I find the TIMER too distracting! What should I do?

[premedgurl]

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The left corner CBT timer is very distracting, especially for verbal. It makes me nervous and can't focus on reading.

what should i do???


How do you guys deal with that?

THANKS SO MUCH!!!

 

[premedgurl]

btw, is there anyway I can use my hand to cover the timer? will the computer to too far from me to do that?

thanks!!

 

[muhali3]

The timer won't bother you if you know you have enough time. Practice under timed conditions, and try to finish with a few minutes left. Once you know how to finish a section with a few minutes left, the timer shouldn't make you nervous because you know that time isn't a problem.

 

[texahn]

btw, is there anyway I can use my hand to cover the timer? will the computer to too far from me to do that?

thanks!!

you can use your hand to cover the timer lol
i think youre joking, but im not sure.

 

[itsalovestory]

i know this isn't the answer you want, but you're going to have to get used to it. there will be a timer on the screen, multiple cameras staring you in the face, and loud GRE neighbors klacketing away at their old school keyboards right when you're trying to concentrate on boring verbal passages. the best thing that worked for me was getting into a rhythm: telling myself i would check the time once after the passage, and once after the questions. good luck!

 

[shishicd]

bring wax earplugs to the testing center and stick one on the screen over the timer. children's earplugs work especially well as they're coloured. (but warning: they will turn your ears red or blue)

 

[sagtig]

You're really gonna have to get used to it... hate to break it to you, but on the real deal, there's not only a timer, but also a little box that pops up when half the time has passed, and when you have 5 minutes left... don't want to scare you, just wanted to give you a heads up so that you're not thrown off by it

 

[premedgurl]

bring wax earplugs to the testing center and stick one on the screen over the timer. children's earplugs work especially well as they're coloured. (but warning: they will turn your ears red or blue)

Thank you! Where do you get the earplugs btw? And will the proctor allow us covering the timer?

I thought i was joking, too. But seriously. 😀

 

[premedgurl]

THanks everyone!

Yea, time is really an issue for me on verbal. I need get over with it!

To itsalovestory,

i thought everyone at the testing center will be MCAT takers... no GRE, right??????🙁

 

[afatasstank]

i know this isn't the answer you want, but you're going to have to get used to it. there will be a timer on the screen, multiple cameras staring you in the face, and loud GRE neighbors klacketing away at their old school keyboards right when you're trying to concentrate on boring verbal passages. the best thing that worked for me was getting into a rhythm: telling myself i would check the time once after the passage, and once after the questions. good luck!

There are cameras on you!??? thats so nerve racking

 

[golgiapparatus88]

There are cameras on you!??? thats so nerve racking

As soon as you start the test, cameras are the last thing you should/will be worrying about.

 

[itsalovestory]

yes, there are cameras on you, and yes, there could be many test takers in there. i've heard of GRE, USMLE, and MCAT in the same room. as for hiding the timer, i honestly don't recommend it. there were times when i felt that i was running out of time only to have 15 minutes left, and other times when i thought i was fine but only had 5. self-timing is one of the biggest things students wish they did better on for the MCAT; why would you want to take that risk then?

 

[witness23]

please do not turn the timer off. taking exams in test-day conditions (even at the same time) will help you (at the least, in being honest in scoring prediction).