Scored 700 (Q46, V40) - Long Post

Hello All

I took my test today and scored 700 (M46, V40).

The math score was a bit less that what I was expecting but verbal was a surprise.

I used Kaplan Premier Edition 2006, PR Cracking GMAT 2006, Barrons Guide (brought in 2000 but did not open until late last month) and OG 11th editon. I also brought the 5 tests from Upstart Raising (and used 3 of them).

Also I would like to thank the users of the forum for their excellent questions and explanatins in both verbal and quant sections.

Practise scores in chronological order:

PP1 - 640 (M44, V34) - Before OG.
Kaplan Online - 700 (M45, V39)
PR1 - 650 (M45, V36)
PR2 - 660 (M48, V34)
PR3 - 640 (M48, V30)
PR4 - 620 (M42, V34)
PP2 - 700 (M47, V39) - After OG
Kap CD 1 - 480 (M41, V0) - did not try verbal
Kap CD 2 - 570 (M39, V29)
UR (Upstart Review) 1 - 620 (M42, V34)
UR 2 - 580 (M45, V24)
Gmatprep 1 - 700 (M48, V37)
UR 3 - 640 (M40, V40)

GMAT Exam - 700 (M46, V40)

Test Experience

The test was scheduled for 7:30 AM. The AWA questions were fairly straightforward. Though I wish I could have done better on the analysis of the issue.

Took the 5 minute break. The math section was also fairly simple. I guess I was probably getting the upper medium - lower hard bin questions. I had to guess on a couple of Q's during the 20's. Q's ranged from the usual stuff like algebra, P/C, geometry etc. My guess is that I have done good on the PS part (used to have a high hit ratio during mock tests) while I might have messed up the DS (always forget some mundane detail like check whether 0 is valid in equation etc).

Word of advice - Don't stop to double check your answers. I had to hurry through the last 4 or 5 questions and had about 1:30 left in the exam when I finished the last math Q.

During the break I drew the grid for CR and SC. Folks - the grid approach works. Took a break for like 2 - 3 minutes and started the verbal. Had about 4 RCs (65, 45, 45, 65 lines respectively), 2 bold face CR's and the usual stuff. Funny thing is that I lost track of time and unnecessarily hurried through the last RC.

Finally finished with about 5 - 7 minutes remaining. Filled the survey and reported the score. Happy with the score.

Preparation

Started prep in late september / early october. Read thru Kaplan for the verbal part and the PR for the math section.

PR math is a good refresher, while Kaplan has all the necessary formulae in a condensed form in the last few pages of the book.

After that I solved the OG completely.

Once I started writing the tests I noticed that my verbal was a problem and math was much better. After a point I started focusing more on verbal (SC and cR) since I was (over)confident on my math. I guess that showed in the final score.

The PR math tests was more of an approximation of what I was seeing during the real test, meaning it might be a bit easier. As everybody knows the Kaplan tests are harder. I also found the Upstart Raising math tests to be pretty similar to the real one with more harder Q's than PR. Overall I feel that a real GMAT 50 / 51 scorer will see more of the Upstartraising (UR) or GMATPREP kind of questions in math.

I cannot say which of the above is the best resource for verbal exams. Again I feel that UR was most close in type of Q's in verbal.

And people who might use upstartraising - the scoring engine is not that good. It consistently scores lower than what I expect the real GMAT would. I think the best scoring engine was that of PR.

For verbal I started solving a lot of questions from OG 10 which I obtained later. I also started usng a grid whle tackling SC and CR. Using grid helped in concentrating on a particular choice and finding the error.

I also used the forums both math and verbal though not quite as often as I should have. The quality of the math Q's are definitely in the 50 / 51 range.

My word of advice to testtakers would be to concentrate more on your verbal as I feel that a 1-point increase in your verbal score will have more effect on your total score. You can always take an extra quant course before applying to show your quant ability.

Anyway that about sums up my prep. All the best to the rest of u who are going to take the test.

And Happy New Year to all.