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5 Biggest Mistakes Pre-Med Students Make When Preparing for their MCAT

December 4, 2011 By testprepny

(1) Think: I know English, I’ll do fine on the Verbal. Most people do the WORST On this section and it counts the most. You need to either read, digest and understand every “great book by dead white men’ or figure out a strategy that is going to work. Just ‘reading’ isn’t going to cut it – - you’ll need to become like Gregory House (of House M.D.) to excel on this section – - so get your groove on!

(2) Assume that a couple of months will be enough time to get ready. Maybe it is, and for a majority of people, 2 months is ample time to get ready. But likely it’s enough if you’ve taken all the science classes – - but verbal is what often takes time because that’s all about strategy. Not sure? Take a diagnostic to see what you need.

(3) Not see the big picture. More and more doctors need to be well rounded, communicative and compassionate people. Brainiacs that lack bedside manner are not going to be good with patients are going to be best if they stay doing lab work. And not interacting with others. Do you have what it takes to really care about your future patients?

(4) Not do your research. What kinds of scores and what kind of application do you need for acceptance to a US school. If you don’t get into a US school what is Plan B? There are some interesting options that aren’t in the US – - but: is that what you want?

(5) Not craft authentic essays. I quote from my colleague, Sandra Clifton (www.cliftoncorner.com), who is a master teacher that helps middle and high school students with their writing – - application essays and otherwise. One of her brilliant recommendations for people writing application essays includes: read great books, listen to awesome music, but never read a book with samples of great application essays. She says, ‘Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga are stars because they pierce our comfort zone – - and create something new, and dare to be different.’ While we don’t recommend you break out into a moon walk or meat dress, we do recommend you create great essays.

So lets recap: Take a full length diagnostic, ideally the one provided for free by the AAMC, evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Got some? Work with a professional to streamline your efforts: you’ll get the most ROI that way. Find your voice and use it in your essays.

 

For more insight into improving your chances of entering into your dream medical school, join us with David Petersam, our colleague at AdmissionsConsultants.com once a month in a free webinar for applying to medical school

For more information and to register, go to: http://www.testprepny.com/pages/webinar.htm

 

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Mad RUSH to top GMAT, LSAT, SAT, etc. scores? Express some Gratitude!

November 29, 2011 By testprepny

Check any test taker’s to-do list and you’ll have a litany that includes various incarnations of learn, study,  practice, and ‘test’. Less common on these lists are strategies to make one happier during the hunkering down of study itself. This stressful time can be made less so by some practices to improve ones overall mental well being. The simple act of expressing gratitude can actually contribute to one being happier and more focused, and, what better a season is there to discuss this, than the one we’re in now!

In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.(1) When we’re in this ‘state’ everything  comes easier and people who are positive tend to have a, better attitude about how they perform on high-stakes tests.

Gratitude seems simple enough: we likely say ‘thank you’ for gifts or favors, and may even send thank you notes. But now is the season where we dig a little deeper and express gratitude towards others, and that which we have to be thankful for. There is a spectrum of gratitude – - from which test takers and individuals alike can benefit. From saying thank you to people who help us out by waiting our tables or doing our dry cleaning, to those who empower us to perform our best on tests: our bosses for giving us time off to our tutors who teach us the skills we need to succeed. Everthing is fair game: from expressing appreciation for your family and friends to recognizing the possibility of great opportunity ahead of you: boarding school, private school, college, graduate/business/law school, and increases in paychecks, upgraded jobs and career opportunities, etc..

It’s beneficial to step back, and reevaluate when we feel satisfaction in our lives, without giving ourselves a hard time with what isn’t quite where we want it to be. Life is a constant flow, and in the test taking process, one can often feel victory and defeat repeatedly, sometimes multiple times in a single day. We might want things a little differently – thinking that shifts and changes, would make things better, but acknowledging where we are right now, and the goodness of that moment is what gratitude is all about. It helps people to focus on the ‘haves’ rather than the ‘have nots’.

