I need it SUPER quiet during practice tests.

[sexyman]

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Am I just being a big wuss? Cause I get all distracted during verbal if I can even barely hear people talking.

Should I be able to focus better and zone it out?

 

[TrixR4Kids]

Am I just being a big wuss? Cause I get all distracted during verbal if I can even barely hear people talking.

Should I be able to focus better and zone it out?

In one word: yes. I am 100% the same way, otherwise even a small thing like a clock ticking drives me mad. This proved to be bad for me when during the actual test this past weekend, I was seated next to the door....and basically people constantly walk in and out because the times are staggered. Needless to say, not the best testing conditions to be in because those noise-blocking headphones are not very good.

 

[SirOmin0uS]

Second that...the typing noise will undoubtedly be there during your test, in addition to people waking in and out. The muffs were really not effective at all so you need to be able to deal with the noise.

 

[exmissionary]

One thing that can help, perhaps would be to bring earplugs. I'm not sure if they are allowed but it might be worth a try.

 

[EmiliaC]

I had really awesome earphones at the testing center I went to. They were like the ones that air-traffic controller people use - I could only hear occasional shuffling around me.

Like exmissionary said, you could try to bring your own earphones in case thet ones at your testing center aren't that effective - but given that they wouldn't even let me take the pen I had stuck in my hair in the room with me, they might not allow those.

If you still have a few weeks left before your test, you might want to try taking a few practice tests with some deliberate distractions in the background - having a TV or stereo on in the background, opening the door to the room, etc. I used to need complete silence to study, but living with noisier roommates for 2 years remedied that.

 

[ocwaveoc]

So I'm guessing that you are assigned seats rather than picking your own. Can you protest about the earphones they give you and use your own foam plugs? Probably not. Here in Hawaii, for some reason, people sniffle ALOT. I think people here have a genetic predisposition to sinus problems. People sniffle and snort all the time as if they've just done coke. I too need the silence when I study or take tests. I'm a bit worried.

 

[utahjazz]

If you still have a few weeks left before your test, you might want to try taking a few practice tests with some deliberate distractions in the background - having a TV or stereo on in the background, opening the door to the room, etc.

I completely agree. I used to not be able to study/read with any noise at all but this technique really works over time.

 

[nyct]

I get distracted extremely easily, but I put on the headphones they give you and couldn't hear a thing even with all the people coming and going at different times. A lot of people complained about the headphones, but I loved them. I was able to concentrate better than any practice test I had done.

 

[SIREN]

I had really awesome earphones at the testing center I went to. They were like the ones that air-traffic controller people use - I could only hear occasional shuffling around me.

Like exmissionary said, you could try to bring your own earphones in case thet ones at your testing center aren't that effective - but given that they wouldn't even let me take the pen I had stuck in my hair in the room with me, they might not allow those.

If you still have a few weeks left before your test, you might want to try taking a few practice tests with some deliberate distractions in the background - having a TV or stereo on in the background, opening the door to the room, etc. I used to need complete silence to study, but living with noisier roommates for 2 years remedied that.

Thanks! That's a great suggestion, I will have to try to master that. I need complete SILENCE, in order to concentrate, otherwise I get distracted and frustrated.🙁

 

[Addb]

Yea, you need to get over that ASAP. My test room had two outside walls, so I kept hearing cars go by and people locking doors with those annoying wireless things, not to mention all the people inside (my headphones didn't work, gave me a headache).

I had a professor in high school that would leave the room during our tests and pound on the window, open and close the door, and tap his pen loudly on his desk. He even called his wife on the phone and held a pretty long conversation with her in the room during one of our essay tests. He definately taught us to get into a zone.

There really is no good method to getting over it besides doing it. It's like one day you hit a mental benchmark where your brain just kinda overrides your ears. Medical school is one giant distraction, as are some specialities (EM comes to mind).

 

[Phoenix.]

My center had pretty good headphones, but they simply couldn't drown out the person POUNDING on the keyboard next to me for my entire VR section. Ugh. And the headphones were so tight I felt like I was loosing circulation in my ears! But better that than louder pounding. So, yeah, it'd be good to get used to being able to focus with a distraction during practice CBTs. Good luck.

 

[Nikki2002]

I intentionally took all of my practice exams in areas of the library where I knew there would be distractions (people talking, walking by, etc.) I just taught myself how to stay focused. I took the paper/pencil mcat....so i didn't have to deal with the typing noise from computers.

Whether your practice exams are computer based or paper/pencil try taking them in/near a computer lab and force yourself to block the noise out and focus.

 

[lawnboy313]

My #1 test pet peeve is those folks I call "scholar sniffers"--you know, the kids in tests who all of a sudden seem to develop a friggin sinus infection during an exam, and have to sniff every 5 seconds to keep their brain active...they always seem to sit right next to me. Them and the nervous tick foot wigglers.

Anyways, I was allowed my own earplugs in the June 15th exam--the proctor said they just started to allow them. So I wore those AND the big ones they provide and couldn't hear a thing...so I say practice with earplugs in a library where people occassionally walk by and you should be set for the real deal.

Lol--there's a doc I know at the NIH who is a genius but he can't think if there's any sounds--he brings his own giant headphones and wears them around the hospital, only taking them off to talk to folks. He'll actually put them on in the middle of a conversation if he needs to think at all!

 

[Nikki2002]

My #1 pet peeve is those douchebags I call "scholar sniffers"--you know, the kids in tests who all of a sudden seem to develop a friggin sinus infection during an exam, and have to sniff every 5 seconds to keep their brain active...they always seem to sit right next to me. Them and the nervous tick foot wigglers.

don't forget ball point pen clickers. one time i sat by this guy during an exam and he madly shook his legs the whole time--like he was trying to run a marathon while sitting down....it was the most annoying thing i have ever had to endure.

 

[passion4atcg]

i'm the exact same way. a clock ticking, the sound of a pencil writing, pages flipping, all throw me off. however, at my test site they allowed me to use earplugs AND those headphones. get the "quiet please" earplugs from CVS. they are great. roll them really tight, stick them in your ear, let them expand, and you can't hear a thing.

 

[meowkat444]

try to take some practice tests with the TV on. you WILL get better at it, and it may turn out that you'll be really happy you did.

 

[MossPoh]

I am kind of the same way. It is murder if I can FEEL the distraction (the wiggling that shakes everything) or if I can hear regular conversations. Some part of me likes to eavesdrop. I think it is a pretty good idea to practice in a wide variety of areas/situations. Practice where it is sweltering one day, or where it is cold the next. Have ONE annoying distraction, then a bunch. Whatever situation you can set up....Oh, try out earplugs if you want, but if you are like me then I can't stand having stuff jammed in my ears. It actually hurts...I get some weird pressure buildup or something.

Take the first practice with no distractions though...kind of set a benchmark.

 

[Kateb4]

The headphones that we had were pretty good, so all I heard was the sound of the ocean the entire time. I sat right under the air conditioner, however so I was very glad that I brought a sweater despite the 90 degree weather outside. Just be prepared. Bring your earplugs if you want, but don't be surprised if they don't allow them. The bottom line is that they expect everyone to be able to focus even if there are some minor distractions.

 

[wally47]

Luckily my testing center allowed me to wear earplugs as wells as the standard issue earmuffs. Not a sound...other than grinding my teeth