The Dominate Test Prep Podcast - 32. Should You Retake Your Exam?

32. Should You Retake Your Exam?

10/13/20 • 26 min

You've invested time, effort, and money preparing for and taking your standardized test, and unfortunately the first attempt didn't quite go as planned. So, what now? Should you retake it? Or just apply with the score you have?
The answer to those questions isn't quite as straightforward as it may seem. Even if you were assured of improving the next time around, a higher score may not be necessary to get you accepted to your target program(s). There's a lot to consider when thinking about retaking your exam, and we break it all down for you in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast. Specifically, we run through the five (5) key questions you need to ask yourself to help decide whether taking the test again makes sense for you:

What's likely to change this time around?
Was there anything abnormal about your first testing experience?
How likely are you to actually improve your score (what do the statistics say)?
How many times have you already taken it?
Do you have any alternatives?

We shed light on all of these questions -- and more -- so that by the end of this episode, you will have a strong sense of whether or not to give it another go. Enjoy!
RESOURCES

A DOSE OF MOTIVATION
"I never lose; I either win or learn." -- Nelson Mandela

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What's likely to change this time around?
Was there anything abnormal about your first testing experience?
How likely are you to actually improve your score (what do the statistics say)?
How many times have you already taken it?
Do you have any alternatives?

We shed light on all of these questions -- and more -- so that by the end of this episode, you will have a strong sense of whether or not to give it another go. Enjoy!
RESOURCES

A DOSE OF MOTIVATION
"I never lose; I either win or learn." -- Nelson Mandela

Connect with Us

Get more free content on the DTP YouTube Channel
Register for a comprehensive prep course (GMAT Exam, Executive Assessment, GRE, LSAT, SAT)
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected].

Previous Episode

31. Do's and Don'ts for Reviewing Your Practice Results [Mailbag]

In this "Mailbag Monday" edition of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast, we answer the following question submitted by Anne:
"It seems kind of silly but how much time do you suggest people spend looking over questions they got wrong or even questions they got right?"
It's not a silly question, Anne. Quite to the contrary, practice is a key component of preparing well for your standardized test, and a big part of effective practice is reviewing your results and learning from your mistakes. How do you do that? I share three thoughts in this week's show including my "L-M-H Technique" that you can use when doing blocks of practice problems or taking practice tests to help narrow your focus during your review sessions and ensure that you're in a better position to get more right answers the next time around. Enjoy!
Note: If you discover that part of the reason you're getting questions wrong is due to careless errors, be sure to listen to Episode 11 where we share nine ways to avoid making careless errors.
CONTACT
Do you have questions you'd like us to answer on a future "Mailbag Monday" segment? Or general questions about our prep courses or other aspects of the application process?
Please reach out to us directly, here: https://www.dominatetestprep.com/pages/contact-us.
We look forward to hearing from you!
A DOSE OF MOTIVATION
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." -- Winston Churchill

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Get more free content on the DTP YouTube Channel
Register for a comprehensive prep course (GMAT Exam, Executive Assessment, GRE, LSAT, SAT)
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Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected].

Next Episode

33. How to Get Started Again if Something Derails Your Prep [Mailbag]

Life happens. No matter how hard you try to stay consistent with your test preparation, sometimes you get sidetracked and need to figure out how to get going again. Indeed, that's the question at the heart of this week's Mailbag Monday episode, as submitted by Jayant:
"What do I do if something derails my prep? How do I reset and get started again?"
In this episode I share a 5-part plan to help you get back on track -- and stay on track -- so that you can put your exam in the rearview mirror once and for all. Whether it's only been a few days or several months since you last sat down to study, the process for jumpstarting your prep is the same. By the end of this show you'll have a workable plan of action and specific strategies to keep you working powerfully toward your goals. Enjoy!
Note: As referenced during this episode, be sure to also listen to Episode 25 of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast for more on "How to Find the Motivation to Study."
Questions? Comments? Reach out to us directly at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!
A DOSE OF MOTIVATION
“Pain goes away. But the pride of knowing you gave it everything? That’ll stick with you forever.” — Mat Fraser, 5x CrossFit Games champion

Connect with Us

Get more free content on the DTP YouTube Channel
Register for a comprehensive prep course (GMAT Exam, Executive Assessment, GRE, LSAT, SAT)
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected].