The words to use
- Retrieval failure
- A blank under pressure. The knowledge is stored, but stress blocks the route to it, so rebuild a cue rather than hunting for the exact sentence.
- Reappraisal
- Relabelling nerves as excitement or readiness instead of trying to calm down. Experiments found it helped performance, with modest effects.
- Fixed point
- Something you can always return to when lost, such as the question restated, the key principle or your first argument.
- Station reset
- The short routine between MMI stations: breathe out slowly, drop your shoulders, read the next prompt twice, and leave the last station behind.
