How do I come over the fear?

[sk]

Hi Andrew,

I took the MGMAT 9 week virtual course twice. In the practice tests (mgmat adaptive) I did reasonably well. I got scores ranging from 680 to 710, but in the real test score my verbal score dropped to 28 (640). In the real test I have not done well in verbal (I appeared thrice so far). When the verbal section starts, my mind goes blank and I am unable to concentrate. When I took the GMATPrep tests at home, I consistenly scored 36 in Verbal on two occasions.

Can you suggest what I shd be doing to get rid of the fear in the real test?

Thanks,
SK.

[StaceyKoprince]

A lot of people have serious text anxiety on important exams - you're in good company. The solution tends to be fairly individual - it really depends both on the severity of your anxiety and what methods work for you.

Some people try meditation, mantras (words or phrases to repeat to help concentrate), even anxiety medication if the problem is severe enough. It sounds like your problem isn't too severe since you aren't underperforming by that much.

When I have concentration problems, it is usually because something else distracts me. If that's the case for you, it might help to tell yourself that you can think about whatever is distracting you just as soon as you finish this problem. Or, write down somewhere on your scrap paper whatever it is that is distracting you and tell yourself - okay, I've got a note now so I can come back to that later. Another thing that can work is to think of a few lines of a favorite song or poem - try to think of them to distract yourself from whatever is distracting you so you can get back to the test.

Anyone else have any tips on things they've used to help concentrate?

[guest]

In case of me because of exams anxiety and tension I get mind blank before the exams itself. With doctor recommendation I use small dose of anti anxiety medicine few days before onwards.

These are helping me a lot. More dose can cause sleep. My suggestion is not ideal.

[OutOfTime]

Stacy,

Great advice!

SK,

I would suggest taking a number of full length GMAT exams on your PC to help with the "blanking out" problem. If you do enough tests, your mind may get used to the pressure and may not blank out.

Good luck!

OutOfTime

A lot of people have serious text anxiety on important exams - you're in good company. The solution tends to be fairly individual - it really depends both on the severity of your anxiety and what methods work for you.

Some people try meditation, mantras (words or phrases to repeat to help concentrate), even anxiety medication if the problem is severe enough. It sounds like your problem isn't too severe since you aren't underperforming by that much.

When I have concentration problems, it is usually because something else distracts me. If that's the case for you, it might help to tell yourself that you can think about whatever is distracting you just as soon as you finish this problem. Or, write down somewhere on your scrap paper whatever it is that is distracting you and tell yourself - okay, I've got a note now so I can come back to that later. Another thing that can work is to think of a few lines of a favorite song or poem - try to think of them to distract yourself from whatever is distracting you so you can get back to the test.

Anyone else have any tips on things they've used to help concentrate?

[dbernst]

Hi. Last April I wrote an article in our MGMAT Strategy Series that discussed how to manage test anxiety. Here is the link, and good luck!

http://www.manhattangmat.com/strategyseries17.cfm

-dan

[Thanks Dan!]

Dan,

Thanks for the link to your paper on Stress Management.

MGMAT Rules!

[ms]

Hi Dan, any chance I could take a look at the article? I tried the URL and it throws up an error. Is there a different URL to this article? Thx in advance! ms

[tmmyc]

Here's a link to the Stress Management article. Hopefully it's the one you're looking for.

http://www.manhattangmat.com/strategy-series-stress.cfm