<p>Hey, guys. Many of my October students did well on their exams, although a small percentage performed much worse (i.e., dropped 100 points or more) on the actual exam versus the diagnostics they had been taking. It can be frustrating, because I don't really know exactly why this happens sometimes. I'm here to try to figure out some good solutions to this insidious enemy. My students deserve to score their best, and it breaks my heart sometimes when they don't. I hate it.</p>
<p>So I have several questions for all of you. Did you ever score significantly lower -- 100 points or more below -- than your diagnostic (by diagnostic, I mean OFFICIAL College Board practice exam taken under realistic conditions, preferably proctored by someone else) scores leading right up to exam day? If so, why do you think this happened? Was it a case of nerves? Timing issues (e.g., did you forget to bring a timer, ran out of time, proctor timed the exam badly, etc.)? Were you discouraged by one bad section? Other causes? Or do you not really know what happened? Also, did you know right after the exam that you had performed below your expectations (e.g., did you feel you bombed the exam, etc.)?</p>
<p>I also have questions for the ones who scored significantly ABOVE their diagnostic scores -- 50 points or more higher. What do you think you did in the period leading to the exam and during the exam that helped you get such a good score? What was your mental mindset? Any rituals or techniques you performed before or during the exam? Did you actually think you would perform that well at the completion of the exam? Did you feel really good afterwards? What things set you apart from other test-takers who did not perform their best?</p>
<p>Question for all: What do you think are effective techniques to reduce test anxiety and to boost your confidence on Test Day?</p>
<p>Remember that any little details that you can post would help. I'm looking for subtle things that a good test-taker may be doing that a not-as-good one may not be.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>