Test Taking, Stimulants, and You!

[longshot]

As I approach my date to retake the GMAT, I was curious what other people do/use to study for long marathon sessions.

Also, do you do anything special to take tests?

This is not an all-nighter situation. I'm not talking about that.

I'm talking about a sustained effort leading up to a very difficult test. The test itself takes four hours.

[Apotheosis]

i am in no way suggesting you obtain Adderall from an illegal source

coffee does wonders instead ;)

[Edited on 4-23-2005 by Yswithe]

[Edaarin]

I wouldn't take anything stronger than coffee. I'm studying for the LSAT's a few hours at a time whenever I feel motivated. I think that once you get past the high school shit, you're not really helping yourself by killing yourself the week prior to sitting for the exam. One of my buddies who took the MCAT last Saturday said he crammed for 9 hours a day the whole week before, and I really wonder if taxing your brain like that really works.

[Fallen]

If you need a jolt, I suggest Mountain Dew and Diet pills.

[Asha]

You should get a friend to help you in some way . man.
That AND pin important notes to the bathroom door (or wherever you can read them while you shit).
Some really believe the constant study helps, but to be real it's the breaks you take in between that ensure what you've learned sinks in.
Good luck.

[Snapp]

Originally posted by Edaarin
One of my buddies who took the MCAT last Saturday said he crammed for 9 hours a day the whole week before, and I really wonder if taxing your brain like that really works.
It may work for the short-term (if you don't burn yourself out completely)... but as far as retaining and actually learning that information for later use, I really doubt it.

[HarmNone]

Cramming is usually not that effective. It doesn't allow the information to sink in, and if the question is worded differently you won't be able to come up with the answer because you don't have the information sorted out properly in your mind. Cramming works okay in highschool, but with more complex information, it just isn't as effective.

Get plenty of sleep the night before the test and eat a good breakfast to give your brain "food for thought". :)

[Keller]

I have plenty of friends that take my ritalin for tests. I'm not sure if it helps them.

When I took the LSAT in Dec. I took my meds and brought a starbucks double shot for the break. I was very happy with my attention level during the test. I think you need to judge for yourself. If you wake up in the morning alert and ready to test -- I wouldn't bother with coffee because it might make you more nervous than you would be normally.

In my preparation I also took a test at 9 AM every morning and kept track of my scores and what I had done sleep wise. I found that going to bed at midnight and waking up at 7 for a 9 o'clock test was where I tested best. That was over 32 morning tests. Do anything you can do to sway the advantage your way.

If dexedrine or whatever can help you on a test then maybe an actual prescription for the individual would be an easier way of obtaining them instead of having to go cop.

[Nakiro]

Study in 20 minute sessions with 5 minute breaks, four or more times daily. Best way to learn is to give your brain time to process the information.

I usually go over the information casually well before I take the test, and don't even really bother with it until test day.

That said, I take tests better than I do anything else, period. A year and a half after high school without taking any classes or even reviewing material for it I walked into the military ed center hungover and took the SAT's. I got a 1260 (not the best but well above my demographic average) and the hardest part was writing that stupid essay in cursive.

I think the worst thing you can do is stress out, and overload your system. When you try and force things like that you'll forget shit thats so easy because you're mind just doesn't function well with adrenaline coursing through it.

[Jonty]

It may work for the short-term (if you don't burn yourself out completely)... but as far as retaining and actually learning that information for later use, I really doubt it.


Yeah, I used to memorize all the formulas for my tests in college the night before the test and I have absolutely no clue what they are now. Though, I did remember them for the rest of the course. But since I do not use them at all outside the course, I’ve forgotten them all.

[Miss X]

I've never really properly studied for an exam since high school. Through undergrad I would just take lots of notes in lectures and classes and read over them after the class so by the end of the year I had a pretty good grasp of the information I needed. I just read over the notes a couple of times the day before my exams and it was fine.

Sometimes I would make little charts, prompts and stuff and stick them around my room so when I had a second I would read through them and make sure my brain was triggering off the right info.

Luckily the only exams I have for my masters are practical with patients so I can't really study for them other than forcing my friends to pretend to be patients and running through the assessment routine etc. :)

[Warriorbird]

Ginseng and guarana.

[Fission]

If you need a jolt, I suggest Mountain Dew and Diet pills.

Just keep things at a reasonable level if you go this route.

I did something like that for accounting finals, mixed a foul cocktail of Mountain Dew, Jolt and Vivarin for the final cram. Not sleeping was bad enough, but when I went in for the test, I had really bad shakes - everytime I tried to write, my hand would jump, and it looked like a bad polygraph result.

Three hour exam, and I spent the first hour and a half waiting to calm down enough to write. When I finally did, I finished the whole exam in like thirty minutes, wound getting the second highest grade in class. Got very lucky there.

:yawn:

[longshot]

OKay...

My test prep routine as follows:

ZMA - 30 mg zinc with vitiamin b12 and magnesium (SP?) for added memore recall

Creatine- Incresed mental function

Aderal- 12.5mg for incresased concentration

Cardio- to put more blood into my head

1 month of solitude for study- To properly prepare

All this to do 10 points WORSE on my fucking test.

Fuck this shit...

i'm furious. And I've put down enough goose to kill many a small mammal at this point.

God fucking dammit... the last thing I want is to be in Michigan for another year. UGH!

I can retake the test next month though. It's possible I will be denied outright (from the waitlist) before I take the test again...

Fuck this.

[Back]

Maybe try the next one without all that juice.

[longshot]

I blame it on poor time management.

[Back]

Yeah, its not like you are dumb or anything.

[Back]

I either aced or screwed every test I took. Well, ok, not the “Aptitude” tests. They told me I should have been a photographer....

Now that I think about it, I could have been. Travel to exotic locations, take pictures, some danger is fine with me. I’m not Jaques Custou though... as much as I love underwater photog, no way I could do it. Landlubber people watcher.

[Divinity]

My middle school english teacher would pass out the Smarties candies before each test. It was cool at the time.. really.

Anyways, I get plenty of rest and time for myself to study. Stimulants make me feel airheaded.

I think the worst thing you can do is stress out, and overload your system. When you try and force things like that you'll forget shit thats so easy because you're mind just doesn't function well with adrenaline coursing through it.

[Brattt8525]

I had to take my state board exam I didn't study, when asked why I said if I don't know it I won't after cramming for however amount of time. Another girl crammed for a month, she got a 60 I got an 86.

Overloading the mind will do nothing but jumble it all up. I also went with my first instinct I didn't overanalyze the answer.

Consider this just a test run, your a smart guy you will ace it the next time.

[Apotheosis]

yeah, this list above sounds like you took too many substances.

[gsplayer]

Drugs make you smarter, duh. Rail that shit.