Overcoming Test Anxiety

Question

Hi everyone!

I have been viewing this forum for awhile now but have yet to post. I do not know how I would have begun to prep without this forum, so thank you for all of the advice/insight! I have read a couple posts about test anxiety, but does anyone experience it to the point where their mind goes completely blank? I took the LSAT a couple years ago and my score dramatically dropped on test day due to severe anxiety (not once, but twice). I am very nervous that this will happen again when I take the GMAT in June.

Any ideas? Any advice is appreciated!!

Swoosh617 · Answer

If you have had adequate preparation then you should have no reason to be worried. I know its tough, that's also why its so important to simulate actual test day during your preparation. Everything should feel comfortable and the same to you as if you were taking one of your practice tests. On the day of the test, do things that soothe you (music, reading, a familiar tv show, a job, etc.) and try not to get hyped up. Also remember that the LSAT was a different test on a different day, and make it as indepedent as you can from your upcoming gmat test

hellscream · Answer

The GMAT scores do not make you become better or worse; they are just scores... Do not think that you must reach 700+ bla bla but that you must try your best. Keep cool and good luck.

GMATLA · Answer

Test anxiety is VERY normal. There is only ONE thing on test day that you can't control, and that is the test itself. A great way to overcome testing anxiety is to MASTER every other aspect other than the test. This might seem intuitive, but many people forget how important this is. For instance, visit your testing center, do practice tests under timed condition, same day, time of day, with AWA, etc... practice with your meals, wear earplugs, visualize success, etc... Once you've studied, the only thing you can do is perform your best on test day.

Check these two posts to help:

Good luck!

Check these two posts to help:

10 Tips to Improve Your Score with NO Extra Studying  
  GMAT Anxiety

Good luck!

ruthevans41 · Answer

Completely agree with Hellscream, you should not focus on what the end result would be. You should focus on having the test completed calmly and accurately. This would automatically get the best scores.

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