Methods to Warm the Brain Up Before the Test

[ChemEngMD]

Good morning fellow MCAT Sufferers,

I was just wondering if people wanted to chime in on methods they used to warm their brains up before the big test. I have found on my final two practice exams that my biggest issue is getting my brain in gear off the bat on PS and I want to avoid making this same mistake on the real deal!

I was thinking about doing a few VR or PS passages in the car right before I go in or during breakfast at home. Anybody have any methods they used? Reading a newspaper? Going for a run?

All responses welcome!

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[kmp0410]

I would would Chad's videos

 

[ih371990]

I skimmed a 30 page high yield notes that i made. And ate a snicker bar.

 

[pitupua]

I find that doing a few verbal passages before anything else helps me 'get in the mood'. 🙂

 

[ChemEngMD]

I find that doing a few verbal passages before anything else helps me 'get in the mood'. 🙂

Haha I was thinking this could be a good method. I have tried just some basic material review before the test but it goes in one ear and out the other. I think something that requires some substantial critical thinking will warm me up best, personally.

 

[survivordo]

I think you make a great point. I actually still remember feeling like I got off to a slow start when taking my MCAT. Doing a few passages is an excellent point. I have also found that intermittently stopping, taking a deep breathe, counting to 10 and completely clearing my head has been beneficial. It helps me move on from previous problems/sections which is imperative to do on test day.

Survivor DO

 

[Josh7]

Online chess

 

[Deadlifts]

Good morning fellow MCAT Sufferers,

I was just wondering if people wanted to chime in on methods they used to warm their brains up before the big test.

A hair dryer...


...I'll be reading a newspaper while eating breakfast and doing a couple review problems.

 

[GomerPyle]

I had the same problem last Saturday. It took me 15 minutes during the PS section to actually get into "MCAT-mode" and have the adrenaline kick in. This lag really hurt my performance in the PS section.

1. Make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep. I went in on 6 and that hurt a lot.
2. Eat a very big, good breakfast.
3. I would spend time reviewing notes intensely 10-15 minutes before the exam.

Sleep is the most important factor - without it, you will have a hard time.

 

[Gauss44]

I find that doing a few verbal passages before anything else helps me 'get in the mood'. 🙂

Me: A few verbal passages to pick up speed. Get the pace down.

 

[ChemEngMD]

All great responses! I appreciate it. I am currently going through my PS section for AAMC11 which I took this morning and did not wake up until about 20 minutes into the section and I made so many bonehead mistakes (misreading questions, marking a different answer than I meant to) because of moving far too slow at the beginning of the section. I think some intense review before I leave the house then one or two passages in the car right before the real deal will be a good idea!

I think for me personally doing a few math problems before will help too, because for some reason I mistrust my math at first and end up double and triple checking and wasting precious time when it is a simple calculation.

Thanks everybody and hopefully these responses can help someone else too!

 

[mehc012]

I had the same problem last Saturday. It took me 15 minutes during the PS section to actually get into "MCAT-mode" and have the adrenaline kick in. This lag really hurt my performance in the PS section.

1. Make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep. I went in on 6 and that hurt a lot.
2. Eat a very big, good breakfast.
3. I would spend time reviewing notes intensely 10-15 minutes before the exam.

Sleep is the most important factor - without it, you will have a hard time.

Even more importantly, make sure you sleep well the night before the last one!
I don't know if it's true, but my coach (and science teacher) in HS used to always tell us that that one was the crucial factor!

 

[Meredith92]

To be honest I disagree with a lot of the above. I think doing passages or anything beforehand could potentially get you really freaked out or panicked. I was nervous about not being in the zone before the tested, but I overcame that worry by really mimicking test conditions during each practice test. I also practiced meditating for ten min before each test. I highly recommend finding a method that does no involve mcat material to get you calmed and focused.

 

[Darth]

Physical activity always helps me. I plan on getting up and lifting before my exam on 5/23

 

[Like]

While I wait to get my finger print scanned. It's important to get the sympathetic nervous system firing.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqtwQuZrj8Q[/YOUTUBE]

 

[ChemEngMD]

To be honest I disagree with a lot of the above. I think doing passages or anything beforehand could potentially get you really freaked out or panicked. I was nervous about not being in the zone before the tested, but I overcame that worry by really mimicking test conditions during each practice test. I also practiced meditating for ten min before each test. I highly recommend finding a method that does no involve mcat material to get you calmed and focused.

I think it probably varies by the individual. I have been mimicking test conditions on my last two practice tests and have been doing them at 8am like my test date and what not, but I have found my brain not being up and ready in time. I have gone from scoring 12s in PS to 8s on the last two...huge drop off and no real excuse except pacing and mental lapses on the first section...perhaps exercise would warm me up more...I personally feel I have been too calm and focused and need to get more hyped and pumped up

To each their own! If I had more days until my test I would be trying out different methods but alas, t-37 hours

 

[gettheleadout]

While I wait to get my finger print scanned. It's important to get the sympathetic nervous system firing.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqtwQuZrj8Q[/YOUTUBE]

wat

 

[milski]

I would not go anywhere near any sort of test related material the hours before the test. The exam is long enough that by the end of the BS section I was often compromising towards getting done sooner and not spending enough time thinking about the question or reading it carefully. The difference between that and making a conscious effort was easily observable in my practice tests and easily resulted in 2-3 points less at the end.

I would make sure that I wake up well before the test so that I'm fully awake and ready when I sit in the test center. If you're having problem getting mobilized at the beginning of the test, it may be better to try to address that with practice in the weeks before the exam instead of doing more problems/reading the morning before.

 

[mcloaf]

I would not go anywhere near any sort of test related material the hours before the test. The exam is long enough that by the end of the BS section I was often compromising towards getting done sooner and not spending enough time thinking about the question or reading it carefully. The difference between that and making a conscious effort was easily observable in my practice tests and easily resulted in 2-3 points less at the end.

I would make sure that I wake up well before the test so that I'm fully awake and ready when I sit in the test center. If you're having problem getting mobilized at the beginning of the test, it may be better to try to address that with practice in the weeks before the exam instead of doing more problems/reading the morning before.

👍

I got up at 4:45 for my 8AM test to be sure that I'd be awake long enough not to feel groggy. Having that much time actually made for a very leisurely morning during which I did nothing MCAT-related.

 

[milski]

👍

I got up at 4:45 for my 8AM test to be sure that I'd be awake long enough not to feel groggy. Having that much time actually made for a very leisurely morning during which I did nothing MCAT-related.

I took it in the afternoon. 😎😀

 

[Mehd School]

This may sound wierd, but when my head feels "foggy", I always do this trick and more often than not it kicks me out of the funk.

Say your phone number backwards, three times as fast as possible. Try it.

 

[mehc012]

This may sound wierd, but when my head feels "foggy", I always do this trick and more often than not it kicks me out of the funk.

Say your phone number backwards, three times as fast as possible. Try it.

My phone number is too easy...lots of zeroes!

 

[milski]

My phone number is too easy...lots of zeroes!

I actually don't know mine. Again. 🙄

 

[miss chievous]

I warmed up by doing doing 2 physical science passages, 2 bio passages, and 2 verbal passages. Then I took a shower and ate and left. Then in the car before I went in, I read 2 verbal passages without attempting the questions. But everyone is different - I just prefer "warming up"

 

[Quizlet04]

A semi-repetitive thinking game, like Bejewled or Tetris. Something that requires a bit of frontal planning with a little time pressure. Plus, if you close your eyes, you can move bricks around to relax yourself.