EXERCISING to improve mental stamina
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06 Sep 2007, 22:06
Knowing all of the fundamentals, I was only able to peak at a 610 on practice exams and a 610 on the actual exam. I knew the material better than my friends who got above a 700. It's frustrating to tutor another person on the GMAT and have him outscore you by a 100 points. The only difference I find is that they do not get tired during the test and their mind is more clear than mine during pressure. This can account for a 100 point differential on game day.
Some may argue that I didn't know the material well enough. If I had an extra 15 minutes on the exam, I'd definitely clear the 700 mark. My mind tends to wonder/drift or get tired quickly. It almost feels as if my mind gets lazy after question number 25, which makes a difference between a low 40 math subscore and a high 40 math subscore.
Rather than spending $2k in evaluations to help get extra time on the exam, loading up on psychiatric medication, or loading up on lines of "coke", I'd recommend getting lots of frequent exercise.
Light cardio EXERCISE along with meditation is the key to keep the mind focused and calm. This is especially for people who have poor stamina or weaker horsepower in their brain.
I've been taking practice exams all week and have been clearing the 700 mark consistently. Before, I could never break 630. Believe me, I didn't master any new material, but only quit smoking and started working out twice a day (running 2 miles in the morning and running 2 miles in the evening) I take a test late that evening after my last run and a cup of coffee. I easily get my target score. It almost feels as if I just added some additional horse power necessary to fight through the last 15 problems of each section. These problems make a crucial difference in my score on the practice exams.
I'm targeting a 640-660 September 22.