wild suggestion:

fall in love with the test:.....look forward to solving all types of quant problems and develop a humongous appetite for reading, reasoning and grammar!
Challenge everything: question every thing that comes your way....everything!

stop calling it a hurdle. this is the best phase of your life, wherein you can do your very best. In other words, work on the attitude first and then work on increasing your aptitude

All the Best

I think GMAT800 is right-when I started this process I was really dreading it, and to be honest I definitely havent developed a love of the material, but it is important to me and Ive found motivation in success. I look forward to going home and improving my DS and SC so that my score can improve because it will mean a new life for me, one that I truly want which hopefully will change the trajectory of my career. This test is an obstacle but it also happens to be a gateway into something new. So I would suggest digging deep and making this your number one priority, something you can be proud of.

One question were you taking CAT practice tests, and what kind were they? Did you notice anything different about your real test experience verus the practice? Were you nervous, did you blank on anything particular was it the environment? Ive been taking my practice CATS in simulated environments so that I am familiar with the experience.

Hope that helps

And read this forum when you kind of loose appetite. It helps me a great deal!