Many people have test anxiety. Kaplan prep courses also include stress workshops to help you deal with the pressures of test day. Problems that seem easy during homework seem impossible in a test situation. The answer is to do as many practice tests as possible so that the testing situation is familiar and stress is minimized. Then, when you are testing, focus on the question in front of you. Don't think about your score or the last question or anything but the one that you are facing.

Familiarity with the content is key, but so is familiarity with test strategies and the test-taking experience.

Good luck,

I am not sure if it has to do anything with anxiety. I just think about time all the time I go through problems. Crazy.

I'd be happy to hear what others have to say about this.

Thinking about time distracts you from thinking about the problems. While you are working a problem the ONLY thing on your mind should be that problem and how to solve it efficiently. Simply writing FOCUS in big letters at the top of your scratch pad can help. You just need to remind yourself what the task is.

Hello Guest,

I have the very same problem. I have no problem solving a question when not working under test conditions in an appropriate time. As soon as I do a proper prep test I cannot focus, I become very anxious, etc.... I think the advice that Tani gave is gold. Doing lots of prep tests under realistic conditions mimics the situation you are going to face pretty good. My first two prep tests were horrible and I scored very badly getting things such as 2*3 wrong. On top of that the GMAT tests trick you by giving you answer options that happen under stress situations.... However, I did my third prep test today and it went way better, still a bit anxious but I was way more relaxed.. I am going to do 5 more tests every day from now on at 12 o'clock, just to simulate what I am going to encounter next week monday... Then, next week monday will just be another day of a prep test

hope that helps..

A great plan! I remember asking my daughter when she got home from taking the SAT. "How was it?" "Oh, Mother, I've taken so many it was just like another class." She blew the test away. Confidence and familiarity are HUGE!