Testing fatigue

[deleted421268]

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Do you guys ever feel more fresh beginning of each section and the first couple of passages but than feel slower when you move on to more passages near the end?

 

[Dr. Let 'er Buck]

I had a real problem with this overall. Just focusing with every amount of your mental capacity for hours upon hours can certainly wear a person down.

While in the middle of a section it isn't possible to partake in anything, but on breaks I was sure to eat my favorite high energy junk food. Not the healthiest stuff, but caffeine laden drinks with something like a Cliff Bar seem to help. Of course you don't want to develop a tummy ache and must drink water as well. I think I also had oranges I could tear into.

I also used my breaks to walk around and clear my brain. I didn't sit and wallow or chat with other test takes. I got up and got the blood pumping while eating the above mentioned tasty snacks.

Perhaps not the healthiest in the long run but it was the kick I needed on test day. My test site was a 2.5 hour drive away from me, so I had an early day. In the vehicle I pumped myself up with some fast tunes. On the drive home I was crashing a bit from the sugar and crap, but I felt great for the time which mattered.

 

[sundayko]

Oh absolutely. Many of us do. I essentially built endurance over time by taking many full-length practice tests and doing practice problems in bulk when studying. There are also a few other lifestyle changes I implemented in regards to food, sleep, and exercise.

 

[ciestar]

I still run into this. After 9 hours of testing, i was running out of steam while taking step 2 a month ago.

I took the old MCAT so i didn’t quite have that problem as early as you guys did.

 

[Goro]

Do you guys ever feel more fresh beginning of each section and the first couple of passages but than feel slower when you move on to more passages near the end?

Hit the gym.
These exams are physical ordeals as much as mental ones. You need to build up your physical endurance.

 

[init2020]

Do you guys ever feel more fresh beginning of each section and the first couple of passages but than feel slower when you move on to more passages near the end?

Absolutely. This is why taking many practice exams under test-like conditions is so important. Gotta build that stamina!