Think back to any important event you’ve had to prepare for in life: a recital, a speaking engagement, a sports game, a test. If you think back to the actual event, I’m sure that you would agree that you performed at your best when nerves, pressure, and anxiety were kept at bay, right? The same is true for the GMAT. As prepared as you may be for your exam, if you let test day loom too large in your mind, the pressure may get to you and cause a decline in your score.
The fact is, no matter how well you approximate test-day conditions when you take practice exams, your practice runs are never going to feel exactly like the big race. With that in mind, it’s all the more important to do everything you can to alleviate the amount of pressure you put on yourself, not only as you prepare for the GMAT, but also on test day. If you can walk into the test center with a “calm but ready” attitude, you will be much better able to focus and perform than you will be if you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders.
One trick for managing your nerves in the weeks leading up to your GMAT is to try some visualization techniques. Imagine test-day scenarios such as getting stuck on a question, having issues at the testing center, feeling pressed for time, or worrying that you’re underperforming. As you feel your stress responses start to kick in, practice pulling yourself together and focusing on answering questions correctly. By practicing responding calmly to stress, you’ll reduce the pressure you feel during your GMAT prep and train yourself to cope with stressful situations on test day.
When taking the actual GMAT, the best way to deal with stress is to get busy answering the question in front of you, focusing completely on the task at hand, so that you redirect all of your nervous energy and naturally calm down. In other words, you distract yourself with a goal. Just tell yourself that all that matters is getting the correct answer to the question in front of you, and then when you have finished that question, take the same attitude toward the next one. Focus on winning each “mini-battle” and you won’t have time for anxiety. If you can win enough of those battles, you can win the GMAT war.
Remember, if you were able to work calmly and perform at your best on your practice tests, then you are capable of doing the same on your actual GMAT.
Warmest regards,
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep
