing career! Couldn't believe my eyes at the composite score. Felt relieved, but then bitter, and now I think I'm okay.

Final Thoughts: Thought I bombed my quant. Definitely did not do well relative to my usual standardized test scores esp. in math (1530 on SATs, 800 on both SAT II Maths, 5s on AP Calc exams, 35 on my MCAT, passed with 8s on the first two actuarial exams). The Kaplan practice tests are awesome. Just do the practice tests if pressed for time... those workbooks that draw out a study schedule of months seem like a big waste of time to me. As much as I want to, I probably won't try to retake because... well, what's done is done.