GMAT #2: Timing and Anxiety Problems

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GMAT #2: Timing and Anxiety Problems

by AVbyT » Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:10 pm
Hello Experts - I'm looking for some insight to point me in the right direction with my timing and anxiety issues. I gave the GMAT in October, 2011 and scored a 630(Q46 V31) after self study of 2 months. Even though I did not cover all the knowledge areas in Depth esp Verbal but this score didnt reflect my true potential. Further, since I was applying for B-Schools along with my GMAT prep I was under some pressure that decided to surface on the GMAT leading to timing issues. I then decided to work on my Verbal so I started taking Private classes and worked hard on SC and CR sections. Finally I could see great improvement as I was now scoring 720-750 on GMAT preps with 10-15% repeition and in no practice test below 45 in Quant.

Unfortunately I took the GMAT again on Friday and scored a mere 610 (Q 40 V34) and had major timing and panic problems. In Quant, I was under such pressure that I was taking twice as many seconds to perform a simple division and that the damage showes in my Quant score. Same timing problems distressed me to the point that by Q 30 in Verbal I had an anxiety attack that forced me to close my eyes and take breather as I was too huffed and puffed to even finish reading th question.

For the 2nd attempt I felt that I was much better prepared material wise but the GMAT beat me at the Psycometrics so what could be a way out of this anxious mindset in the exam?


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by [email protected] » Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:58 am
This is an exam where you cannot afford to panic even once in the test.

Relaxing and calming down is the only way you can crack these tests.

Also please do not look at the timer again and again, rather focus on the question and in solving them. That should really help you.

It is not compulsory that all the Quant problems will be solved in 2 mins only, some might can more than 2mins and some might take less than 2 mins.

Rather try to enjoy your test after taking so many tests you should actually enjoy the test and rather feel anxious.

Trust me anxiety is a villian here...

Just calm down and then take the test... You are already a winner, you do not need to prove anybody anything...


Hope this helps you dude... Best of luck...
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by AVbyT » Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:31 pm
Thanks man. How did you do on the exam - from the point of view of anxiety and stress?


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Last edited by AVbyT on Sat May 26, 2012 10:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:04 am
I recently wrote two articles for BTG that address timing and anxiety problems.
Timing: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2012/02/ ... n-test-day
Anxiety: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2012/03/ ... n-test-day

As I mention in the second video, there's no one anxiety-reducing strategy that will work for every since person. Your job is to find the one (or ones) that work best for you.

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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by rinoa » Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:21 pm
I think we must have felt the exact same nerves haha! I was taking the longest time to do division and stupid subtraction it was ridiculous!!! And in my head I kept talking to myself going "I CAN DO THIS!!!!" which actually ended up distracting me even more!! I hope we beat these nerves one day! It is really not worth it to get a lower score than our potential just because our mind refuses to calm down.

You obviously have the potential to score higher based on your practice tests (with a low rate of repetition) . There's just something going on mentally. And I haven't figured out how to cure it yet, but do tell me if you do!