Just back from my exam, with a splitting headache and frustration at those wretched markers which made it impossible for me to write anything legible during the math section. I know a lot of you have said that the markers are a non-issue, but I think my left-handedness played a negative role, and had an impact I was not prepared for. Here's a summary of my exam experience today: Got up about 10am (the test was scheduled at 2pm). Eggs and toast for breakfast with a large mug of coffee. This was followed by a light reading up of my error logs and some music. Got to the centre at 1:30, and went through the usual security crap. Nothing eventful there. Wrote the AWA with minimum brainpower, just telling myself to conserve the energy for later. I actually liked the AWA section because it got rid of any nervousness that I might have harboured prior to the start of the exam. I was fine on timing during the math section, but this may have had something to do with the fact that I found all the questions easy. Which in turn IMO was related to those apologies for writing instruments . Needless to say, my hand was black soon enough. I certainly think this played a part in my inability to hit a 50 in quant. After all, trying to solve half the problems in your head (which I did) is never fun, and most certainly never easy. A lot of the problems were very similar to what one sees in the Challenges on here. Bottom line is, I messed up...oh well... I washed my hands during the break, and went back in after chugging a Red Bull (no idea if it actually helps). I did not have any stamina issues during this section, and it was only after I was all done did I feel a headache brewing. I don't know if I put too much pressure on myself thinking about the exam, but 41 in verbal was closer to my lower scores on practice tests. If you ask me what I found difficult or easy, I'd say that CR was the hardest, mostly because I thought the answer choices were not perfect fits. SC was a breeze for the most part, and I'm pretty sure I did well on it. RC was ok, no killer passages. And now here I am writing this. I've come a long way from getting 31-32 in verbal to a 41 on the real thing. I am happy, and I feel a sense of accomplishment. I also have this strange feeling .... hmm...you know the feeling when you're trying to sneeze but you can't? I feel like that Why? Because I feel I could have done better by 20-30 points. Also because I belong to the dreaded "Indian IT male" profile, a 730, despite being a 97 percentile, is possibly just 10 points over the average score for my pool of appplicants at Haas or UCLA. Which brings us to the question: Am I going to retake? Well, I don't know. I certainly will think about it. I think I can pull 20 points over what I got, but not sure about 30. I'm on vacation from tomorrow, and will ponder over it on my return. I want to thank everyone here on this forum for well...just everything to do with my prep You guys are the best! My prep: about 4 months of hard work:- Math: challenges, GMATPrep, 4GMAT book, this forum Verbal: MGMAT SC, SC/RC/CR1000, LSAT PrepTests My scores: GMATPrep 1: 760, retake 770 GMATPrep 2: 760, retake 780 MGMAT 1: 570 (no studies done here), MGMAT 2: 710 MGMAT 3: 730 I'll be here, heading out for now.... Update: Back from vacation, official results in the mail, got a 6 in AWA, am a little surprised, as I did not practice any essays. Spent no time dwelling on my results during my time off.

I shouldn't have helped you now you equaled me! Great score! Congrats.

Congrats futuristic, now you future looks even better ;)

Congrats Futuristic.... Thats great score

Congratulations!!! That's amazing. You deserved it. I have mine on Monday!

You ACED the test and what's more, a wonderful score balance!! I envy you, friend!!^^ ...Heartfelt congratulation to you~ . Good lucks to your application

Congratulations! I could see this coming.

Man....... wow, that is exactly what i dream of .....a well balanced ( 700+) score. party like hell ........you belong to the elite universities ( god's will) i am really happy for u

Great score. Congratulations Futuristic!

wherever you are on your vacation... I am sure you're relieved!!! I would be... 730 is excellent, so CONGRATS!!! (better late than never ) I am very happy for you and hope that you move on!!! 730 is enough!!! Whatever your next destination is, I am sure you will be successful! I hope you stick around and crack some jokes about U2 and the U2 CDs falling from the sky... ha-ha... I won't forget that SC joke!!! all the best, u2lovergirl

Done (730: Q49, V41) UPDATE: AWA 6.0 : Share GMAT Experience

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Done (730: Q49, V41) UPDATE: AWA 6.0

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