Last visit was: 11 Dec 2024, 15:35 It is currently 11 Dec 2024, 15:35
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
TheDundies
Joined: 06 Mar 2022
Last visit: 29 Oct 2022
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 5
Location: China
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
GmatKnightTutor
User avatar
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 31 Jan 2020
Last visit: 11 Dec 2024
Posts: 4,678
Own Kudos:
1,441
 [1]
Given Kudos: 17
Posts: 4,678
Kudos: 1,441
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ThatDudeKnows
Joined: 11 May 2022
Last visit: 27 Jun 2024
Posts: 1,078
Own Kudos:
805
 [1]
Given Kudos: 79
Expert reply
Posts: 1,078
Kudos: 805
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
TheDundies
Joined: 06 Mar 2022
Last visit: 29 Oct 2022
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 5
Location: China
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ThatDudeKnows
TheDundies
V38...I have constantly score 40+ in all mock exams...V46 in my last official CAT...

The mock scores suggest that this isn't a content issue or a shortcoming in your technique. While continuing to work on content and technique wouldn't hurt, it sounds as though there may be something else going on. It MIGHT just be bad luck. Or there's some other difference between mocks and when it counts. Any difference in your set-up? Time of day? Day of week? Distractions? Location? Hardware? White board? Are you doing the mocks straight through without hitting pause? Which order are you doing the sections and have you tried switching? What you're doing in the 36 hours leading up to it? How's the sleep and diet? Work stress? What are you doing to mitigate the anxiety you mention? I'd spend some time really trying to get a handle on these sorts of things. If you were grossly deficient on content or technique, that would show up on the mocks, but that's not the case. All of the other stuff might take a relatively minor adjustment and no time to resolve. Go get 'em, tiger!!


Thank you very much for your reply. I think the only real difference is the sleep and anxiety factor. I guess another difference is I do mock tests on my Mac instead of those old PCs at test centers. On both real test days I was pretty tired from days of bad sleep and anxiety, while on mock test days I can do the test stress-free. That's also why I am hesitating to retake again soon, as I am not confident that I can overcome those issues just yet. I am debating between registering for another test as soon as the 16-days rule permits to try my "luck" again, and working on my anxiety and sleep issue for longer then try.
avatar
TheDundies
Joined: 06 Mar 2022
Last visit: 29 Oct 2022
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 5
Location: China
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GmatTutorKnight
Another issue I have is I do get background anxiety days/weeks before the test and therefore get really bad sleep all the way leading to the test day

This may be part of the reason for the difference in your mock performance and actual exam performance. Try to look forward to the exam. "The worst is that the exam turns out to be a fresh mock with 60 fresh questions for me to try". Thinking of a plan B in case plan A doesn't work out may also take a bit of the edge off.


Thank you very much for your reply. I like your suggestion of trying to look forward to the exam. I don't think I consciously fear the exam but somehow I can't get rid of the background anxiety that keeps me up all night. And yeah time management I did notice on test days I have a tendency to double/triple check my answers before submission at the beginning, wasting a lot of time and making me rush towards the end. I don't feel the urge to do that at all in mock tests at home.
User avatar
ThatDudeKnows
Joined: 11 May 2022
Last visit: 27 Jun 2024
Posts: 1,078
Own Kudos:
805
 [1]
Given Kudos: 79
Expert reply
Posts: 1,078
Kudos: 805
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TheDundies
GmatTutorKnight
Another issue I have is I do get background anxiety days/weeks before the test and therefore get really bad sleep all the way leading to the test day

This may be part of the reason for the difference in your mock performance and actual exam performance. Try to look forward to the exam. "The worst is that the exam turns out to be a fresh mock with 60 fresh questions for me to try". Thinking of a plan B in case plan A doesn't work out may also take a bit of the edge off.


Thank you very much for your reply. I like your suggestion of trying to look forward to the exam. I don't think I consciously fear the exam but somehow I can't get rid of the background anxiety that keeps me up all night. And yeah time management I did notice on test days I have a tendency to double/triple check my answers before submission at the beginning, wasting a lot of time and making me rush towards the end. I don't feel the urge to do that at all in mock tests at home.

There is a great suggestion earlier in this thread to approach the exam with an attitude that the worst that happens is that you got a REALLY good mock experience. That really is the worst that could happen. Whatever you can do to ease the anxiety (I'm not a sufferer, so I can't say that I know first-hand any good ideas) is huge. Breathing exercises? Caffeine (or avoiding it)? Does time of day matter?

On the sleep, I've had a few students who have benefitted from staying up a little late TWO and THREE nights before the test (and still waking up at a normal time) so that they are just a touch more tired than usual the night before the exam. I've also had a few who have been able to identify something that helps them fall asleep and stay asleep. In more than one case, it has been turning on an old movie that they've seen many times and falling asleep with it still on. There's something calming and reassuring and easy about a movie that you've seen many times; it makes that night just another random boring night as opposed to THE NIGHT BEFORE THE TEST!!!!
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 11 Dec 2024
Posts: 19,854
Own Kudos:
24,259
 [1]
Given Kudos: 288
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 19,854
Kudos: 24,259
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi TheDundies,

Based on everything you have said here, I do think that anxiety could be an issue for you. With that in mind, I have a helpful article for you to check out:

How to Eliminate GMAT Test-Day Anxiety

Feel free to reach out with any questions.