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illegallyblonde
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What to do in the last month leading up to the GMAT 30 Apr 2024, 03:16
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­Hi,

I've been preparing for the GMAT FE for a while now and over the past few months, I've been going over each topic individually trying to get better accuracy but not necessarily focusing on timing. I figure if I'm better skilled at the topics then timing should improve naturally. Not sure if that's the wrong approach?

The last official practice test I'd taken was on 11th March 2024 - got a score of 585 (V80 Q77 DI80). I'm pretty good at verbal but I always miss questions towards the end. Tbh, I have improved my speed, comprehension abilities and accuracy since then but I'm wondering if there's anything else I can do? My way of thinking is that if I HAVE to miss a few questions towards the end, then I'm willing to do so since it helps me not sacrifice my comprehension or accuracy for the other 80% of questions and I'd rather keep those chances.

But that's just one part. My main concern is: how do I prepare myself for the actual exam? I've developed a sort of fear since I've been prepping for the exam and postponing the date for months beacuse I don't want to book it until I score 685+ on my mocks. At this point, I'm just allowing myself to push it. But the truth is that no matter how much I improve, there will always be a farther date in time that I could possibly perform even better. And I guess I'm just holding on to that. How do I prepare myself mentally and build my stamina all while trying to retain everything I've learned?

Any help is appreciated.
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What to do in the last month leading up to the GMAT 30 Apr 2024, 03:57
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helpmegmat
­Hi,

I've been preparing for the GMAT FE for a while now and over the past few months, I've been going over each topic individually trying to get better accuracy but not necessarily focusing on timing. I figure if I'm better skilled at the topics then timing should improve naturally. Not sure if that's the wrong approach?
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That's the best approach, and you can also look for ways to answer questions faster by answering them more efficiently.

Some timed practice at some point can be helpful as well, but most of your progress in terms of both accuracy and speed will come from developing skill in finding paths to correct answers.
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The last official practice test I'd taken was on 11th March 2024 - got a score of 585 (V80 Q77 DI80). I'm pretty good at verbal but I always miss questions towards the end. Tbh, I have improved my speed, comprehension abilities and accuracy since then but I'm wondering if there's anything else I can do? My way of thinking is that if I HAVE to miss a few questions towards the end, then I'm willing to do so since it helps me not sacrifice my comprehension or accuracy for the other 80% of questions and I'd rather keep those chances.

But that's just one part. My main concern is: how do I prepare myself for the actual exam? I've developed a sort of fear since I've been prepping for the exam and postponing the date for months beacuse I don't want to book it until I score 685+ on my mocks. At this point, I'm just allowing myself to push it. But the truth is that no matter how much I improve, there will always be a farther date in time that I could possibly perform even better. And I guess I'm just holding on to that. How do I prepare myself mentally and build my stamina all while trying to retain everything I've learned?
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­You can keep doing mixed practice to retain your skills and doing topic-focused work to strengthen weaker areas.

Also, another key move is to take many practice tests. You can use both third-party tests and official ones to become more comfortable with hitting the "Start Test" button and spending a couple hours finding a way to answer question after question.

It's not illogical to want to achieve your target score on practice tests before you take the test. That approach makes sense. At the same time, taking that approach without taking any practice tests isn't going to work. So, you should take at least one at this point to see where you stand.

For some additional insights, you could read this post.

How to Score 705+ on the GMAT Focus Edition­
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What to do in the last month leading up to the GMAT 30 Apr 2024, 22:00
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helpmegmat
­Hi,

I've been preparing for the GMAT FE for a while now and over the past few months, I've been going over each topic individually trying to get better accuracy but not necessarily focusing on timing. I figure if I'm better skilled at the topics then timing should improve naturally. Not sure if that's the wrong approach?

The last official practice test I'd taken was on 11th March 2024 - got a score of 585 (V80 Q77 DI80). I'm pretty good at verbal but I always miss questions towards the end. Tbh, I have improved my speed, comprehension abilities and accuracy since then but I'm wondering if there's anything else I can do? My way of thinking is that if I HAVE to miss a few questions towards the end, then I'm willing to do so since it helps me not sacrifice my comprehension or accuracy for the other 80% of questions and I'd rather keep those chances.

But that's just one part. My main concern is: how do I prepare myself for the actual exam? I've developed a sort of fear since I've been prepping for the exam and postponing the date for months beacuse I don't want to book it until I score 685+ on my mocks. At this point, I'm just allowing myself to push it. But the truth is that no matter how much I improve, there will always be a farther date in time that I could possibly perform even better. And I guess I'm just holding on to that. How do I prepare myself mentally and build my stamina all while trying to retain everything I've learned?

Any help is appreciated.
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Hi! To be honest, thinking about leaving questions in the end is suicidal and to evaluate it you should take a couple of mock exams to test this strategy. You are going through a common loop that most aspirants go through :), which is to keep preparing and postponing the date. GMAT is a lot about test-taking strategy and now that you have prepared for months and have improve your speed and accuracy, you must start taking mock tests. This is the best way to prepare yourself mentally and build your stamina (unfortunately there isn't another way :) ). Along with this, you should analyze your tests well to identify your strengths, weaknesses, and patterns and maintain an error log.

Here is the video link: The Art of Analyzing GRE/GMAT Mock Tests!

Blog Link: Boost Your GMAT/GRE Scores: The Art of Analyzing Mock Tests 

In the end, I would again say that DON'T think about missing any questions on GMAT.
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What to do in the last month leading up to the GMAT 01 May 2024, 06:21
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­Hi helpmegmat,

Preparing mentally for the GMAT, especially when you've set high expectations for yourself, can indeed be daunting. It's natural to feel a bit of fear or anxiety as the exam approaches, particularly when you've been postponing it to achieve a certain mock test score. However, continuously delaying the exam might increase your anxiety rather than alleviate it. To combat this, setting a firm test date could be a helpful first step. Having a set deadline can focus your preparation efforts and help shift your mindset from indefinite preparation to a more goal-oriented approach.

Regular, structured revision sessions can be very effective in building your stamina and retaining what you've learned. Break your study sessions into manageable parts and include both new material and review segments in each session. This approach can help reinforce your knowledge while keeping the information fresh. Also, continue incorporating full-length practice tests into your study routine. These simulate the actual exam conditions and can be excellent for building endurance and mental resilience. It's also helpful to practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, to manage stress and improve concentration during your study sessions and the exam itself.

Remember, perfection is a moving target, and at some point, it's more beneficial to test your preparation under real conditions rather than waiting indefinitely to reach an ideal score in mock exams. This can provide you with valuable insights and a realistic assessment of your performance, helping you to identify any final areas for improvement.

Feel free to reach out with any additional questions.

Let's do this!­
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