How to handle fatigue during a full length?

[ASDIC]

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[wylie313]

3 words- COOKIES & CREAM POWERBARS

 

[Reinhard]

Cappuccino Powerbar (yay caffeine boost!)

 

[slackerjock]

practice with 1/2 tests first. move up to full tests accordingly. note that adrenaline will play a factor during the real deal.

 

[TiggidyTooth]

I'm a bug believer in the test stamina correlated with physical fitness. The better shape you are in, the less mental fatigue will play a part. Excercise at least 4 days a week with plenty of cardio and watch your energy reserves rocket.

Tooth

 

[Anthropic]

I'm a bug believer in the test stamina correlated with physical fitness. The better shape you are in, the less mental fatigue will play a part. Excercise at least 4 days a week with plenty of cardio and watch your energy reserves rocket.

Tooth

Precisely 👍

Eat light and healthy during lunch, nothing heavy or greasy.

Take a short jog or do some stretches during the 10 min. breaks.

Hit your head on the desk if you start to fall asleep.

 

[NRAI2001]

Sniff some crack at the break. 😀

 

[txguy]

Cappuccino Powerbar (yay caffeine boost!)

I second this notion. You get the benefits of a powerbar (complex carbs) with the added benefit of caffeine (increase mental alertness).

-tx

 

[stoic]

Eat a balanced diet for a few days before the test. On test day, go for a high carb, high protein, low fat breakfast. Same theme for lunch.

I also took extended release ephedrine in the morning and afternoon.

 

[fonzy]

Fantasize about all the babes you would be getting if you were a med student 😀

 

[dukejen04]

Sniff some crack at the break. 😀

can you sniff crack? i thought you had to smoke it. if you wanna sniff, you'll either have to move up to higher end coke, or if you're in the crack price range- ritalin.

either way- i'd say sniffing is going to be less conspicuous than smoking. so, you have six weeks to grow out your pinky nail- get going!!!

 

[velo]

Candy bars between individual sections...gimmie dat glucose boost!!

 

[NRAI2001]

can you sniff crack? i thought you had to smoke it. if you wanna sniff, you'll either have to move up to higher end coke, or if you're in the crack price range- ritalin.

either way- i'd say sniffing is going to be less conspicuous than smoking. so, you have six weeks to grow out your pinky nail- get going!!!

 

[Murtazor]

Since practice and exercise have already been mention, I'd suggest practice while working out?

 

[sshaltoni]

Sniff some crack at the break. 😀

...i miss crack 🙁

 

[monopolova]

Believe me, you will never be as alert on a practice test as on the real thing. When taking the real thing, a tornado could come into the room and rip the ceiling off and you'll still maintain concentration. Sure you end up being drained at the end, but during the test I guarantee that you won't need any carb nonsense, wierd granola/soy bars, or energy drinks to keep going (a friend of mine was swigging redbulls between each section and failed). Just eat a good lunch in your mid break just like you would any other day. Walk around during each mini break, relax, and keep your perspective.

 

[MoosePilot]

Sure you end up being drained at the end, but during the test I guarantee that you won't need any carb nonsense, wierd granola/soy bars, or energy drinks to keep going (a friend of mine was swigging redbulls between each section and failed). Just eat a good lunch in your mid break just like you would any other day. Walk around during each mini break, relax, and keep your perspective.

Good advice.

I ate a half power bar at the first break just to maintain the blood sugar but not reroute all my blood from brain to gut, but it's overkill.

BTW, Mono, how did your friend fail?

 

[monopolova]

Good advice.

I ate a half power bar at the first break just to maintain the blood sugar but not reroute all my blood from brain to gut, but it's overkill.

BTW, Mono, how did your friend fail?

Well, I guess "fail" is a bit harsh. He failed as far as his personal goal was concerned because I'll just say he fell well below thirty. He's kind of a gunner and studied day and night and took the Kaplan course so I figured he'd kill the test or at least show me up. He just took the thing so seriously that he choked. Drinking the redbulls was the cherry on top of an insane repetoire of worry. I know he had the knowledge in him; he just didn't use the stress of the situation in a positive way. Like anyone who uses artifical stimulants or even illegal drugs, he thought that the redbulls would be a quick fix to get rid of that stress. I'll bet it only made the jitters worse. I mean come on -- our hearts are pumping enough during the bastard. Why do we need any more stimulation?

