Self-study
I've been consistently scoring in the 152-156 range on practice tests, but upon blind review I'll score 165-170. This happens to me on drills too. I'll miss several questions, then get them all right when I review. This tells me I have the knowledge that I need to perform well, but lack accuracy under time constraints. I'm sitting for the June test and need to break this cycle! Any tips?
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5 comments
This is a super common problem. I wouldn't even call it a problem -- it's more like a fundamental element of everyone's process. It's common enough, anyway, that I made a video laying out the basic basic beginnings of an answer to your question.
More detail than that requires more information about your particular case. Feel free to reply here with any follow-up questions you've got. (That goes for anyone else reading this, as well.)
@MichaelWright Hi! I have a pretty similar problem. When I do a timed PT, I go on autopilot mode and I feel like I'm not even registering what I'm working on. I do timed drills and most of the times I have enough time remaining to double check my answers. I consistently get level 4 and 5 questions right but when I do the PT, I'm stuck in Q3 or Q6.
My PT to BR gap is almost a difference of 8-10 points. I have drilled my weak question types to perfection but when I come across these question types on the PT, I overthink and I either get it wrong or spend too much time on it. This might just be test anxiety/mindset problem and I'd love to know if you have any tips that have worked for other students (besides breathing exercises :(( those have never worked that well for me).
I'm also taking the June test, aiming for a 170+, currently scoring 159-161 on the PTs and 167+ on BR.
@BT2117
@MichaelWright Thank you! Tried the speed drill today and PT/BR gap improved significantly for LR. RC, however, was a -11 PT and -3 BR. Will keep trying this method, but if you have specific tips for RC, I would greatly appreciate it!
@BT2117 RC is much the same in broad strokes. The equivalent there is to play around with set limits on how much time you spend reading vs. answering questions. Like do a passage where you're only allowed 2.5mins for your first readthrough, with 6.25mins for the Qs. Then do one where you're forced to spend 5mins just reading, with only 3.75mins for the Qs. Take a goldilocks attitude (too low, too high, etc.), where the idea isn't to immediately find your ideal balance, but instead to think through how to adapt your approach under various constraints.