coffee and MCAT

[naixin]

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I never drink coffee. I'm not an energetic person. Sometime I feel I'm sleepy especially when I take the verbal test. So I'm thinking to try coffee to help me stay alert on the practice test. But why people on this forum said they need to cut off coffee for MCAT? We can bring coffee on the test day to our locker and drink during the break, right?
What's wrong with coffee addiction/intake and MCAT?

 

[Ssina]

ppl are more worried about a coffee crash, if you get one from caffeine consumption maybe after 3/4hrz, which would be around start of bio... I personally can't function without drinking coffee in the morning, so I will try it out with practice tests and see how that goes I guess, but you can always bring M&Ms and have some right before bio for a sugar rush.... and well a total crash after the test!

 

[tima]

I poured coke into an empty water bottle and drank a little (like 1/4) during each break. I drank more during the break before the verbal section.

 

[naixin]

How long will it take effect after you drink coffee?
So if the coffee crash happens 3-4 hours after. Can I drink some right before the verbal, and then crash after 3-4 hours, which is then end of the test?

 

[SN2ed]

If you don't normally drink coffee, then don't switch it up just for the MCAT.

 

[MedPR]

Figure out if/when you crash from caffeine. If you can't go the whole 5 hours without crashing, it probably isn't the best idea.

 

[Maxine450]

I wouldn't drink coffee. You get very limited breaks as it is and they don't allow you to keep your cell phone, so you wont be able to keep track of time. Also it takes a few minutes to sign in and out. I went over my break time because of this. Trust me, you'll be awake and focused out of fear.

 

[MedPR]

I wouldn't drink coffee. You get very limited breaks as it is and they don't allow you to keep your cell phone, so you wont be able to keep track of time. Also it takes a few minutes to sign in and out. I went over my break time because of this. Trust me, you'll be awake and focused out of fear.

Did the next section automatically start? When I took my first one, I finished VR before time was up I just took a mental note of how much time remaining, added on the 10 minutes (is it 10 minute breaks? I don't even remember) of break, left the test room and took note of the time.

I took the whole time for PS, but when I returned I had to click the button to start the VR section. I figured that we were only supposed to take 10 minutes, but if we were gone longer (within reason) the next section wouldn't have started on its own.

 

[Ssina]

Did the next section automatically start? When I took my first one, I finished VR before time was up I just took a mental note of how much time remaining, added on the 10 minutes (is it 10 minute breaks? I don't even remember) of break, left the test room and took note of the time.

I took the whole time for PS, but when I returned I had to click the button to start the VR section. I figured that we were only supposed to take 10 minutes, but if we were gone longer (within reason) the next section wouldn't have started on its own.

👍

 

[Xcited392]

If you don't normally drink coffee, then don't switch it up just for the MCAT.

+1.

I used to be a coffee addict to the point where if I didn't get my second cup of joe in the day, I would start getting migraines. I had to quit cold turkey, which was the most miserable month of my life.

Tea is an excellent alternative for coffee and it's not very addicting. Also, remember that on test day, your adrenaline will make you slightly more alert.

 

[Cinclus]

I wouldn't drink coffee. You get very limited breaks as it is and they don't allow you to keep your cell phone, so you wont be able to keep track of time. Also it takes a few minutes to sign in and out. I went over my break time because of this. Trust me, you'll be awake and focused out of fear.

Definitely this. Your determination to not screw this up will keep you awake.

 

[naixin]

Believe it or not, I did sometimes fall asleep during exams🙁

 

[MedPR]

Believe it or not, I did sometimes fall asleep during exams🙁

Hopefully you'll be better rested for your MCAT than you were for those other exams. No last minute cramming the night before, etc.

 

[Erythropoietin]

That's why you "take a FL under testing conditions" so you'll get used to not drinking coffee or tea.