How to Manage Test Anxiety for the GMAT, GRE
Pursuing an MBA can significantly transform your career. But before starting your journey in business school, you’ll need to conquer one of the biggest hurdles: the GMAT or GRE. For some MBA aspirants, these standardized tests can be daunting, especially if you suffer from test anxiety. With only a few months until application deadlines, review this comprehensive guide to help you manage test anxiety for the GMAT or GRE and perform at your best.
Understanding Test Anxiety
Test anxiety is a combination of physical symptoms and emotional reactions that interfere with your ability to perform well on exams. These symptoms can manifest in various ways, such as a racing heart, sweaty palms, negative thoughts like ‘I’m going to fail,’ and difficulty concentrating, like finding it hard to read or understand the questions. Recognizing that these feelings are common and manageable is the first step toward overcoming them.
Partner with Stacy Blackman’s best-in-class GMAT and GRE experts and increase your score significantly. Check out our test prep services here. Request a free game plan chat with SBC’s lead test prep coach by emailing testprep@stacyblackman.com.
Creating an Effective Study Plan
The GRE and GMAT tests require a ton of preparation. “If applying to b-school is on your radar, the sooner you start, the better,” says Anthony Ritz, SBC’s Director of Test Prep. “Because this is a major commitment, two to three months minimum for two to three hours a day on average.”
If you wait until the last minute, when you also need to focus on other aspects of the application, it can be virtually impossible—even with good tutoring—to get the progress you need.
Another reason to quit procrastinating: there’s a high chance you’ll need to take it more than once. “The reality is these tests are really hard,” Anthony acknowledges. “You don’t entirely know what you’re getting into until you’ve tried the real thing.”
That’s why a structured study plan is crucial in alleviating test anxiety.
Here’s a step-by-step guide tailored to a short preparation timeline.
Start Now: If you’re applying this fall, begin your preparation immediately. With a tight timeline, every day counts. Plan to spend about two to three months (100–120 hours) reviewing material and practicing regularly.
Set Realistic Goals: Break down your study schedule into weekly and daily tasks. Set specific goals for each study session, such as completing a set number of practice questions or reviewing a particular section of the material.
Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is critical. Incorporate a mix of timed practice tests and untimed, detailed reviews. Timed tests help build your test-taking stamina, while untimed reviews allow you to understand the material thoroughly.
Review and Analyze: After each practice test, go over your answers. Identify patterns in your mistakes and focus on improving those areas.
“A lot of people make the mistake of studying until they get the problem right. But they should be studying until they can’t do the problem wrong—until it feels so automatic that it’s totally inconceivable that you’d ever not nail it.”—SBC Director of Test Prep Anthony Ritz
Take Care of Yourself: Your well-being is as important as your study plan. A healthy body supports a sharp mind, and taking care of yourself is a crucial part of your journey to success.
Techniques for Reducing Test Anxiety for the GMAT, GRE
In addition to a solid study plan, incorporating anxiety-reducing techniques can help you maintain calm and focus during your preparation and on test day.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Exercises: Practices such as meditation, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation can help calm your mind. Consider apps like Headspace or Calm, which offer guided sessions for stress relief.
Visualization: Imagine yourself in the test-taking environment, feeling calm and confident. Visualization can help reduce anxiety by familiarizing you with the test day scenario.
Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Remind yourself of your preparation and capabilities.
Regular Exercise: Physical activity can significantly reduce stress levels. Incorporate activities like yoga, running, or brisk walking into your routine.
Seek Support: Talk to friends, family, or a counselor about your anxiety. Sometimes, expressing your concerns can alleviate some of the pressure.
Importance of Early Completion
One of the most strategic moves you can make is to complete your GMAT or GRE before diving into your MBA application and essays. ‘Early completion’ in this context refers to finishing your test at least a month before your application deadline. Here’s why:
Focused Preparation: Concentrating solely on the GMAT or GRE allows you to give it your full attention and energy. This means dedicating specific hours of the day to studying for the test without any distractions or other tasks. Preparing for the test alongside application essays can divide your focus and increase stress, which can negatively impact your performance on both tasks.
Better Time Management: Once the test is out of the way, you can dedicate uninterrupted time to crafting compelling essays and gathering recommendation letters, which are crucial components of your MBA application.
Improved Performance: Managing one major task at a time can lead to better performance both on the test and in your application. Knowing that you have completed your GMAT or GRE can significantly reduce your overall stress levels, allowing you to present your best self in your application materials.
Listen to B-Schooled Podcast #106: Admissions Test Deep Dive with SBC’s Director of Test Prep, Anthony Ritz, who’s been a GMAT and GRE tutor for more than two decades.
You Can Do This!
Overcoming your test anxiety for the GMAT or GRE is a journey that requires preparation, practice, and self-care. By following a structured study plan and incorporating anxiety-reducing techniques, you can approach the GMAT or GRE with confidence.
Remember, the goal is to do your best, not to be perfect. With persistence and the right strategies, you can achieve the scores you need to advance your MBA aspirations. By getting the test out of the way early, you’ll be in a strong position to focus on creating a standout application.
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Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our All-In Partnership and Interview Prep to hourly help with essay editing, resume review, and much more! Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant.
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Ashley
Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure. Ashley holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years, Ashley was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...
×Kerry
Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and ...
×Pauline
A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally. Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM. For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...
×Geri
Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds. Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students. In additio ...
×Laura
Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years. Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...
×Andrea
Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years. In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School. Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...
×Jennifer
Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...
×Erin K.
Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...
×Susie
Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications. She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...
×Dione
Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford. Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...
×Anthony
Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year. Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...
×Meghan
Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...
×Amy
Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team. During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students. She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...
×Ally
Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS). During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...
×Erin B.
Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...
×Emma
Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director. Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants. ×
