you are ready with a drill and drill bits. NO PILOT holes were pre drilled. I suppose that the expectation is that one doesn't need pilot holes, but when I gave it a try without first drilling a pilot hole the wood started to split. 

The table looks great and it is sturdy, but the fact that it requires additional tools instead of just a screwdriver as the directions state is a real drawback. What if someone can't just walk out to his/her garage and grab a drill? 

I thought that not having pilot holes for the wood screws might have been a fluke. But, no! The console table I ordered had the same issue! 

I'm looking for a writing desk. I won't order the matching one! 

Pros: sturdy, looks very nice when assembled. 
Cons: Lack of pilot holes hinder assembly and potentially will cause the wood to split when trying to assemble!