Work to Eliminate Bad Habits Well Before GMAT Test Day

Often, when people find themselves in stressful situations, they revert to their comfort zones—old habits that are easier to keep at bay when the pressure isn’t so great. In the context of the GMAT, these habits might include rushing through questions, skimming passages, trying to do math calculations in your head, or worrying about what questions lie ahead, to name a few. Even if you start off your GMAT with supreme confidence, if you fall back on bad old habits when the going gets tough, you could see a drop in your score.

To ensure that bad habits don’t get the best of you on test day, first off, make sure that you’ve eliminated these habits well before you take your GMAT. Each time you take a practice test or do a set of practice questions, make sure you’re implementing best practices. Work efficiently and methodically through each question, don’t rely on mental math, focus only on the current problem, etc.

When taking the actual GMAT, try to maintain an awareness of how you’re moving through the test. If you feel the urge to rush through a question or start calculating in your head, take a breath and do a quick “reset.” You do have the power to stop yourself if you’re sliding into old habits. Be aware of what your bad habits are, so you can halt them in their tracks if you need to.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep