All,
So I took the GMAT two times within the last month and scored substantially lower than my practice scores. In the past Month, I've gotten a 620 (MGMAT), 620 (GMAT PREP) and 660 (GMAT Prep). With 37-39 (Quant) and 38-41 (Verbal). The very first time I took a practice manhattan lGMAT test (3 months ago) I scored a 560 and I took that cold. However, 16 days ago I scored an abysmal 540 27 (Quant) and 37 (verbal) and just yesterday I score a 460 27 (quant) and 33 (verbal). I've taken all practice tests under test-like conditions.
I think it was the nerves. The first time I took the exam I was extremely light headed. The second time I took the exam - two days before taking it I went to the emergency room because I was feeling so light headed and weak that I thought I was going to pass out.
I have to submit my score by October 9th so I'm taking it again on October 7th. The school I'm applying to will consider you if you have a 550 or higher and you're an automatic lock with a 650.
How do I be prepared the next two and a half weeks? I used manhtann for concepts, did about half of the OG, did all the questions in the GMAT prep question packs and exams, did a lf magoosh quant and most verbal. Nonetheless, I still felt like the questions I saw on the actual GMAT in the quant section looked different to me. Then again that could be the light headedness talking.
Thoughts? I was thinking about taking a GMAT exam every day to get my never under control.
What do I do?
GMAT Forum
2 postsPage 1 of 1
- KushS904
- Course Students
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 7:58 am
- StaceyKoprince
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 9361
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
- Location: Montreal
Re: Nerves or Something Else - how to best prepare for next time
I agree that the symptoms that you describe sound like serious anxiety symptoms. Have you talked to your doctor about these symptoms? (Your regular doctor, I mean - outside of the emergency room.)
If you haven't, make an appointment ASAP. If you don't have a regular doctor, then find a clinic that accepts walk-ins and go talk to them. You need to figure out whether there are medical interventions that can help you to manage the anxiety so that you don't keep winding up in the emergency room.
Next, the first round deadline is Oct 9th? It may take longer than 2 weeks to figure out how to manage this issue. If needed, please do not hesitate to postpone your application to the second round. Your health is the most important thing - that has to come first.
You can also try this:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... mat-score/
I think that can help, but please note that the symptoms you describe are serious and meditation alone may not be enough. (And, again, 2 weeks may not be enough.)
I have also had some students with serious anxiety in the past benefit from watching this video:
http://www.mba.com/us/the-gmat-exam/pre ... -tour.aspx
One student watched the video like 50 times and reported after she took the real test that it "desensitized" her to the stress of walking into the testing room. She had seen the video so many times that it became normal to her and she was only mildly anxious when she went in.
Even if you do take it again on Oct 7th, please tell yourself that it will still be okay if you end up having to postpone your application and take it again in future. The last thing you want to do is tell yourself, "This is it! You have to get it now!" - that just increases the pressure to a crazy degree. (And truly: it's okay to postpone to the next round!)
Next, how to get ready. Your three practice tests were in the 620 to 660 range, so what you have already been doing / studying is working - you're in the range that you want to get for this school. You can continue to review and practice in the way that you have been. what we need to do is figure out how to handle the nerves / anxiety so that it doesn't derail you during the test.
Don't do this. You weren't having these symptoms on practice tests, right? Just on the real thing. You know the practice tests don't count, and you'll know the same if you keep taking practice tests. So that won't actually do anything to help, and it just might hurt - because you will tire yourself out mentally leading up to the test. Try the video above to try to desensitize yourself to the testing environment. Try the meditation. And talk to a doctor ASAP.
Good luck - come back and let us know how things are going.
If you haven't, make an appointment ASAP. If you don't have a regular doctor, then find a clinic that accepts walk-ins and go talk to them. You need to figure out whether there are medical interventions that can help you to manage the anxiety so that you don't keep winding up in the emergency room.
Next, the first round deadline is Oct 9th? It may take longer than 2 weeks to figure out how to manage this issue. If needed, please do not hesitate to postpone your application to the second round. Your health is the most important thing - that has to come first.
You can also try this:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... mat-score/
I think that can help, but please note that the symptoms you describe are serious and meditation alone may not be enough. (And, again, 2 weeks may not be enough.)
I have also had some students with serious anxiety in the past benefit from watching this video:
http://www.mba.com/us/the-gmat-exam/pre ... -tour.aspx
One student watched the video like 50 times and reported after she took the real test that it "desensitized" her to the stress of walking into the testing room. She had seen the video so many times that it became normal to her and she was only mildly anxious when she went in.
Even if you do take it again on Oct 7th, please tell yourself that it will still be okay if you end up having to postpone your application and take it again in future. The last thing you want to do is tell yourself, "This is it! You have to get it now!" - that just increases the pressure to a crazy degree. (And truly: it's okay to postpone to the next round!)
Next, how to get ready. Your three practice tests were in the 620 to 660 range, so what you have already been doing / studying is working - you're in the range that you want to get for this school. You can continue to review and practice in the way that you have been. what we need to do is figure out how to handle the nerves / anxiety so that it doesn't derail you during the test.
I was thinking about taking a GMAT exam every day to get my never under control.
Don't do this. You weren't having these symptoms on practice tests, right? Just on the real thing. You know the practice tests don't count, and you'll know the same if you keep taking practice tests. So that won't actually do anything to help, and it just might hurt - because you will tire yourself out mentally leading up to the test. Try the video above to try to desensitize yourself to the testing environment. Try the meditation. And talk to a doctor ASAP.
Good luck - come back and let us know how things are going.
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
2 posts Page 1 of 1