710 (Q 48, V 38), IR -6 AWA - 5, GMAT Debrief

First of all thanks to this amazing community for GMAT. I learned a lot from the group and got answers for my questions within a day on the forum. The forum is full of wonderful posts, such as timing strategy, verbal strategies, quant strategies and so on. Members of the forum are really helpful, thanks again.

I appeared for GMAT on October, 11 and scored 710 ( Q-48, V -38). Though I am fine with my Verbal score, I am a bit disappointed with my quant score. Quant has been my strong area, and I consistently scored 50 in this section in mock tests. The more disappointing part is the percentile ( 69%), as it looks quite low. But anyways my target was 700+ and I achieved it so I am overall happy. The following is my GMAT experience:

I am working with a Bank in Singapore (IT division). I started preparing in August first week with my hectic job. I mainly focused on MGMAT guides for SC/CR and quants. I did RC practice from LSAT tests. These tests are really helpful and I increased my accuracy from 60-70% to almost 95% in 1 month or so with daily 1 hour practice. Then I completed OG review and Verbal review. Later I bought GMAT EP bundle and used it for further practice. In my last 2 weeks of preparation, I mainly focused on error logs created while studying OG, Verbal and practising test. I think maintaining the error log and reviewing it later are must for GMAT. The below are some observations on the test in general.

1. First 10 questions in quant and verbal are important, but don't spend relatively much time on these questions. The key to get good score in GMAT is to maintain your pace throughout the exam. I saw the toughest questions in quant in last three questions (actual GMAT), I could not get them correct as I was running out of time and hence that could be the reason for my low score in quant.
2. In verbal also, I usually did well on those tests in which I kept my pace as that helped me to focus on RC without skipping any question from any passage. In few tests, I focused on first 20 and got 19 out them correct, but was short on time later and had to rush in later part of the test, so I got many questions wrong (also 3 questions wrong in a row ( Not good for your score)).
3. GMAT Prep1 quant is tougher than that of GMAT Prep 2 and GMAT actual test. GMAT Prep 2/EP 1 & 2 have the same level as GMAT.
4. Verbal is also a bit easier in actual GMAT than in GMAT Prep, however SC you may find tougher than what you have seen in OG or GMAT Prep.
5. RC is the Key for high verbal score in GMAT, i read it somewhere that weightage for RC is 3 times than that for SC and the weightage for CR is twice of SC. So if you are short on time for preparation focus on RC then CR and then SC.
6. For quant MGMAT guides are enough and to improve you score further practice as many questions as you can.
7. I followed the attached general strategies (around 10 points for each section, if you like them kudos is the sense of appreciation ).

I took GMAT mock test 2 days before the GMAT exam and I screwed up my verbal section scoring only 27. The mock test panicked me a lot, but helped me understand that don't spend too much time on questions early in the section as later you won't have time for remaining questions. The low score demotivated me, so you can decide, whether you want to attempt mock just 2-3 days before the exam.

Day before GMAT:

The day before GMAT, I revised formulas, SC concepts and took rest in the evening.

GMAT Day:

I had the test at 9:00 AM. As usual I couldn't sleep well in the previous night, hardly for 6 hours ( I sleep 8 hours a day). I get head-ache if I sleep less than 8 hours. A few years back I found the treatment for this problem. Yoga and meditation helped me a lot in this regard. I do short Sudarshan Kriya ( Art of living) in morning for 45 minutes whenever I get less sleep. This activity can keep you active and focused for entire day even if you have slept for only 3-4 hours in last night. In addition, yoga/meditation helps you kill anxiety. I woke up at 5:45 and did this Sudarshan Kriya and then went to exam center.

I chose verbal first in the test order as it was my weak area. I did ok in the section then went for break ( you must take break, even if you don't want to as it will give you time to relax and deep breathing ). In quant, I got a bit worried as I saw some easy questions in middle but ignored them thinking of experimental questions. ( that's how you should control your emotions in the exam). When I was about to finish quant section I saw very tough questions (Permutation and Geometry). I usually can't focus just before the end of the exam so may be I got them wrong. I feel I committed some silly mistakes also. Then I completed IR and AWA and waited for my score, it was 710. I was relieved as now I can completely focus on my applications. I am targeting one year MBA courses in US, Canada and India.

Veritas Test 1 - 650 (Q-47, V-33) // August 26
GMAT Prep Test 2 - 720 (Q-50, V-38) // September 17
Veritas Test 2 - 660 (Q-50, V 31) //September 22
GMAT Prep Test 3 ( EP 1) - 660 (Q-48, V-34) //September 24
GMAT Prep Test 4 ( EP 1) - 720 (Q-50, V-38) //October 1

Thank you all again!!