There are medical benefits too, as discussed in Harvard Medical School’s monthly newsletter(2). So, tweaking Harvard’s list as a way to cultivate gratitude, and tweaking it for you, our test-taking demographic, we’re providing some exercises here that will improve your mindset — and we hope, in turn, your performance. Experiment with one or all of them. At first it might feel trite and even forced, it’s been proven that our mental state improves and grows stronger with use and practice.

 

Ways to cultivate gratitude

Write a thank you note to a colleague, friend or mentor. Express your enjoyment and appreciation of that person’s impact on your life at this point in time – - either how they’ve helped you in the past or how they are helping you now. The Harvard newsletter recommends you send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month.

Better yet: take time each week to write a graditude letter to yourself.

If you have a demanding school and/or work schedule, you might find that you have no time to write. Take a couple of moments to think about someone who has done helped you out – - even substantially and call to thank them or even mentally thank them. Make a check list that goes something like:

_______ helped me by _______.

I felt _______ because of this new found _______ I know I’m able to do the following:__________

_____________________________________________.

and so on.

Keep a gratitude journal. Make it a practice to document your gratitude each day. Write it down or share with a loved one. Take note of how this makes you feel. To relive the appreciation you feel as well as to express your feelings. Likely, you’ll feel great.

Designated Time to Recognize Appreciation. Once a week, prior to beginning to study or take a diagnostic test, write down you’re grateful for. Whether you view these as ‘blessings’ or  reframes, you can view your ‘journey’ from a place of abundance, rather than as a ‘chore’ or something ‘stressful.’ We remind our clients that education is an is a means to improve ones understanding of the world not to mention contribute to your livilihood. Pick at least three things to write down each time. Again, be specific about what you distinguish as our appreciation and think about how it feels.

Time to be Mindful. Whether you like Yoga, meditation or prayer, taking time to check in with yourself to focus in on the present moment without judgment is a beneficial exercise in ‘tuning in’. Figure out how it works for you  - – whether you want to focus on a word or phrase (such as “success” or “relaxation”), a mandala, or even a candle’s flame. Take the time to be, and in that, notice what you’re grateful for (the progress you’ve made, taking the time to succeed and upgrade your career, etc.).

So get busy and give some thanks!

Both (1) and (2) footnotes taken from Harvard article: http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier


 

 

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Test Anxiety is Real, GMAT, GRE Business School Hopefuls: there is help

November 3, 2011 By testprepny

There is a lot of talk about anxiety on GMAT and/or Business School forums, so much so that you may wonder if your own performance has been compromised by it!

We wanted to chime in, since Test Prep New York is the Test Anxiety Expert in the sea of test prep companies – - we are  the only education company whose philosophy and pedagogy is designed to help GMAT and GRE students overcome test anxiety and stress with real solutions: through in person personal coaching, classes and products. By fusing academic and test preparation training with mental enhancement techniques we optimize students’ test-taking potential. The following is taken from my interview with Vault.com . If you want more information about what we offer to help you directly deal with anxiety contact us directly. Or go to our website and look up mindflowclass.com and our GMAT Full Potential Audio Program. Enjoy!

 

What are the most common anxieties about standardized tests? The way anxiety presents itself varies—it can be emotional, physical or psychological. Symptoms of anxiety range from slight jitters to full-blown blank-out, deer-in-headlights syndrome while taking a test. Other symptoms may indicate you might be suffering from test anxiety include:

• Difficulty getting started with studying

• Becoming easily distracted even after you have started • Concerns that you will not do well regardless of your best efforts

• Symptoms such as lack of focus, sweaty palms, upset stomach, headaches and tension

• Difficulty concentrating, following instructions, or understanding test questions, remembering material and/or strategies after the test is over, but forgetting while taking the test

 

What are the main causes of test anxiety? Test anxiety is real and measurable. There are many ways to understand the main causes. From a behavioral perspective, anxiety can be learned from a prior negative experience. For example, if you have done poorly on tests in the past, you may be anxious and hesitant about taking a test in the future. You might even avoid or resist tests at all costs, and when you’re forced to take them, you feel your behavior shift and change to create opportunities to avoid going through the experience again—usually physical manifestations of anxiety such as feeling sick before an exam.

The idea of repetitive behavioral responses to stimuli was exemplified in B.F. Skinner’s famous ‘pigeon and superstition’ experiments. Skinner placed hungry pigeons in a cage attached to an automatic mechanism that delivered food to the pigeon “at regular intervals with no reference whatsoever to the bird’s behavior.” He discovered that the pigeons associated the delivery of the food with whatever chance actions they had been performing as the food was delivered — for example, lifting a wing or a leg. He was able to deduce that the pigeons mistook their associated movements for a technique to ensure that they received food. Likewise, if a student feels anxiety going into an exam, but yet he or she still performs well, the student will assume (on some level) that anxiety contributed to the good performance. This motivates the student to become more anxious before the next test, and so on. From a psychoanalytic view, anxiety may result from the conflict between your unconscious desires and the expectations others place on you—for example, anxiety would be felt by someone who doesn’t fully want to go to law school, but feels the pressure and expectation to do so, anyway. They might rebel against studying or manifest any of the aforementioned symptoms of test anxiety.

Is test anxiety a kind of performance anxiety, a fear of the big day, the big test which will cast you in one fateful direction or another? Test anxiety is a worry and dread about test performance, which can be triggered by “the big day.” The importance one places on the test (which may or may not be a high-stakes test) can create proportionate test anxiety, but the trigger to anxiety is usually performance and/or judgment on the test itself.

How detrimental to your potential test score are anxiety, lack of concentration, etc? At Test Prep New York, we’ve seen clients with test anxiety whose scores improved 30 percent when they addressed their anxiety issues. The hard-science research indicates a student’s score can be compromised anywhere from 12 to 35 percent as a result of test anxiety. This means the difference between a disappointing score and a solid, high score.

Couldn’t test anxiety be a good thing, before the test, for instance, because it tells you that you aren’t prepared? How do you keep a specific test-related anxiety from developing into a generalized anxiety? Anxiety could indicate that you know you aren’t ready for the test—but that is not all it indicates. It can be larger than that. Anxiety indicates that something about the test is making you have fear. Is it fear of being judged? Is it fear of not performing to one’s potential? Or is it just an old fear of test-taking recycled into this new experience? The “easy” answer for how to prevent specific test-related anxiety from getting worse and/or developing into a more serious expression of anxiety that can be triggered by a specific event, or into a generalized anxiety, is to confront it. We usually advise behavior modification therapy. This includes, but is not limited to, hypnosis, guided visualization, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Sound Therapy, Reiki, and a host of other methods. Some of the methods that TPNY offers are short-term, but we also offer lifestyle-based methods (meditation, prayer and yoga), depending on the client’s needs. Other anxiety relief methods are very long term, such as psychotherapeutic work.

Why can’t I just take anti-anxiety meds for a brief period before the test and stop after I take it? Isn’t a short-sighted, short-term solution better than failing the test? Medication does not prevent a student from failing. Test Prep New York provides holistic solutions that give our clients the ability to achieve a true sense of confidence. Medication creates a false sense of confidence and may also lead to harmful side effects—you are, in fact, artificially changing your brain chemistry. Medication can also slow down the recall process which is a critical detriment to test taking, while our methods enhance recall ability. TPNY’s solutions are long lasting and empowering. We provide the best alternative to anti-anxiety medication; tools and techniques to modify behavior and calm the mind naturally. Lasting life style changes and continued relief from anxiety are the results that TPNY’s programs offer. Popping a pill before the test could never do that. We discourage the use of medication to solve a problem that can be easily solved holistically and naturally. This is important because when you don’t address the stimulus or behavior associated with the anxiety, it will likely return unless there are real behavioral changes. Ultimately, the anxious test taker has experienced their anxiety before; and our programs help identify what works best for them.

Say I’ve never finished a timed essay-writing section in my entire life and I’m certain I won’t on test day. I’m worried that I’ll be consumed by anxiety about this before, during and after the actual section. How would you advise me? First, we all attract and create our own reality. The more you’re worried about being ‘consumed’ by anxiety, the more likely you’ll create that as a part of your reality. Once we find out what ‘form’ your anxiety takes—is it something you obsess about, or is it something you’re merely worried about, etc.—we find ways to create an alternative and believable scenario. The inquiry might involve unpacking and understanding why you didn’t finish these timed sections in the past (was it how you did the writing, was it not being prepared, etc.) and then identifying a better behavior to achieve your end result – through practicing writing essays and becoming accustomed to the timing you’re dealing with to shifting your mindset. The goal is to defuse the situation by imagining that things can be different, and to create a new reality that is believable and achievable. In the lingo of integrated coaching, we might do time-line therapy, hypnosis, reframing, guided visualization, etc. Many coaches, experts and doctors promote visualization techniques: visualize yourself achieving your goal along with the desired feelings and emotions that come from accomplishing those goals.

Do you suggest these kinds of techniques for test takers, too? Visualizing success on a test is not as easy as seeing yourself sink a free throw or cross a finish line. This is an absolutely effective way of helping to achieve your goal; even Olympian Sean White does it! It is as easy as seeing yourself performing a physical feat. The mind cannot always tell the difference between things imagined and things that are real. So, imagining taking the test, performing your best, and receiving the score is a great start to manifest peak performance. But that is not all, and there are many effective ways to create an optimal mindset. TPNY creates solutions for each student depending on his/her unique needs.

Can you give a brief example of a technique you use in coaching test-takers? A moment ago we talked about visualization. A technique used in conjunction with this is called anchoring. An anchor is a triggering experience that reminds us of something. For example, a tune might remind us of a place, person or event; a touch or smell can bring back a memory or a past state of being. Anchors work automatically and you might not even be aware of what the triggers are. With a client, TPNY creates an anchor by producing a stimulus that calls forth a desired state of mind, both through thoughts and emotions.

For example, we can condition the touching of the middle finger to the thumb to elicit a feeling of calm control. We first access the desired state (resource state) then pair it to the anchor. Once this anchor is established, we would activate the anchor so that the resourceful state occurs—in this case, generating a feeling of calm control.

Test Prep New York sees many clients who don’t suffer from anxiety, but who find nevertheless that a method such as anchoring helps give them an edge in taking a test. Our expert tutors are trained to promote positive reinforcement and identify unhelpful and debilitating symptoms in students who need to work on their mindset beyond mastery of content and strategy.

Most people have some anxiety when it comes to tests. How can someone tell if they have an abnormal amount of anxiety? What is an abnormal amount of anxiety? Anxiety and excitement feel very similar. These emotions produce, in small amounts, a feeling of increased energy, confidence, focus and commitment. A moderate amount of this feeling is normal prior to a test and can actually enhance performance. However, to consistently reach that very beneficial anxiety level is very difficult— because too little and you won’t feel it, and too much will limit one’s ability to function normally on the test. Rather than label a client’s anxiety as “abnormal,” we provide techniques to identify any emotion that is not beneficial or helpful. We coach them to transform any level of dread, regret, low self-esteem, worry, nervousness or feeling of diminished performance due to the negative feelings or anxiety, into the best emotive mindsets, such as feeling of being optimistic, focused, and ready to tackle the test.

To see the original article, learn about our GMAT positive Mindset practices, classes and products, write me at director(at)testprepny(dot)com and….go here: http://bit.ly/buhbyeanxiety

To learn about a class to deal with GMAT and Anxiety: mindflowclass(dot)com
We currently offer this class in NYC. It’s worth the trip here, as students have improved up to 40% on their Reading Comp performance (but the average is 13% improvement)
To experience some theraputic music and exercises designed to help with anxiety (the only product of it’s kind) http://bit.ly/GMATanxietygone

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Your Guide to a 750 on the GMAT

November 2, 2011 By testprepny

Although there’s no magical trick to getting a 750 on your test (bummer), there are some simple actions you can take to make it happen.  By incorporating the following tips into your test prep regiment, you’ll be taking your first real steps to a killer test score and, one day, that corner office.

  • Take a practice test: This may seem obvious, but taking a practice test can get you familiar with the material, the format and, most importantly, your strengths and weaknesses. And don’t be stingy: plan on taking ALL the GMAC tests, and suss out some good quality 3rd party tests. There is NO substitute for real tests, though, so plan on taking these at the beginning …and towards the end of your study. They are reliable. Taking them in the beginning also provides a baseline score. If you’re able to suss out what your needs are ( or ask a professional) that is your best bet in streamlining your efforts.
  • Identify strengths and weakness: Identify and assess the areas where you struggle and what needs the most work. While this can be painful, it allows you to hone in on what needs the most work and where you’re looking pretty good. Considering time is of the essence, you’ll be armed with the information you’ll need to maximize your study sessions.
  • Develop an action plan: Once you have your weaknesses identified, you can develop an action plan that focuses on reversing them. My suggestion would be setting up a study schedule or a staggered study-map. To do so, set aside a week and designate study-time for each weakness on varying days. Focus on one weakness in your first session, then switch to a different one in your next. This can keep your studying fresh and your mind from being overloaded by multiple issues in one day, and, in one subject area for each week. If it feels redundant, mix it up and switch your days around. Juggle and see what works best for you and repeat as you build towards the test. The most important thing is you are addressing any shortcomings you have and building good study habits. It will pay dividends in the end, believe me!
  • Make sure you’re building content then speed. The ONLY area you can build speed quickly, ironically, is reading (see our mindflowclass.com). Once you know the building blocks of all the other question types, then get down and dirty: work with speed. Our program uses quizzes and homework online that are timed: you’re able to see how long you’re spending on each question and what the average student spends while doing the very same question. Ultimately this is your personal marathon: so do your best to train for speed. You can do it!

 

For more study strategy tips and information, visit our website at www.testprepny.com.

 

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Beat your test through more play!?!

October 25, 2011 By testprepny

Test prep is intense and draining work. You know, you’ve been there. Here’s something else you should know: it doesn’t have to be, and, even better, it’s actually in your best interest to let your hair down (not literally, especially if you’re lacking) from time to time and cut loose—it’ll yield positive results.

And this goes for ANY test, not just the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, USMLE, etc. ANY test you can improve your odds of doing well, but giving your mind time to integrate the information you’ve learned by refraining from, well, learning.

Contrary to the “just bury your nose in the books” method, breaking up your test preparation with healthy activity and play can actually revamp and revitalize your study efforts. It’s been proven that an over-taxed and over-burdened mind is less likely to retain information after a certain point. So, while this over-saturation level varies person-to-person, you should know that prolonged study doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll remember all the information and could in fact become overkill.

 

Try mixing in some healthy activity—go for a jog, catch a movie, read a good book. Whatever you do, be sure to pamper yourself and engage the parts of your mind that aren’t being utilized during study. Having some good old fashioned fun can go a long way in getting you that top score. Just don’t go overboard, you crazy kids!

For more study strategy tips and information, visit our website at www.testprepny.com.

 

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So, SAT Reading Scores a Record Low: whatcha going to do about it

September 22, 2011 By testprepny

Reading scores have plummeted according to reports from the College Board, and various news outlets, such as this streamlined press release from Fox News:  http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/14/sat-reading-scores-fall-to-lowest-level-on-record/#ixzz1Y5XBJr5V

Even Conan O’Brian made a quip tonight about it, however in my post-work-day, half-attention mode I didn’t quite get all of it, but know it was something like, ‘We be flunkin’ the Reading peeps’.

So what is the high school junior and senior headed into the October SAT to do? Or even the GMAT, GRE, LSAT and MCAT test taker to think about? I mean, we’ve all been reading since the 2nd grade or earlier. That was when we first learned to string words together into sentences, sentences into paragraphs…but that was also the LAST time we learned to read. What’s up with that? Think about it.

You may have picked up some fancy vocabulary words, and even deconstructed a complex sentence or two…but when was the last time you learned to read any differently than word after word? That thing your eyes do as they move from right to left across the page? That is a skill that has been relatively untapped, So: what to do about it? Buff up your reading.

Now, you may wonder how to Buff up your reading, it’s super easy. It just takes direction and practice. The organ that really reads is the brain and the eyes provide the pathway of material to the brain. The eyes can move way faster than we push them to, so like any other calisthenics goal, the eyes need to be trained too. So lets get busy.

Once the eyes are trained to move faster from word to word, line to line, your brain will work faster too. Check-out these great sites to help get your reading up to speed:
http://accelareader.com/ this site allows you to put in your own text and you determine how fast you’ll read it.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/reasy/ is another great ‘add on’ which demonstrates how fast you can really digest information. In fact: 1000 words a minute is a breeze.

But you don’t always have the convenience of an app or site to help you read material faster, so you’ll need to go the manual route. Start by figuring out how fast you read, NOW.  Time yourself for a minute, reading for comprehension, without feeling the speed perse. Just regular, ordinary reading. Then count the words. You now have an accurate account of your speed  - – or at least a number within the range of your speed. If you’re like most people, your speed will be between 150 – 250 wpm. Next, try out the above sites and see how your brain can take in WAY more information. Set the speed for 500 – then 1000. You’ll likely be able to understand everything with ease.

Important to note that increasing your speed does not compromise comprehension, but in fact, can improve it, thus gaining an edge over the completion.  When students learn the proper methods to read SAT, GMAT, GRE, LSAT or MCAT essays faster – they consistently improve their test scores.

Given the record number of people applying to college and grad school (business, law and medical school) today gaining any additional edge is important.  .
Clearly learning how to speed-read, learning test-taking strategy (unique to your test) and having a positive mindset are very important tools and all three easy to obtain.   Interested in learning how?   Check out Mindflowclass.com – – the ONLY class available to improve your test score by upgrading – and updating –  your reading skills.

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How to Improve your GMAT Score, yeah, I’m talking to you non-native (or native) English speaker…

September 3, 2011 By testprepny

At TPNY we focus on tests and academics — and at this crucial time in the GMA test taking cycle, we want to give non-native and English speakers some insight into the GMAT and best methods to ‘beat the GMAT.’
For starters, there are three things we recommend for students to get a top score.)
1. To see if you should study alone, with a tutor or with a group, we have a questionnaire on our site to help students figure this out: http://testprepny.com/pages/test_gmat.htm
2. Identify your learning style: knowing your proclivities and YOUR best way to learn, will be a huge asset to you. Again, we have a quiz on our site to figure this out: http://testprepny.com/
and
3. Identify where you fall in the spectrum of English knowledge – - and how well you can identify the difference between spoken and formal written English (which is what the GMAT tests.)
In terms of (3) above, there is little denying that the verbal material is often the most troubling for most non-native English test takers, with the Verbal, is also the most difficult section to improve ones score.
We break GMAT test-takers down into three categories:
(a) Native English Speakers who are avid readers (they may read more literature and well written material – - including the Economist, Journals, etc.)
(b) Native Englih Speakers who are casual readers (they may limit their reading to trade material, ‘pulp fiction’, and newspapers, etc..)
(c) Non Native English Speakers
Everyone we work with takes a diagnostic as well as quizzes to identify where they fall on the English spectrum. From these, we coach them on how much they can trust their verbal instincts and how much they will need to strictly follow grammar rules – - in spite of what their instinct tells them.
The other thing we provide is a GMAT-specific course that includes speed-reading and positive mindset. This course also winds up being a great value for students because most native and non-native English speakers could use improved speed AND comprehension. Our class provides these valuable skills.
With math, the issue is less a language issue, and likely individual to each of you.

That said, a diagnostic test will reveal your strengths and weaknesses – - you would need to address that in a focused manner.

SO: we suggest these resources above, or others like them. This protocol and resources will help you improve their score by working smarter, not harder.

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Timing issues on your GMAT, GRE, LSAT or SAT holding you back? Fear no more…

August 28, 2011 By testprepny

Timing issues sometimes become the culprit beyond multiplication tables or rate questions. Usually, the problem exists on the Reading Comprehension, which can make your entire verbal section suffer.

As a response to this, we’ve created MindFlow, a speed reading course which is specific to high stakes standardized tests, like the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, SAT and ACT. If you’re in NYC, you’re welcome to come, (see mindflowclass.com) but if not, here are some habits you’ll want to change in order to get into the best test-taking machine-mind-mode.

1. Stop reading to yourself. Yes. That which you learned in 3rd grade will no longer work if you want ultimate comprehension in the least amount of time. Silence those inner voices in your head.

2. Don’t get it? Keep reading. We lose 33.3% of our time just because we go back and read something that we realized we weren’t paying attention to or couldn’t pronounce. Let’s make this real: that is 20 minutes for every hour you lose by going back, and regressing. If you find you’re slowing down, and going back trying to pronounce something, see (1).

3. Don’t fixate. It’s the 80-20 rule. Chances are you won’t be tested on it. 80% of what you need is in a mere 20% of the passage. You don’t need to know that technical term or difficult word, you merely need to know how it functions in the passage as a whole, and where to find it if you need to look for it.

So: Sign up for MindFlow here and Get Busy!

Any questions, contact me directly!

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Get your mind lean, fit and ready for test season!

July 25, 2011 By testprepny

Summer’s winding down (well, on the other side of the hump at least) and that means test-season will soon be in full harvest…cue the screeching tires.

Sorry for that, I didn’t mean to get your heart-rate up to unhealthy levels, but if I did, maybe that’s the point. Test-Anxiety is a real and scary thing—click here to read an interview I did on its pitfalls http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/vcm/detail?id=48791. But don’t worry, I’m not here only as a bearer of bad news. Quite to the contrary, I want to help you navigate some of the pre-anxiety you might feel as those tests inch closer. Just check out the some the information below and let’s start building up your anti-anxiety antibodies.

You are your own best weapon: That’s right, the work starts with you. Beyond learning and mastering content, Test Prep New York focuses on a holistic mental enhancement regiment to help you get a top-score. In laymen’s terms, that means we realize empowerment starts with and through you. Whether it’s meditation, relaxation strategy or even hypnosis (you are getting sleepy) you can work to build your own mental defense against the doubt that conspires to slow you—and we can help you do that.

Pills? Not a chance: To the point that was raised above, some test-takers seek outside options to cool nerves on test-day, and I’m here to say, nay, shout, “DO NOT!” Not only can it be counterproductive, it can be dangerous. In his new book Anatomy of an Epidemic, journalist Robert Whitaker investigates and documents a growing faction in the medical community that believes anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications can cause serious damage to users and their brain chemistry. Sure, that’s pretty bleak, but if you’re tempted to pop a pill to stay calm on test-day, chances are you’re taking an unnecessary risk—plus, look at my first point…you can beat this on your own! (again, here’s a link to my piece on test-anxiety: http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/vcm/detail?id=48791.)

Relax: Yeah, I’ve been hitting you off with some pretty sobering stuff here, but the truth is the best way to beat back test-anxiety is to learn how to activate your own relaxation faculties and abilities. So, think about it: when are you most relaxed? Visualization—training your mind to see and feel that relaxed state—is a powerful tool in the calming department and can go a long way in grounding you.

