Re: Advice needed on approach to quant study for retest

First thing I would like to note is that you may have got questions from the second list too. We tend to forget the easy questions on which we do not struggle. The lists would be reliable only if you have an eidetic memory. If so, congratulations!

Secondly, there are topics in the second list which almost never get tested on a stand alone basis except for very low score ranges. For example, ratios, simultaneous equations etc help you solve questions of other topics e.g. ratios help you solve work/rate questions. Simultaneous equations could be used in questions of almost any topic.

Thirdly, there are always going to be topics not tested. The software tries to give you questions from various different topics but it has some flexibility. It is more inclined to give you the correct level of question. Also, since you did not get tested on some topics this time, it doesn't mean you won't get tested on them next time.

Permutation, Combination and Probability do not account for a big part of the test. People usually get 1-2 questions from these topics - perhaps more if they are doing really well.

Now for your questions:

[*]What conclusions, if any, should I draw from the algorithm's choice of questions today?

If you are talking about the areas tested, you can draw no conclusion. You don't know which areas will get tested next time. You are a new test taker each time as far as the algorithm goes. Every topic has easy and difficult questions.

[*]While working my way through the quant section, I did not "feel" like I was getting many questions wrong. I guessed rarely. My timing could have been a little less erratic - if a test-taker answers all questions, but takes an inordinate amount of time with some, does the algorithm take this into this and punish accordingly? And if so, how heavily does it punish? GMAC does not indicate that it does; some test prep consultants suggest that it does indeed punish. What is the truth of the matter?

We will never know but I doubt that. As long as you are finishing your test on time, you should be good. It is possible that the software takes into account the amount of time you take a solve a particular question but I doubt it punishes you on your score. Say, it gave you a level 650 question and you took 6 mins to solve it but you answered it correctly - it may give you another level 650 question to ensure it was not a fluke before giving a 700 level question. Instead, had you taken only 1 min to solve it, it may have given you a level 700 question straight away. But at the end, it all evens out. If you take too much time on 2-3 questions, you will take much less time on some other questions to complete on time. There are enough questions for it to not get affected by 2-3 questions in which you took inordinate amount of time.

[*] This math material came easy, ridiculously easy, to me in high school. And I have a bachelor's in engineering which included a BA in mathematics. Although that was a long time ago, I am shocked at my struggle in this area. I appreciate that the GMAT ask things in tricky ways, combines areas together in one question etc., but I would have expected that, having re-familiarized myself with this subject over the last few months, it would come easy. Has anyone else faced the same hurdle, and how best to get over it?

There is a big difference. Conceptually, the material is the same but it is tested very differently. GMAT questions are tricky and not process oriented the way high school questions are. You need to use your ingenuity in them. But yes, I would expect that if you have sound fundamentals, once you re-familiarize yourself with concepts and familiarize yourself with GMAT question pattern, you should be able to do well. My only advice would be to take the Veritas free test (on our website) and send me your username. Then perhaps I can pin point why things aren't working out for you.