{"id":7422,"date":"2024-04-09T11:32:17","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T11:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/business-school-insider\/?p=7422"},"modified":"2024-04-09T16:32:52","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T16:32:52","slug":"land-your-score-7-steps-to-building-confidence-for-test-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/gmat\/land-your-score-7-steps-to-building-confidence-for-test-day\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Steps to Building Confidence for GMAT Test Day"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s very easy to concentrate on rekindling long-forgotten <a href=\"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/gmat\/master-these-gmat-math-skills-2\/\">math skills<\/a> or memorizing patterns commonly found in <\/span><a title=\"GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice: Difficult Passages\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/gmat\/high-level-gmat-reading-comprehension-practice\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reading Comp<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> passages, but if you spend all of your energy on these content-based skills, you may omit strengthening your performance on the emotional aspects of prepping for the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/gmat\/gmat-test\/what-is-the-gmat\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GMAT<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div  style=' margin-top:30px; margin-bottom:4px;'  class='hr hr-custom hr-center hr-icon-no  0  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first '><span class='hr-inner  inner-border-av-border-none' style=' width:20px;' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_heading  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Boosting GMAT Confidence Tips<\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a computer-adaptive test (CAT), the GMAT rewards correct answers with harder questions. Harder questions take more time and mental energy to process. They can be intimidating. Likewise, incorrect answers are followed by lower-difficulty questions. These can also be stress-inducing: \u201cThese questions are too easy! I must be doing terribly!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before I talk about ways to master the emotional side of the test, I must address two reasons <\/span><b>the perceived difficulty level should not impact your confidence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on Test Day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Familiar Tasks Can Seem Easier Than They Are<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, symbolism questions almost always involve low-difficulty math. But because they are intimidating to most students, they usually are rated as high-difficulty questions. If you see \u201ca#b = 2(a + b)\u201d and are asked for the value of 3#4, that will feel easy despite actually being high difficulty.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_promobox  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >GMAT Tests Include Questions at Every Difficulty Level<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So you may get a string of questions correct, then see a low-difficulty \u201ceasy\u201d question because it is being tested. <\/span><b>Your performance has no bearing on the difficulty level of an experimental question<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. DO NOT let your confidence be shaken because a question seems easy!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try not to evaluate your performance during the test and not beat yourself up over how you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">think<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you are doing.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<div  style='background:#f9f9f9;color:#240f6e;border-color:#bcbcbc;' class='av_promobox  avia-button-yes   avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><\/p>\n<p>Start building confidence by tackling real GMAT problems<\/p>\n<\/div><div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-right ' ><a href='https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/gmat\/free\/gmat-practice-test-options' class='avia-button  avia-color-theme-color   avia-icon_select-no avia-size-large avia-position-right ' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Free GMAT Practice Test<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_promobox  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Steps To Start Building Confidence on the GMAT Exam<\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_sidebar '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >1. Complete full practice tests<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/gmat\/free\/gmat-practice-test-options\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">full-length practice test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to build your endurance. This means the entire practice test; don\u2019t skip any sections, and especially try to avoid skipping days you planned to take a practice test. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >2. Test, review, repeat<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Review every practice test soon after you complete it. Look at all questions, not just the ones you answered incorrectly. For the ones you got right, see whether there is a more efficient way to work the question. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaplanquizzes.com\/gmat\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kaplan practice questions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0all have detailed explanations, and my students have discovered faster ways to work questions by reviewing the ones they got right.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A day later, rework any questions that still seem shaky for you. Make notes of question types and content areas you seem to be unsure of and work them into your future practice plans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >3. Go back to basics<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start with the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaplanquizzes.com\/gmat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">foundational GMAT material<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and work your way up. If you have trouble remembering multiplication tables, download an app.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[<b>GMAT CONTENT APPS:<\/b>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/manhattan-prep-gmat-official\/id1030031321\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple App Store<\/a>\u00a0<i>or<\/i>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.hltcorp.gmat&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Google Play<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >4. Discipline yourself<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make a\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/business-school-insider\/2017\/03\/21\/land-your-score-finding-gmat-study-time\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">practice plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0and stick to it. Think of it as a diet, or a workout regimen, or a savings plan. Make it reasonable so you can make it work. #determination<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >5. Celebrate small victories<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imagine a question pops up and you immediately recognize it as something you\u2019ve done before. Pat yourself on the back! I can guarantee that someone, somewhere pulled up that same question and panicked. Amassing a stockpile of knowledge puts you ahead of your competition, and that\u2019s worth celebrating.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >6. Know your goal<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that on Test Day, your goal is not to answer 100% of the questions correctly. The test is designed to not allow that to happen; your score \u201cstasis\u201d is when you answer every other question (higher difficulty) incorrectly and the remaining (lower difficulty) correctly. If you are practicing with CATs or adaptive practice sets,\u00a0<\/span><b>celebrate 70% to 80% correct<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >7. Believe in yourself<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019ve mentioned making note of questions or concepts that give you trouble, but you should also take time every now and then to\u00a0<\/span><b>make a list of things you have mastered<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you used to think you would panic if you saw X on Test Day but now you are cool with it, that\u2019s a huge accomplishment.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Believe that you can do it, and you can do it. Have confidence that you will do the best you can, and you will. And show determination while following the plan to Test Day, and you will land the score you deserve!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><div  class='avia-builder-widget-area clearfix  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_iconlist  avia-builder-el-last '><div id=\"text-76\" class=\"widget clearfix widget_text\">\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><span data-sumome-listbuilder-embed-id=\"70f62512b89832cc8e7fcd96b9d03245c2794cf0b7170fa257f26acec72436d9\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><div id=\"text-77\" class=\"widget clearfix widget_text\">\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><span data-sumome-listbuilder-embed-id=\"71160db829b51adcc3539815988485f372b020407413c2957efe50cfe72ea639\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s very easy to concentrate on rekindling long-forgotten math skills or memorizing patterns commonly found in Reading Comp passages, but if you spend all of your energy on these content-based skills, you may omit strengthening your performance on the emotional aspects of prepping for the GMAT. As a computer-adaptive test (CAT), the GMAT rewards correct [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46238,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[55],"tags":[56],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7422"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7422"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46239,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7422\/revisions\/46239"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}