sssanskaar
Hey
AjiteshArun!
I am also scoring above 700+ in the official mock tests and have my GMAT online scheduled in Feb mid. We do tend to get easier/medium questions at the start of the test and accordingly, we manage and adjust our time per question in the test.
But seeing above the different comments/experiences about GMAT online, it sometimes feels scary in regards to whether I will be able to apply the "timing strategy" in place. (For ex - I wouldn't want to skip any question in the first quarter itself).

Any thoughts on the same? Also, one thing I am not able to understand is how is there so much discrepancy between 2 modes of the same exam?

Hi
sssanskaar,
Those are some tough questions.

1. If you're able to get such scores on the official practice tests (
"fresh" questions only!), you are capable of getting great scores on the GMAT as well. Of course, things like exam pressure and even luck come into play on the real test, which is one reason many test takers need to take the exam multiple times before they see a score that accurately reflects their ability.
2. It's a good idea to stick to a
simple timing strategy (I recommend
this one). Keep an eye on RC, as you may have to adjust your time targets if the exam gives you back-to-back passages.
3. Believe it or not, I spend a lot of time on this thread doing exactly what you seem to be doing (going through the different comments/experiences posted here). Otherwise, I'd be working with a very small sample (of my own students).
4. That said, try not to go overboard with (3). Generally, you can expect bad experiences to be overrepresented online (the majority of test takers don't write about their experiences). Even the "happy" posts may be misleading. One of my students (highest practice test score V35) got a V46 on the online exam (he told me that the verbal section was like working through the first few questions in the OG). A few other students have reported similar experiences, but these reports are like the "760 w/ 1 week prep" posts that we sometimes see (fun, but not very useful). We shouldn't suddenly start making decisions assuming that the exam will be completely different from the official practice tests.
5. I don't recommend committing yourself to a specific approach on test day. No one (not even instructors!) is capable of getting every question correct every single time. If you find that a question in the first quarter could compromise the rest of your test,
guess and move on. We don't want to win the battle but lose the war.
In short, learn from the posts here, but don't assume that everything that can go wrong will.
All the best. I look forward to reading your debrief in Feb.