Our highest aspirations and most trivial goals alike often feel just out of reach, attainable only through the most magical expression of our best effort. One good day, we think, could make any of us a winner.
But that’s not how people win. Victory over obstacles, opponents, and adversity occurs over a long campaign of effort and accomplishment. Your best test score depends on much more than one good day–you actually need to elevate the best you start with to a higher level. How does that happen?
Practice does not necessarily make perfect. Imperfect practice only makes imperfect technique and outcomes permanent.
Deliberate practice is the path to excellence, one step at a time. In the context of test preparation, this type of practice differs from the less effective forms of practice many of us settle for in four important ways:
- You must want and be willing to work towards higher scores.
- You need a personalized program that focuses on your specific abilities, learning style, and goals.
- You must be willing to take frequent high-quality practice tests to assess incremental improvement in different areas of the test.
- You need to work with someone qualified to provide specific feedback on your performance.
Deliberate practice begins with your best effort and helps you become better. So, whatever you do, begin at the beginning: To get better, start by giving your best.
Mike Bergin