time and panic

Great article, GMAT Pill!

I also want to add something about breathing technique, which might help to calm your nerves.

Whether from nerves or intense concentration, breathing during a test often ranges from shallow to non-existent.

This automatic response may have served our ancestors well when faced with threats or when they were hunting, but you would be wise to ignore this on the GMAT.

Simply put, your brain is an oxygen fiend. Under normal conditions, the brain consumes 20% of your total oxygen, despite making up about 2% of your weight.

You can imagine what happens in “test mode.”

The lesson here is simple but priceless: just keep breathing. If, like me, you have trouble putting this into practice, automate the process:

Take a deep breath each time you submit an answer.
Take another after you read the question.
Take one more whenever you get stuck.
Your brain will thank you by running more efficiently and bringing all that horsepower to bear on those really tough problems.

Remember:

If you're not breathing deeply and regularly, you are not operating at full capacity.

If you have a habit of forgetting to breathe, make a new habit of taking a deep breath at regular intervals.

Regards,

Elizabeth

Thanks for the precious advice.

I have another question: what do you do when, during exercise mod., you feel stuck, like you might be able to sort the question in other conditions?
For instance, today I started to study but, after a while I wasn't able to answer correctly any question (despite its difficulty).
In this case, what should I do, keep answering and so, following my study plan, or just taking a break and then restart later, although in this way I won't respect my study plan?

Thaaaaaaanksssssss

Hi there,

The GMAT does not only test you on academics, but also tests you on your test taking skills. The real GMAT will not let you take breaks so you can gather your concentration, so you must work up your test taking endurance while you practice to get in the GMAT mode. See how long you can work without needing to take a break, and increase that time by a couple minutes every couple of days. By the time you will sit for your real GMAT, you will have practice sitting for long periods of time without a break.

Regards,

Elizabeth

Great advice here from Beth on breathing and the GMATPill on visualization.

As for a prep session where you can't get any problems correct: a good question to ask is what can I tweak in my lifestyle to be sharper for the next one? Can I get more sleep? Am I getting enough exercise? Will caffeine help? Its important to be sharp and fresh when you are prepping for this challenging test.