Breaks during the MCAT

[hellohelpwithfuture]

During the 10 min breaks are we allowed to eat?

Is our food placed in a different location than the rest of our personal belongings?

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[initialize]

Yes, and no


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[frosted2]

Mine was in a locker. I had to raise my hand, get signed out and then sign back in within 10 minutes. Depends on how slow the proctor is that checks you in/out and how slow every other test taker who might be in front of you is as well.
If you have the ability to inhale food without getting sick, run to grab it, then eat it on the way back to check in!

 

[Zenabi90]

During the 10 min breaks are we allowed to eat?

Is our food placed in a different location than the rest of our personal belongings?

My personal experience:
You're allowed to do whatever you want provided you don't leave the space (except for restroom), you don't talk exam specifics (people may have accommodations for extra time or progressing at different pace), and don't use your phone.

Things I did on my breaks
-Pee. Even if I didn't feel the urge. One less thing to worry about. Being male, it's a quick process. Plus forced me to walk and get out of the stressful space.
-Eat. Easy things to eat that are "guaranteed" to not give you stomach issues. For me, that meant small green-ish bananas and clif bars. My center had issues with ants so I was glad for small, sealed things.
-Drink. Bring your own water. Again, ants were all up in the water dispenser too. I had water and a small 16oz Gatorade (old athlete habits).
-Stretch/exercise: eye exercises to relieve computer-related strain (alternate between looking at a closer object and something much farther away out the window), back and hip stretches, shoulder and neck rotations, and jumping jacks to keep blood moving.
-Breathing exercises/meditation for relaxation and focus.

Yes, I did all of those on every single break. 10 minutes is a ton of time.

 

[frosted2]

My personal experience:
You're allowed to do whatever you want provided you don't leave the space (except for restroom), you don't talk exam specifics (people may have accommodations for extra time or progressing at different pace), and don't use your phone.

Things I did on my breaks
-Pee. Even if I didn't feel the urge. One less thing to worry about. Being male, it's a quick process. Plus forced me to walk and get out of the stressful space.
-Eat. Easy things to eat that are "guaranteed" to not give you stomach issues. For me, that meant small green-ish bananas and clif bars. My center had issues with ants so I was glad for small, sealed things.
-Drink. Bring your own water. Again, ants were all up in the water dispenser too. I had water and a small 16oz Gatorade (old athlete habits).
-Stretch/exercise: eye exercises to relieve computer-related strain (alternate between looking at a closer object and something much farther away out the window), back and hip stretches, shoulder and neck rotations, and jumping jacks to keep blood moving.
-Breathing exercises/meditation for relaxation and focus.

Yes, I did all of those on every single break. 10 minutes is a ton of time.

/Thread.
@Zenaboi90 covered everything you need to know hahahha

 

[Examkrackers]

Make sure if you're someone who tends to get psyched out during conversations with other people, try to take your lunch break alone/make it clear to others in the room you're eating in that you do not want to talk. You wouldn't want to get most of the way through a test just to have your lunchtime conversation with a fellow test taker psych you out. While you are prohibited from talking about the test, other types of conversation topics (e.g. extra curriculars, shadowing, volunteering, schools one is thinking of applying to, etc.) can still cause unexpected anxiety during the test.