Looking for Advice - Freeze up on CATs

Question

Hey all -

I'm looking for some up. My test date is in a few weeks, and I've been making some improvement. Currently, my CAT scores are at 660. Aiming for that 700.

My main issue I've noticed is not that I don't know the math or run out of time, but rather I can see myself freeze up during the test and can't think of the approach to a quesiton. I was a seasoned test-taker before, but when I work through my wrong questions from my CATs, I see that I can  solve them all on the second try !

Any advice for how to address freezing up and thinking creatively under pressure.

Thanks!

W

rohan2345 · Answer

Hi Classof15USA,
I was facing very similar a problem as yours. After all GMAT is all about thinking quick under pressure. Reworking on my concepts and giving multiple mocks under strict timing conditions really helped me out. I believe a subscription to GMATCLUB tests may be helpful. They contain 26 CATS for Quant. They are indeed phenomenal and will not only pinpoint your weak areas but also help you improve on them. Make sure to take one test per day leading to your exam and you will not be disappointed.

Hope this helps. All the best.

tapasgupta · Answer

Hi,
My advise is to take the GMAT like a mind game. Think like Sherlock Holmes and find the missing piece to get your answer. I actually do the same ....and I don't feel under pressure...
Hope this helps
All the best...

Sent from my MI PAD using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

AndyDufresne · Answer

You need to take help of some mind relaxation techniques. Try looking elsewhere...on the seam of your shirt for 5-7 sec....bring back your attention to the screen and then try solving. Ideally it should help you.

You might be getting nervous because of thinking about the end result/score and then anticipating of bad things like freezing to happen which might be hampering your concentration. Try to chuck this feeling and solve it like normal questions you do routinely.

GMATPill · Answer

Indeed, you're experiencing the psychological aspects of the test - something most test takers overlook.

Remember, it's not just knowledge you are being tested on - it's thinking under prolonged pressure -- think of the test as a marathon and adapt accordingly. It's very easy to run out of steam and then blank out in the middle.

So you should understand that GMAT doesn't necessarily test how smart you are - but instead tests you on a combination of many factors -- of which psychology is one of them.

Take a look at some more tips in our psychology article here what you can do to adjust: https://www.gmatpill.com/gmat-psychology ... trategies/

You can learn more about us at https://www.gmatpill.com/testimonials

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Classof15USA,

While most questions on the GMAT can be solved in more than one way, there are never that many 'options' when it comes to approaching a prompt - so part of your 'analysis' when it comes to any individual GMAT question should be in terms of which of the possible approaches "fits" what the prompt gives you to work with. To that end, if you've trained properly, then every question you see should remind you of something that you already dealt with during your studies. It might be a math/grammar rule, Number Property, phrase, etc., but your ability to draw on that memory/experience should also help you to see how to approach a new prompt (or potentially get 'unstuck' from a prompt). Certain prompts also just require a bit of 'playing around', so you have to take some notes and try to find a pattern that's built into the information.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

bluemba · Answer

Your mindset is really important when taking the exam. Sometimes, you may want to spend additional time on a math question because you believe you can solve it within a certain amount of time. However, if you see the clock ticking and you haven't gotten to a reasonable spot yet, then it may be best to move onto the next question.

AjiteshArun · Answer

There will almost always be some questions that you won't get in the time you are given. Be comfortable with letting (some) "points" go.

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Looking for Advice - Freeze up on CATs

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