Overcoming GRE Test Anxiety

October 09, 2008

Usually, when you're thinking about preparing for the GRE, you're probably focusing on learning specific skills, or practicing test questions. That's certainly a huge part of the equation, but it doesn't address every problem that might stand between you and your target score.

One of the most serious issues for many GRE test takers is test anxiety. Test anxiety comes in many forms, from a mild distraction on test day to a crippling problem that makes it nearly impossible to focus at all.

Test anxiety is also very complicated, with a huge number of possible causes and solutions. I have no chance of doing anything but skimming the surface in this article, but I do want to touch on a few aspects.

Overprepare

One core cause of test anxiety is a simple lack of familiarity with the exam and the content it tests. There's nothing more stressful than getting tested on something that you don't understand or haven't seen before.

There's no easy solution to this problem except for lots of realistic study. To get a feel for the question types, practice full-length exams under timed conditions. To understand the scope of the math you'll see on the test, use a resource like my Total GRE Math.

The more you know about the test, the less likely you'll be surprised on test day. And if you're not surprised, you'll feel more in control, even on the questions you can't answer.

Be Ready To Guess

Even if you're looking for a very high score, you can get a few GRE questions wrong. It's more important to finish each section than to give 100% effort on every question. You don't even need to answer every question correctly to get a perfect score!

Instead of letting difficult or unfamiliar questions stress you out, make an educated guess (or a random one, if necessary) and move on. Put it out of your mind and get ready to attack the next one.

Keep the Stakes In Perspective

Obviously, the GRE is just a stepping stone to other goals in your life. However, thinking about those goals can be very distracting. It may be useful to remind yourself how much you want to go to grad school the next time you're thinking of blowing off a study session. But on test day, focus only on the exam.

If you let yourself think about how important your GRE score is to your grad school chances, you'll be distracted from the task at hand--answering a bunch of questions in a short period of time. All you can do at the test center is get a good score on the GRE. You can't guarantee admission to any school while you're sitting at a computer taking the GRE.

Also, remember that there's no law against taking the test twice. (Or more times, for that matter.) Relax, and do your best every time, but keep in mind that there are second chances on the GRE. There's no need to put a huge amount of pressure on yourself the first time you take the test. It will only hurt your chances of scoring well.

Know What To Expect

No matter how many practice exams you take, the GRE itself will feel different. You'll be in an unfamiliar environment surrounded by people you don't know. This is hardly a recipe for relaxation.

Talk to friends or fellow students about their experiences. Visit the test center the week before your exam. Mentally prepare for distractions, even surprises, on test day. The center won't be a perfect exam-taking environment, but if you're ready for imperfection, you can handle it.

The ETS Guide: Reducing Test Anxiety

For more on this important topic, check out this publication from ETS. (The link goes directly to a PDF file.) It's written for PRAXIS test-takers, but most of the points apply directly to the GRE as well. It emphasizes many of the same things I do--know what to expect, and stay relaxed.

Jeff Sackmann is a test-prep tutor based in New York City and the author of Total GRE Math, among other GRE and GMAT resources.

Need a better Quant score? Check out Total GRE Math.