What’s Really Holding Your Score Back?
After 25+ years of working with test-takers, we realized something: some of the biggest problems students have aren’t related to the content of the exam at all.
They come from test anxiety, and we’ve spent the better part of a decade figuring out exactly how to coach people through it.
What is test anxiety?
Most of us know the obvious signs of test anxiety: perfectionism, racing thoughts, trouble sleeping. But it shows up in plenty of ways you might not recognize as anxiety at all: brain fog, going blank on an easy question, or simply scoring lower on test day than you do at home.
If any of these happen during your practice sets or official exams, test anxiety may already be a friend of yours. You’ve probably noticed that grinding through more practice questions doesn’t fix it.
That’s where mental performance coaching comes in. Mental skills are skills like any other, and they can be trained. Our performance coach, Erika Osherow, helps you understand your anxiety patterns, gives you practical tools to stay centered, and trains your mind to stay strong on test day, even when the pressure spikes.
Here’s how performance coaching can help.
- Your official scores don’t match your practice scores because of anxiety.
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You know the material inside out. Yet, your official scores keep coming back lower than your practice test scores, because test anxiety makes you clam up.
- We work to bridge the gap.
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Erika maps exactly what’s happening to you under pressure, then trains the skills you need to succeed under test pressure — skills like attention control, reset routines, and self-talk that works for you instead of against you.
- One hard question causes a spiral.
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Something looks unfamiliar on the test, and your mind goes blank. Precious seconds fly by. You rush to make up time. When you walk out of the exam, you know you could have done better.
- We build a mid-exam reset.
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Erika helps you create a personalized routine that allows you to reset mid-exam. You’ll learn to notice the spiral, cut it off, and refocus on the question in front of you. You practice it together until it feels completely natural.
Meet your coach, Erika.
Erika Osherow is a certified mental performance consultant (M.A., CMPC, CSCS) who has coached elite athletes, military cadets at West Point, university students, and high-pressure professionals. Think of her as a strength coach for your mind.
She specializes in helping test-takers stay calm, focused, and confident when it matters most. Drawing on sports and performance psychology tools like attention control, reset routines, self-talk work, imagery, and confidence training, Erika helps you perform on test day the way you do in practice.
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant
- Performance coach since 2016
- Published researcher in performance psychology
Offered by the hour.
- Build stronger attentional control
- Improve test-day routines
- Build a confident mindset and supportive self-talk
- Manage expectations and reduce perfectionist pressure
Proof it works, from students like you.
Contemplating Performance Coaching?
Get in touch using the form below.
Not sure whether test anxiety is what’s holding your score down? We’re happy to help you figure that out too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need test-anxiety coaching?
If your practice tests look solid but your official tests fall apart, or if you blank, rush, spiral, or lose focus under pressure, coaching is usually more effective than just doing more practice problems. Erika helps you build the mental tools to perform the way you’ve trained.
Does this work if I have ADHD or other attention challenges?
Yes. Many students with ADHD find Erika’s tools especially helpful. Coaching focuses on redirecting attention, building reset cues, and managing the internal chatter that often derails timing and accuracy.
Can I work with Erika and a GMAT Ninja tutor at the same time?
Absolutely.
Many students do both, and the two approaches complement each other beautifully. Your tutor and Erika can coordinate behind the scenes so your skills and your mindset improve together.
I already have a tutor elsewhere. Can I still work with Erika?
Yes. Erika works with students from all tutoring backgrounds. Her coaching is independent of test-content instruction and focuses on how you respond to pressure, not what you know.
How quickly will I see results?
Many students notice changes within 1–2 sessions, especially in awareness, focus, and emotional control.
Lasting improvements come from practicing the tools Erika teaches.
What exactly happens during a coaching session?
Sessions are one-on-one over video (Zoom or Google Meet).
You’ll identify your stress triggers, learn practical tools (attention control, reset routines, imagery, self-talk work), and apply them to real test scenarios. You’ll leave with exercises to practice between sessions.
Will Erika give me homework?
Yes, but only the helpful kind.
Mental training is like physical training: small, consistent reps matter. Exercises usually take 5–10 minutes a day and integrate directly into your study routine. Nothing is busywork.
Is this therapy or coaching?
Erika is a certified mental performance consultant, not a clinician. This is coaching, not therapy.
Coaching focuses on performance, attention, confidence, and test-day skills, not clinical diagnosis or treatment. If therapeutic support is needed, Erika will recommend appropriate resources.
How do I choose between tutoring and test-anxiety coaching?
If your biggest struggle is understanding the material, tutoring is the right starting point.
If your biggest struggle is performing under pressure, coaching is the missing piece.
Many students benefit from a combination of both.
What if I only want one session?
That’s fine. Hourly coaching has no minimum commitment. Starting with a single session is a great way to test the fit.
I’m not taking the GMAT. Can I still work with Erika?
Yes.
Erika coaches students preparing for the GRE, EA, LSAT, MCAT, bar exam, and other high-stakes tests. The mental tools remain the same; only the test changes.
Check out our other services.
Structured self-study with video lessons, quizzes, and live classes — the closest we could get to our tutoring in a self-paced course.
Between them, our tutors have more than a century of experience teaching these exams. Their playbook? A supportive, systematic approach to tackling your study hurdles.
Straight-shooting admissions help: we’ll tell you what your application needs, even if you won’t like the answer. Billed hourly, no bloated packages.