👋 Hello, my friends at GRE Prep Club!

If you have ever found yourself slipping into negative self-talk while preparing for the GRE, you are not alone. Every test taker experiences moments of doubt. What matters is how you respond to those thoughts. Recognizing when your self-talk is working against you is the first step toward changing it.

A simple and effective exercise is to keep a journal of what I call hazardous attitudes. Each time you notice a thought that undermines your confidence, write it down on the left side of the page. On the right side, write a restatement of that thought that is both realistic and constructive. This practice trains you to recognize limiting beliefs and replace them with healthier ones.

Here are a few examples of how you can restate hazardous attitudes:

Hazardous Attitude: I did not do well on the SAT, so why would I do well on the GRE?

Restatement: The past does not have to predict the future. I can determine what needs to change and take steps to succeed on the GRE.

Hazardous Attitude: I cannot compete in the quant section with students from other countries.

Restatement: Students who excel in quant have worked hard to build those skills. If I work with the same dedication, I can build strong quantitative skills too.

Each time you catch yourself in a hazardous attitude, pause and perform this restatement exercise. The more you do it, the more natural it will become. Over time, you will begin to notice a shift in how you view the GRE, the study process, and yourself as a learner.

This shift is important because mindset affects performance. By training yourself to respond to self-doubt with constructive reframing, you reduce anxiety and create space for focus and persistence. GRE preparation is not only about mastering content but also about learning to manage the mental side of the process. Journaling your self-talk is one way to ensure that your mindset supports your effort rather than working against it.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GRE prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep