Hi mdlyman,
I'm sorry to hear that your score was lower than expected. Several factors can affect score. Here are some questions to consider:
-Was your timing off? Did you follow a time management and strategic guessing plan? Going too fast or getting stuck somewhere can lead to a loss in confidence or a rise in anxiety.
-Was anything different on the exam compared with sim test question types, quality or level?
-Did you not follow proper technique (e.g. falling back on intuition) or not take notes, for example?
-How did you feel while taking the exam? The clock, exam stress and environment can have serious impact.
-Do you change your sleep routine, diet, exercise, etc. prior to the exam?
-Did you warm up before the test or go in cold?
Next time you do practice/simulation exams, try and take it in similar conditions as exam day (time of day, environment). Do exactly what brought you success on the sim tests.
Best of luck as you prepare to retake the exam!
Jessica