Use Visualization and Deep Breathing to Relieve GMAT Test-Day Pressure

As prepared as you may be for your GMAT, test-day pressure could get to you and cause a score drop. Of course, if you felt relatively calm and cool during mock tests, you may not have expected GMAT test anxiety to get the better of you during the real deal. And if you weren’t expecting to feel any different on test day, you probably weren’t implementing any strategies to alleviate stress and anxiety in the weeks leading up to your GMAT. That is a common mistake.

One of the most frequent questions I get from GMAT test-takers who experience a score drop is, How can I overcome test anxiety that affects my GMAT performance? Many of those people did not anticipate feeling such a huge weight on their shoulders when test day came. So, test anxiety was one area of the GMAT (maybe the only area!) that they weren’t prepared for.

Even if you’ve been feeling fine during practice tests, and thus performing well, my advice is to implement some stress-reduction strategies in your routine in the weeks leading up to your actual exam. For example, consider creating a calming mantra for yourself, trying some confidence-boosting visualization exercises, or practicing some stress-reducing breathing techniques.

Remember, if you were able to work calmly and perform well on practice tests, then you are capable of doing the same on your actual GMAT. But it doesn’t hurt to have some stress-fighting tools ready just in case test-day pressures start weighing on you.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep