Self-study
i need help! i have a problem where sometimes i get so nervous or dont know what to focus on to the point where i literally cant understanding what im reading. i read but it makes no sense. it is costing me time and points. i just lose focus and it's so bad does anyone have any tips?
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5 comments
I really struggled with this, too! There are two things that have really helped me:
I've removed my access to instagram, twitter, facebook, and pretty much any social media with reels. I was having so much trouble sitting through a practice test (or even just a 35 minute section) and my scores were SO horrible when I would make it through. Eventually, I just had to do a total detox from scrolling. Obviously, taking a mind-break every few days is ok, so I'm not saying go completely off the grid, but the further from the endless scrolling you can get, the better.
Don't study in your house. It's too easy to get distracted by a snack in the fridge, a noisy housemate (or in my case, upstairs neighbor), or the desire to log out and start watching TV. Be intentional with your study time - go to a coffee shop, library, or a million other places, treat it like that's your test environment. After I fixed the social media stuff, I was still having some trouble with increasing my score on practice tests. Eventually, I tried to study at the business center for my property, and it made a huge difference. My score literally shot up 14 points (153 -> 167) in one practice test because I was able to actually focus and apply the skills that I had spent weeks developing.
The nerves will still probably be there, but take a deep breath, trust the work you've been putting in, and go crush it! You can do this!
Hello, Kat,
These two tips are somewhat irrational but they have helped me tremendously with concentration:
Start the LR section from the end. I find the hardest answers come later in the section, and somehow, I feel motivated by having finished the last questions FIRST. The closer I get to the first questions, the easier it gets. This helps me keep my concentration.
I still struggle with conditionals and long stims, so if I see a long, conditional-heavy question, it's an instant skip. Because I have tackled all the other questions with confidence, I can focus on these harder questions later without the time pressure. I can even dedicate some time to diagramming the conditional logic. If am being completely honest, most of the times I still feel as if I am gonna get them wrong anyway, so having the extra time helps me regain some of my concentration and confidence as to try and get some extra points.
Hope this helps :)
I second this. I definitely need tips if there are any.