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With the GMAT around the corner, many
prospective b-school candidates are scrambling to
incorporate proper test preparations in order to get the
best score possible. You may also want to allow yourself
more preparation time than you normally would to take
practice tests and to make sure you're comfortable with
the pace of the exam.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is
that cramming in study-time doesn't necessarily
translate into a great GMAT score. These tests don’t
only measure what you know or how well you know it; they
also measure
how well you take them. While gaining mastery
over the material is extremely important; it is only
part of what is necessary to excel on the GMAT. A big
part of your GMAT success lies in your capacity to
access information while in the testing
environment.
Over-analysis, distractions, "freezing up," getting
fixated on answering questions and then running out of
time are often blamed for lower than expected scores. To
be successful on the GMAT, one must learn to overcome
many personal distractions, including self judgment,
family and social pressures, test anxiety, and stress.
You're at your best for taking the GMAT when you are
feeling confident, calm, focused and alert. At this
level, you can have a "conversation" with the test - a
dialogue where you understand what the questions are
really asking. Your responses will come with ease
and clarity; in this state, it feels easy to pick the
right answers. To help you get into the
right frame of mind, try incorporating some of the
following tips into your test preparation:
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Drink more water.
-
Laugh.
-
Sleep more (at least 7-8 hours a night).
-
Set a schedule for yourself and start
the day unrushed.
-
Learn to say "No" to projects or social
engagements that won't fit into your time schedule.
-
Exercise.
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Meditate, pray or spend some time in
quiet contemplation.
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Enjoy music and art.
-
Be with friends.
-
Eat healthy.
-
Use the
Full Potential™ Audio series: a five hour audio
course that trains you HOW to be on the test: focused,
alert, relaxed and confident.
Utilizing these suggestions can help you
get into the best frame of mind and help you minimize
your stress – and maximize your GMAT score.
-Contributed by Bara Sapir, founder and
executive director of
Test Prep New York™
, the first and only educational company to fuse
academic and strategy-based learning with holistic human
potential training. The Full Potential™ method ensures
that students reach their most relaxed, effective mental
state while preparing for and taking tests, easing their
experience and increasing their scores by targeting the
most pivotal traits of peak performance to give them a
critical edge.
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