hi,
this is my first post,... n a rather long one...
but hope its useful.
just gave my GMAT last morning... scored 720
(Q-48, V-42)
I have given below the scores i obtained in the practice tests. I work in an MNC and on most occasions my days are quite long...10-14 hours... So i found it quite tough to balance both...moreover i started my preps quite late... But taking the last week off n to just think of GMAT n focussing on test strategies really helped...you need dedicated time to get in the groove.
Practice Tests:
1. Powerprep1: 660
2. Powerprep2: 640
3. Powerprep3: 700
4. Kaplan1: 550!
5. Cambridge Review: 680
6. Kaplan2: 560
7. Peterson section tests (section tests are quite helpful. I would recommend that even after you start with your last leg of practice tests, you take a break for a day in between n concentrate on specific sections that you feel you need to improve on.)
8. Kaplan section tests
9. Powerprep: final practice test: 710 (the day before GMAT)
From my GRE n TOEFL experience, i have found that the powerprep tests are closest to the real thing... n my final score has always been the score i got in my final powerprep practice test (which i took the day before the final) +/- 20 points. It helps you to know where you stand n also serves as a confidence booster.
But i would like to add that the questions in the quant section in yesterday's test were particularly difficult. It was nothing like any of the quant sections i had attempted before. I have always found quant to be quite easy n fun but frankly was quite alarmed when i noticed the difficulty of every question yesterday. So i would suggest that one solves different kinds of problems of varying difficulty...just to get more comfortable so that in case you are faced with a situation where the difficulty level is higher than expected you wouldnt be too perturbed.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
---RamP.