Worst-Case Scenarios
We hope everything will run smoothly on test day. On the
off chance that something does go wrong, keep in mind that there
is always a solution.
Scenario 1: Your test booklet is blank, missing
pages, or pages are stuck together.
Don’t panic. Just raise your hand and the proctor will
handle it.
Scenario 2: Your neighbor is coughing or fidgeting.
Don’t be polite. Raise your hand and have the proctor
move you.
Scenario 3: Your calculator stops working.
Always bring extra batteries and a backup calculator with
you. If your backup breaks too—well, the odds are pretty slim, and
even if it does, you rarely need to use your calculator
on the test.
Scenario 4: You freeze or have an anxiety or panic attack.
Take a minute or two to do the following:
- Stop what you’re doing.
- Look up from the test and out a window, if possible, or
at a poster or blackboard. Focus on that completely. Alternatively,
close your eyes and picture a beautiful, calm place you’ve been
to or even just imagined. Force yourself to breathe deeply, slowly,
and rhythmically.
- Stretch your arms and back to loosen up any tension.
- Return to what you were doing.
Scenario 5: You misgrid your answers.
Raise your hand and talk to the proctor about it. You
may or may not be allowed to regrid your test, so be careful
when filling in those tiny bubbles.
Unless something completely wacky occurs—such as you have
mono when you take the test, the power goes out, or you totally
misgrid or omit an entire section—resist the temptation to cancel
your score. Most people underestimate how well they’ve done, and
after almost four hours of high-level, adrenaline-fueled concentration,
you’ll be crashing. Most likely, canceling your score is a bad idea.
You’re allowed until the Wednesday following your test
date to cancel your score. Your biochemistry should be stable by
then, but still think long and hard about canceling what may be
a great score.
