GRE & MATH ANXIETY...HELP!!!

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Hi,

I am a senior in college, and I'm currently studying for the GRE, which I'm scheduled to take at the beginning of Sept this year.

I've been studying with some of Kaplan's software...and so far I have taken 3 Quantitative (math) Practice Tests. As I progress, my math is getting worse. The last test I took, I got 9 right and 21 wrong. When you're a math genius, it must be funny (or pathetic) to be reading my results. I also find that I never finish on time, so I usually have to make wild guesses on the last 3-5 questions because Kaplan says it's better to answer the questions than leave them blank.

I need to know how to fight this. I've had math anxiety ever since middle school. I was always in "honors" or one year ahead of grade, but I struggled through it all. Now that I'm an adult, I still feel defeated every time I face a math question. I will admit that I get overwhelmed and actually sometimes shed a few tears...why? Because my inability to excel in math is an insult to my intelligence, and my intelligence is definitely near the top of the list when it comes to my values and self-esteem.

I came into all of the GRE practice math with a clear head and a positive mind, but as I keep going, I feel like I'm back in calculus again...staring down at my textbook while tears rain down onto the pages. I was proactive about this whole situation by even checking out books from the library about math anxiety, but they surely didn't help.

When it comes down to it, I don't know how to beat:

1. The clock (I only have about 30 some minutes to solve 30 problems on the GRE)
2. The overwhelming feeling when I have NO IDEA how to solve a problem. Every answer counts on this test

Why I'm so worried about this is that the GRE will affect my future and where I will be accepted. I really don't know what to do. I keep "trying" by practicing and practicing (I even use a whiteboard to re-write problems over and over again), but I'm not improving. I know I can't give up, but

I definitely need help.

Please, someone...I need your advice.

Thanks,
Bethany
 
"2. The overwhelming feeling when I have NO IDEA how to solve a problem. Every answer counts on this test "

Is that during a test only?
If you were by yourself at home, no pressure, would you be able
to solve these problems?
 
bethany said:
When you're a math genius, it must be funny (or pathetic) to be reading my results.

I need to know how to fight this.

Because my inability to excel in math is an insult to my intelligence, and my intelligence is definitely near the top of the list when it comes to my values and self-esteem.
Click to expand...
Funny or pathetic: First, only foolish math geniuses will laugh at you or find you pathetic. Most math geniuses I have met are decent, kind folks, so just relax on that point. People want to help.

Fighting anxiety is a matter of calming down and organizing. You CAN develop sequential methodologies that will help you solve problems. You CAN learn a couple of things that will help you get started and you never will have to feel that you have no idea, or you will discover that having no idea is just fine and you can proceed anyway. Example: If I live in New York, and wish to drive to Los Angeles without a map, I would start with absolutely no idea which roads to take. But if I just get in the car and start driving west, I think I could figure it out.

Insulting Your Intelligence: This one is easy. Just quit it. You do not need to feel bad about anything. Recent research and theory concerning intelligence COMPLETELY frees you from such concerns. Read it for yourself: (It's just a brief slide show, but you can do an internet search and find literally millions of pages on "Types of Intelligence") http://www.sewanee.edu/Education/webfol ... sld001.htm
No one, I repeat, NO ONE is richly endowed in ALL AREAS of intelligence. It just means you may need to work a little harder on the math stuff. It does NOT mean you are stupid, so just quit feeling inadequate. You CAN learn some minimum level of functionality that will allow you to accomplish what you need in your life.

Rule #1 - If there is no penalty for guessing, putting SOMETHING is better than leaving blank.

Rule #2 - VERY OFTEN, you can eliminate one or two answers, making your "guess" more effective.

Rule #3 - Don't sit and stew. If you "have no idea" how to proceed, move on to the next one, but don't forget to come back to it. Maybe later problems will warm you up and you'll do better on the second reading. Let your subconscious mind work for you while you are off doing other things. (You can read up on "Jules Poincare" for that important theory.)

Rule #4 - Don't sit and stew. If you KNOW that you can't figure it out, guess and move on. If you have time, you may wish to reconsider it.

Rule #5 - Don't be intimidated. Other people may be writing furiously and doing absolutely nothing. They may be trying to psych you out. One can fail just as gloriously by writing a lot as one can by writing nothing.

So, let's get started. What are we working on first? Estimation is a popular sticking point.
 
intelligence = how fast one thinks
speed = how fast one runs

if you run the 100 yards dash in 40 seconds,do you feel bad?

Confucius (reinforced by TK): "great teacher is teachable"
 
thanks for all your replies. tk, i think you hit another one of my weak points - sitting and stewing. when i don't know 'how to get started' i lose it and ride the downward spiral of 'you're so stupid,' 'you'll always be an idiot at math.' it's true that i don't only experience this with tests, but also with my practice. my younger sister in high school has come to me a few times for help, and as soon as i open up the textbook, i get the flashbacks of failure and my throat tightens up.

i think the worst part for me is the time factor on the gre. i almost feel that every problem i face takes at least 3-5 minutes to solve (unless i get a really easy one, which would be bad because that would mean my score is going downhill!). here's a problem that is just too insane. i have to be on top of the equations i have to use, plug in all the numbers, find the solution, all in a matter of less than 60 seconds.

it's a simple probability problem...but that's exactly it...it's a PROBLEM for me!

1. Column A greater?
2. Column B greater?
3. Both Columns equal?
4. More info needed?

A deck of cards has 13 spades, 13 clubs, 13 hearts, and 13 diamonds

A
the probability of drawing two clubs, if 2 cards are withdrawn without replacement

B
1/16

Whoa.

What steps can you take to translate all of this into "math," then calculate and solve in a matter of less than 60 seconds? How do you do it? do i seriously need to sit down with flashcards? i've already made a notebook full of notes...but it feels so hopeless. maybe just bite my tongue and accept my math score? :cry:
 
It is hoped that most of the problems on the test can be solved in the allotted time. It is also quite possible that many of them have a useful methodology OTHER THAN grinding out a solution.

In this case, if you trip over one tiny thing, you'll solve it immediately.

Pr(Drawing 1 club) = 13/52 = 1/4
If you put it back, i.e. WITH replacement, then
Pr(Drawing ANOTHER club) = 1/4
This makes Pr(drawing two clubs, with repalcement) = (1/4)(1/4) = 1/16

If you DON'T put the first one back, the probability of drawing another one is LESS THAN 1/4, since there is a club missing and all the others yet remain.

(1/4)*(something less than 1/4) < 1/16 and you are done.

In fact, back in my GRE Prep Class teaching days, the most common complaint from the students was that I was "too slow". I HAD to learn to look for short cuts. That's why I didn't bother to figure out the last probability. I just needed to know it was less than or greater than 1/16.

What tipped me off on this one was the "1/16". That's kind of a weird number for decks of cards. I wondered why that number would be interesting.
 
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