Burnout. After the pandemic, it's a phenomenon on everyone's mind regardless of the arena. Even before anyone had heard the word "COVID", though, burnout was a common concern among test preppers. At a certain point, it can be difficult to maintain momentum on your test prep journey. This post is going to address the common symptoms of GRE (and by extension GMAT) burnout and how to overcome burnout if you do experience it.

Avoiding Burnout

The first thing to realize is that burnout can occur at any point, but generally I recommend grad school candidates limit their prep to four months of continuous, strenuous study. If the level of study is more intermittent, it can endure for a somewhat longer period of time. However, no one should require more than six months of prep if that prep is consistent.

The best way to proactively avoid burnout is by committing to attempting your first official test date after three months of regular practice regardless of if your score is or is not reaching your target score. Set a deadline! There is no negative to having multiple GRE attempts on your application. In reality, showing improvement over time can actually tell a compelling story to an admissions committee. By continually delaying your first attempt you only guarantee that you'll eventually suffer from test prep burnout.

Another way to avoid burnout is to take a break if you find yourself plateauing or regressing in practice exam scores. And by a break, I mean at least two weeks. Once you take that break, consider a change in your prep methodology. If you've been solely a self-prepper, consider a prep course or tutor. If you've taken a self-paced course, consider a different provider or one-on-one instruction. If you've been relying only on official ETS texts, consider a third-party prep resource. Switching up your approach can be a great way to sidestep the scourge of burnout.

Overcoming Burnout

OK. You're burnt out. You've been working on hundreds, if not thousands of practice problems and haven't reached your target score. Maybe, you're even seeing your practice scores go backwards. What now!??

• Step 1 - Rest | Take at least 2-4 weeks off from your practice problems
• Step 2 - Continue Your Vocabulary Review | Keep yourself connected to the exam to avoid abandoning it entirely
• Step 3 - Plan a 2-4 Month Prep Calendar | Set a realistic schedule of weekly practice and regular practice exams
• Step 4 - Find a New Prep Resource | Variety is the spice of life and of GRE prep too!
• Step 5 - Set a Test Date | Set a deadline based on your admissions calendar

Of course, there is no guaranteed approach to defeating burnout, but one guaranteed way to encourage it is by forcing cram sessions in the face of exhaustion. Remember that the best way to study for the GRE (or GMAT) is with 30-90 minutes of practice a day, and that the fastest path to burnout is racing through hundreds of questions in 20-40 hours of practice in a single week!