How not to get nervous on test day?

[ravupadh]

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Hey all,

I'm taking my test on July 6th.. so only a few days left. I've taken 6 exams so far and have consistently been getting 31-37s on them. All I really want is a 30 on the real thing. However I'm a retaker and the last time I took the test I got a 27 because the nerves got the best of me. Is there any specific way to calm the nerves on the day? I'm taking it in the afternoon which should help relax things a bit. But should I take some aspirin or maybe even a shot of vodka lol? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[stsa84]

Vodka? Lol.

I'm not really sure of any specific techniques, but I basically just reminded myself before and throughout the test:

"You've studied a ton. Even if the test was not for another month, there's no topic you know of that you need more work on. Therefore, just calm down and do the best you can do. You've been killing the practice tests, there's no reason you won't kill this test too."

For me, this was sufficient to keep my pre-test jitters down, and to regain my focus if a particularly nasty question or passage (in the ungodly PS section of my test) started to derail me. Good luck on your test in 4 days.

 

[salim271]

You're gonna be nervous, just dont let it get to you. If you've been taking your practice tests under timed conditions, you should be just fine. Its just another test, you've taken more than half a dozen of them already.

 

[SeminoleVesicle]

You're gonna be nervous, just dont let it get to you. If you've been taking your practice tests under timed conditions, you should be just fine. Its just another test, you've taken more than half a dozen of them already.

👍

 

[SN2ed]

Unfortunately, you have to find your own way to deal with the stress. Everyone copes with it differently.

 

[ash286]

A shot of vodka? That might be a bad idea, maybe after the test!

As for calming down, I'd bring an ipod or something to listen to while you are waiting around before the test starts... people are going to be talking about the test, how they are nervous, topics they didn't study enough, all that typical stuff that comes with tests. Whenever I have a test at school I just keep my ipod in as much as possible with some soothing music on, lets me keep my focus and clear my thoughts.

 

[stsa84]

people are going to be talking about the test, how they are nervous, topics they didn't study enough, all that typical stuff that comes with tests.

On my test day everyone stood there silently, lost in their own private nervous hells.

 

[salim271]

On my test day everyone stood there silently, lost in their own private nervous hells.

No gunners in ur test group, huh? XD

 

[stsa84]

No gunners in ur test group, huh? XD

We were all like lambs being led to the slaughter.

Seriously though, I guess I wasn't too nervous. When you get to the point where you feel like you've done all you can do, you're left with a resigned sort of peace, unless that was just me.

 

[DrShazam]

Practice taking tests in similar conditions (cannot emphasize this enough). The more you practice, the less unusual the testing day experience will be, and the less nervous you will be.

Do not arrive super early at the Prometric Center. I found this to be utterly useless, and it just added to my nervousness. Just arrive at a reasonable time, which would probably be 30 minutes before start time.

Also, do not talk to other students taking the test. Try to take a friend there with you because every person will try to either tell you how little they studied and were still scoring 33s on practice tests, or how nervous they are, both of which can be debilitating for one's confidence.

To prevent panicking while taking the test, take a 10-sec break between each passage to make sure you are approaching each passage like it's the first.

 

[salim271]

We were all like lambs being led to the slaughter.

Seriously though, I guess I wasn't too nervous. When you get to the point where you feel like you've done all you can do, you're left with a resigned sort of peace, unless that was just me.

I've heard taking the test while a little burned out (although its hardly something that can be calculated and done with any precision) is a pretty good calming factor. No energy to be nervous lol.

 

[stsa84]

I've heard taking the test while a little burned out (although its hardly something that can be calculated and done with any precision) is a pretty good calming factor. No energy to be nervous lol.

Lol...yeah for me it really seemed like I took the test at the perfect time. I didn't feel rushed or stressed in the days prior, panicking that I didn't have enough time left to study. I also didn't feel like I was done studying but had another few weeks to pass, and drive myself crazy in the meantime, waiting for the MCAT to arrive. 6 weeks of 8-10 hour study days was perfect for me. Too little or too much time, and I think I would have been much more stressed out on test day.