I made a mistake interpreting my preliminary GMAT scores and gave you credit for scores I had not yet received.
Based on the study guide and the practice exam, I was under the mistaken impression that the essay scores are included in the overall verbal score. They are not. Since the study guide said the essay is graded once by a human (who is given 2 minutes to read the essay) and once by computer, I just assumed the preliminary score provided immediately after the exam included the essay score.
I got the final score in the mail yesterday, and there is a separate AWA (analytical writing) score, which has nothing to do with the overall score. So when I bragged I was in the upper quartile, it had nothing to do with my analytical writing ability.
The good news is my essay score was 5.5 out of 6 (graded in increments of .5), which puts me in the top 12%. If that isn't a fucking hoot, I don't know what is!
All I have to say is that if I'm in the top 12% for essay writing, then this board is full of writing geniuses, 'cuz I'm certainly not the best here!
Interestingly, I finished both essays early. I was given 30 minutes for each essay, and spent the last 3 plus minutes twiddling my thumbs after completing each essay, kind of relaxing in anticipation of the math portion of the exam. I wish I wrote just a little bit more!
<font color="#FFFFAA" size="1">[ January 24, 2005 01:01 PM: Message edited by: Sarcazmo ]</font>