Breathe: Did you know simple breathing exercises—slow, rhythmic inhalations—can soothe even the jumpiest nerves? Yeah, I know, awesome! But seriously, taking a second to catch your breath can bring more oxygen to the brain, which in turn relaxes your nerve center and sends signals to the rest of the body to just relax—it certainly can help…BUT, I should stress it will likely only provide temporary relief. Test-anxiety often requires multiple methods of treatment to right.

If the tactics above don’t work for you or you fear you might suffer from some of the test-related stress detailed in this blog, please contact us at Test Prep New York. Either myself or my staff will work to help you not only achieve your top score, but also develop a positive mind strategy that will have you burying your test-anxiety once and for all (please, no flowers)!

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3 Tips to Reduce GMAT (and any test)Test Anxiety

July 12, 2011 By testprepny

Tests don’t only measure what you know or how well you know it; tests also measure how well you take them.

For a majority of test takers, the mere thought of an upcoming exam can elicit anything from minor irritation or a feeling of fogginess on details to a spasmodic explosion of dread and complete immobilization; picture a deer in headlights.

If you have experienced any of these reactions, chances are you suffer from test anxiety. Anxiety stems from a variety of causes, but most commonly from a belief that we cannot fulfill our expectations. An estimated 30-35% of college students are handicapped by test anxiety. According to research published in the journals, Review of Educational Research, Contemporary Educational Psychology and Educational Psychology, test anxiety can impede test performance by as much as 12 percentile points.

Taking care of anxiety is much more than ‘studying more’ or ‘breathing deep’. It’s addressing the symptoms with proven techniques to help you get on your game. You’re in luck: Test Prep New York is to GMAT test takers what sports psychologists are to athletes.

For the GMAT, best results come from a comprehensive and aggressive study program integrated with holistic techniques to prepare you mentally, emotionally and physically for the test. Performing at your optimum means knowing the material and feeling confident, calm, focused, and alert.

Follow the three key tips below to draw on your mental, psychological, and intuitive strengths. By using these techniques, you will develop the retention and recall, concentration and focus, confidence and relaxation necessary for peak performance on test day. But you don’t need to stop there. There are literally hundreds of techniques you can use to get into your best headspace to perform your best.

1. Create a schedule for the duration of your study. Include designated time for study, exercise, social interaction and downtime. Schedule at least 6 hours of sleep. We also encourage at least 10 minutes a day for meditation, prayer, or quiet time. Your brain works best when it has time to process information. It needs time when you’re not studying or thinking about GMAT material. You also avoid burnout with a balanced schedule.

2. Hire your inner Trump and fire your inner critic. Eliminate self-judgment, especially if it leans towards self-flagellation. If you continue to feel shame and dejection because a third grade math teacher said you’d never be good at math, maybe you can think of the ways, now, as an adult, you ARE good at math. Remember: the GMAT tests what you learned in seventh through ninth grade, not rocket science. You might want to check out some EFT videos on YouTube (we’ll have one up there soon!)

3. Visualize success.Imagine: It’s test day and you feel comfortable, prepared, and relaxed. This visualization exercise prepares your brain to feel that way on the REAL test day. Spend at least five minutes at a time imagining different details about taking the test. Notice you answer each question with clarity and preciseness. Your visualization scene doesn’t need to be the same each time, but you need to tap into a sense of accomplishment, calm, and confidence. Do this every morning and before bedtime.

Researchers at Stanford and University of Chicago evaluated the efficacy of visualization. They compared two sets of basketball players. The first group practiced playing whereas the second group only imagined practicing. The players who didn’t physically practice, but visualized peak performance, improved 23 -30 percent in their actual basket-shooting ability, whereas the students who physically practiced saw little improvement. GMAT test-takers who prepare themselves beyond the intellectual practice by feeling positive and preparing themselves wholly, perform best on the test.

Because we’re smack dab in GMAT prep season, this is a courtesy reconfiguring of an earlier blog…

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