Gmat Day

Gmat day was today!

Started off at 8.00am (test at 10.00am), had a light breakfast of eggs and a muesli. Intentionally avoided anything too oily or salty. Although I didn't want to drink any coffee (as I had half a can of red bull), I decided that I should just stick to my daily habit and had half a cup of coffee.

Headed for the test center at 9.00am, reached there at 9.15am, parked the car, walked in.... and found the test center closed. To my horror, there was absolutely nobody around and all the doors were locked. Checking with the company opposite the test center, apparently there are days when the test center doesn't open. So, naturally, I started to freak (although I tried to calm myself down). Waited until 9.30am and decided to check with the building's management and try to get a contact number. However, apparently the test center was new, so the building management didn't have an emergency contact.

So there I was, sitting by the steps wondering what on earth I should do. I was mentally drafting an email to Pearson VUE regarding their choice of test centers and demanding a free re-sit. Started to look through the GMAT receipt printout when I came across another number. Called the number and got the HQ for the test center company. A few calls later, and apparently the test center administrator wasn't around but they would send somebody over to set everything up for me. Adverted pressing the panic button, but I had to get my emotions and mental mindset into check for the GMAT (not to mention I had begun to sweat).

The guy comes around at 10.00am sharp, I wanted to make some nasty comments, but decided not to get emotional. In my mind, I had decided if I scored badly, I was going to write to Pearson VUE to demand a re-sit anyway.

So first up, AWA. Go through it (I neglected my AWA since last taking the GMAT). Managed to go through, taking 15 minutes per question. Was more concerned about how I would perform mentally for the Quant/Verbal.

Take a break, finish up my red bull. And head in for the Quant.... quant sucked. The questions seemed easy, and I was really getting nervous about that. Was I screwing up so badly that the GMAT was giving me questions from the 400 - 500 range? I felt doomed. Finished the quant section with 15 minutes spare....

Took my break and started wishing that I had brought more red bull and snacks to eat.... took the verbal. Verbal seemed easy too. I started to contemplate canceling my score when I was done with the exam. There wasn't anything exceptional about the verbal section, just my wondering whether I would even get more than the 650 I scored last time.

GMAT done. I sat there for 30 seconds wondering whether I should cancel my score. I decided against it because I really didn't know when I would be able to take the exam again. And heck, if I screwed up, I could always reschedule it once again when I had a proper date, besides I was curious about my score - how badly would I score given the circumstances.

Q 48 (86%)
V 40 (90%)
710 (94%)

Yup. I did it, broke the 700. Started to laugh, must have made a bit of noise because the test center guy asked me whether I had done well.

So, that's it, I scored a 710. I'm done for good with the GMAT. Finally, I can move on without anymore nightmares or fears of being rejected for having too low a score.

p/s Manhattan GMAT was the most accurate indicator of my score. During my first time, Manhattan GMAT gave me 640s when I scored a 650. GMAT Prep only gave a 610 and a 620. This time round, Manhattan GMAT gave me a 700 and a 650, where as GMAT Prep only gave me a 670 and a 680.