MENTAL CONDITIONING

Your frame of mind has a lot to do with the level of success you achieve. Here’s what’s involved in developing your
best mindset for the GMAT.

Test Awareness
To do your best on the GMAT, you must always keep in mind that the test is unlike other tests that you’ve taken, in
terms of both the content and the scoring system. If you took a test in high school or college and got a quarter of the
questions wrong, you’d probably receive a pretty lousy grade. But due to the adaptive nature of the GMAT, missing
only a quarter of the questions would give you a very high score. The test is designed to push test takers to their limits,
so people rarely get every question right. In fact, you can get a handful of questions wrong and still score in the 99th
percentile. Thus, by its very design, a CAT can be a stressful experience.

You’ve learned how a CAT works, and you know what to expect. Keep in mind:

 Seeing hard questions on this test is a good sign, not a bad sign. Remember that you have to “earn” the hard
questions on this test by getting questions right. When you see something difficult, remind yourself that this is an
achievement, not a pitfall. Don’t let what you consider to be a subpar performance on a handful of questions ruin
your performance on the rest. A couple of missed questions won’t, by themselves, spoil your score. But if you allow
the frustration of those questions to unnerve you, you could end up compromising your performance on other
questions or on the section as a whole. Missing a few points won’t ruin your score, but losing your head will.

 The test is designed to find your limits, so it should feel challenging. If you feel you’ve done poorly on a section,
don’t worry—you may have done just fine. Keep in mind that the questions that you are likely to struggle on most
will be the hardest ones—the ones that hurt your score least if you miss them. To reach your highest potential
score, you must remain calm and focused. Try to figure out what it’s testing, and apply the appropriate technique.
If you’re absolutely stumped, guess and move on. Maintain the pacing and approach you’ve learned from your
practice tests.

 One in four questions is experimental. Twenty questions on this test do not factor into your final score. If you see
something you have never seen before, it probably does not count. If you see a killer question, there is a 25 percent
chance it doesn’t count either. Do not let it shake your confidence.

 Don’t try to guess which questions are unscored (experimental questions), though. This kind of speculation has
gotten countless test takers into trouble. They have a hunch that a certain question is one that doesn’t count and
then don’t take it seriously. You cannot know which questions are experimental, so treat each one as if it counts.
That way, you’re covered no matter what. Likewise, don’t worry if a question you get seems “too easy.” This
doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re doing poorly; it might be experimental. Or it might happen to align well with
your individual strengths. Or perhaps you are just well prepared, have great strategies, and are beating the test!
Do your best, get it right, and move on with confidence.

Stamina
The GMAT is a grueling experience, and some test takers simply run out of gas when they reach the final questions. To
avoid this, you must prepare by taking several full-length practice tests (not skipping over any sections) in the week or
two before the test so that on Test Day, that four-hour test will seem like a breeze—or at least not a hurricane.

Your Online Center includes full-length CATs for just this purpose. If you finish the tests included with this book, a
further option is to download the test maker’s GMATPrep™ software, which contains full-length exams and is available
free from mba.com. One drawback to the software is that it does not include explanations, so you will want to rely on
your Kaplan materials, which include thorough explanations, for the bulk of your study. However, the GMATPrep™
CATs should give you a good indication of your score range.
Confidence
Confidence in your ability leads to quick, sure answers and a sense of poise that translates into more points. Confidence
builds on itself, but unfortunately, so does self-doubt. If you lack confidence, you end up reading sentences and answer
choices two, three, or four times until you confuse yourself and get off track. This uncertainty ruins your timing, only
perpetuating a downward spiral.

If you cultivate a positive GMAT mindset, however, you’ll gear your practice toward taking control of the test. And
when you have achieved that goal—armed with the techniques and strategies explained in this book—you’ll be ready
to face the GMAT with supreme confidence.

Positive Attitude
Those who approach the GMAT as an obstacle and who rail against the necessity of taking it usually don’t fare as well
as those who see the GMAT as an opportunity. Those who look forward to doing battle with the GMAT—or, at least,
who enjoy the opportunity to distinguish themselves from the rest of the applicant pack—tend to score better than do
those who resent or dread it. If you expect to fail, why would you be at the test in the first place? This can be a difficult
exercise at first, but you must get yourself in a frame of mind to succeed.

Take our word for it: Developing a positive attitude is a proven test-taking technique. Here are a few steps you can
take to make sure you develop the right GMAT attitude:

 Look at the GMAT as a challenge but try not to obsess over it; you certainly don’t want to psych yourself out of the
game.

 Don’t place excessive importance on the exam; keep the GMAT in perspective. Remember that the GMAT does not
measure your intelligence or your ability to succeed in business school. A GMAT score only reflects how well you
performed on the test on a given day. This is not the day that determines the rest of your life. If the test does not
go as well as planned, you can always take it again next month. In fact, repeat exams make up about twenty percent
of all GMAT’s administered. Repeating the exam is unlikely to affect your chances for admission because most
admissions committees look at your highest score.

 Try to have fun with the test. Learning how to match your wits against those of the test makers can be a very
satisfying experience, and the critical thinking skills you’ll acquire will benefit you in business school, as well as in
your future career.

 Remember that you’re more prepared than most people. You have the tools you need, plus the ability to use those
tools. If you’ve attended all the classes and done the work, you are better prepared than most of the population.
Have confidence that you are going to be great!