Scored only 650 But Have Something New to Share

Today, i scored 650 (Q-48, V-31) on actual GMAT.

I chose Quant-Verbal-IR-Essay section order. The first Quant question bombarded at me was super tough and i had no choice but to guess on that. What i had heard is that GMAT start with medium difficulty question. But see, don't believe what you hear. Throughout, i found quant at GMAT tougher than that at GMAT Prep software. Was it because i chose Quant first? Please note i am strong in Quant as you can see from my scores in GMAT Prep.

In the verbal, SC was altogether new. Nothing what i have seen in Manhattan Guide or Official guides came in either GMAT exam or GMAT Prep exams. Although i have all the rules of Manhattan guide on my fingertips, i found out that there wasn't any rule i have learned so far which i could apply. And this was true for most of SC questions.

In quant as well as in RC, SC & CR, questions on actual GMAT was tougher than Official Guides. Questions on actual GMAT are not even similar to what you study from any OG or any other GMAT Prep company material. I think that GMAT test makers go through all the material in the market to make the GMAT questions unique.

A word of caution for people studying from OG: OG consists mostly 500 level questions. 700 level questions are very limited.

Also, i don't understand why they give laminated sheets and markers in the test. I found a lot of problem with markers. I changed 6-8 markers but still markers were not working. You have to close them when not in use. They dry up when kept open. But it takes time and effort to open and close them 90 times on 90 questions of GMAT (Q=37, V=41, IR=12). Simple pen and papers will make the life of GMAT takers much easier. Other test takers, please share your experience.

Many may not know that in the GMAT nothing is allowed during test including wallet, hankey, mobile, pen, paper etc. However, you are given locker to store these.

In GMAT exam, i had to guess on 5 verbal questions because of shortage of time. I faced similar issues with verbal timing during all the mock tests. GMAT Experts and other test takers please tell is this a common problem and how to get rid of timing issue in Verbal?

In the Mock tests, my score were
GMAT Prep 1 = 640 (Q-49, V-28)
GMAT Prep 2 = 690 (Q-49, V-34)
Veritas = 630
Manhattan Prep = 600

I had studied thoroughly from the following material:
SC - Manhattan, SC Grail, OG13, OG-Verbal
RC - Manhattan, OG13, OG-Verbal
CR - Manhattan, Powercore CR Bible, OG13, OG-Verbal
Quant - Manhattan, OG13

Even after so much of study, i could manage only 650. I don't think additional study can improve my score. Also, i feel verbal timing will take much longer to improve, maybe 1 year through intensive reading. GMAT experts, please tell if i am correct.

Here, you find everybody scoring 700+. So don't commit the mistake of believing you can also score 700+ easily. 700+ takes a lot of work.