 

[MoosePilot]

Ugh!

That's too common. I hate to see the people who have the talent but can't handle the pressure. Total way out opinion coming - I think the guys I've seen who really tend to kill standardized tests are cocky, but relaxed. They don't give a crap because they know they'll kill it.

I think you can reproduce that mindset. As long as it's backed up by some talent and preparation relaxed but focused confidence is the right approach IMHO.

 

[monopolova]

I think the guys I've seen who really tend to kill standardized tests are cocky, but relaxed. They don't give a crap because they know they'll kill it.

Exactly. This guy next to me who I just met that day leaned over to me after the physical sci and said ala that Simpson's episode where Marge was taking the real estate exam:
"the test is over ... you may now undermine each other's confidence"
[and then he switched to the sea captain's voice] "Yarrrrr, I nailed that one about the houseboat."

We all had a good laugh while other people were biting their nails and pulling out their hair; a lighter attitude definately helps. I just was like "I'm going to have fun here while I can; I am ready to kick this test in the balllllls." Laughter feeds a person's energy, but I'm not sure a lot of people realize this. You take the test seriously while you're doing it but in between you need an attitude like "it's no thang". Make a few jokes, laugh, breathe, and know that it'll soon be over.

 

[MoosePilot]

Laughter feeds a person's energy, but I'm not sure a lot of people realize this. You take the test seriously while you're doing it but in between you need an attitude like "it's no thang". Make a few jokes, laugh, breathe, and know that it'll soon be over.

Look at that, we managed to meander back onto topic. That must have been you, Mono, because once I hijack I just tend to run away from the topic 🙂

I do wonder how much of the exhaustion tends to be emotional exhaustion from being stressed out and tense the whole time. Get rid of that and you just have to deal with the real drain of the test and not the added drain of your worries about the test. The MCAT is enough, don't add the boogie man factor.

 

[stoleyerscrubz]

I do not know about the rest of you but refined carbs always make me sleepy. I'd only use them if I ate carbs during practice tests and though it helped.

 

[pandoraaj009]

Where's the love for caffeine junkies? I LOVE energy drinks...lol.

but, i can't stress this enough, don't drink something a 5 hour energy shot the day of your test if you haven't done it before. It'll trip you out too much. I've heard a lot of ppl getting super anxious and stuff....not that great.

but, practice is most important. I always drank caffeine when I practiced, so I figured that's how to do the real thing....

 

[229141]

No caffeine in my opinion...but thats just me since it makes me jittery.

I'd try a powerbar like everyone else is sayin

The biggest thing is motivation!

 

[MaryLennox]

I am thinking sleeping pill the night before, coffee the morning of and a little more coffee for breaks. It may be a bad habit, but the withdrawal headache would be way more distracting. 😀

When you go to the testing center, is everyone there taking the MCAT too? I know when I took the GRE there were people there taking other tests at the same time, like TOEFL tests or something. (I knew this from the sign-in sheet in case you were wondering.) I think if it's all mcatters it will freak me out to see who else is there. I will immediately think everyone looks ten times smarter and more discliplined than me!! 😱 all those gunners!

 

[olemissbabydoc]

I practiced with OLD school print full lengths first. going to the cbt version practice tests/real deal after was a piece of cake.

 

[Shawnpremed]

I LOVE caffeiene but I worry about having to go to the restroom, when you can't while testing!

 

[MCAT40]

I go to a top medical school and can tell you that if you cannot handle a simple test that takes a few hours you are not cut out for medical school

I am sorry for your loss.

 

[IndianVercetti]

Fantasize about all the babes you would be getting if you were a med student 😀

 

[texahn]

Drink a lot of caffeine while you are pre[aring for the exam so that you dont get that jitteriness when you drink caffeine during the exam breaks. your body will build tolerance. and take a small can of sugar free red bull to the test and drink it before verbal and eat something salty. (if you have studied for the mcat you will know why you should eat something salty when drinking caffeine, woohoo) and red bull only has 80 mg of caffeine. anyway, study hard, be confident and fatigue is probably not a problem.