Do you score better if you take Adderall for the SATs?

Parents Forum Learning Differences and Challenges - LD, ADHD
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<p>well, retake in jan. that's actual advice. </p>

<p>but as for your first comment, what if the adderall makes yoru eyes jump around the page and its even HARDER to concentrate?</p>

<p>I will repeat my point that aderall is a STIMULANT. In the brains of ADD / ADHD kids, stimulants calm them down. For the general populus this is not true. In fact, the reason I take ritalin (along with provigil) is entirely for its stimulant-keep-you-awake effects. Ritalin and Adderall are used on the black market at colleges mostly so people can pull wicked all nighters, and NOT for actual performance enhancing on a test. For most people who don't have ADD brains, they will make you HIGH (as in sped up), not calm and concentrated.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I'm hopeless on the Reading section because I can't seem to concentrate on the story. When I'm reading the questions, I'm just like 'huh? they talked about this?' Or I'm left with 2 answers and I don't know which to pick because I'm not using what's just in the text.

[/quote]
I doubt that's a concentration problem, you may just not know what to look for. The reading section is the trickiest section because they claim that they want you to make inferences about the hidden meaning of the text. Many times, the truth is that they have an opinion about the reading and they want you to agree with their opinion. The princeton review books are a good way to deal with this, they're the only people who point out what the test writers where really thinking.</p>

<p>If you've narrowed down any multiple choice question to 2 options, you should guess. You'll break even. Read the section on guessing (p 16) here if you want to know why. How</a> to Prepare for the SAT - Google Book Search</p>

<p>One thing that always stuck out in my mind is part of a practice test I took. (Which is a formal real test.) It's a story that started out by describing a crazy women who had clocks all over her walls that where all set to the wrong time. Then she took her son for a walk and talked about boring things. The story ended when the mother said that she would never let her son leave the house and talk to girls. She needed her son to stay home forever so she wouldn't be lonely. That's it, that's all that happened. Then you get to the multiple choice questions, and one of them is asking what the tone of the text was. The correct answer is "humorous." There's nothing humorous about it. It's not like the author tried to make the test funny and failed, it just isn't humorous, period. I asked my kaplan teacher about this and she told me it wasn't just the test writer's opinion, it's the correct way to interpret the text. So I asked her how I'm supposed to know the correct answer and she said something like "well it's really hard to make inferences. You'll get it eventually." I hate it when people talk to me like that. My parents payed hundreds of dollars for that class. To my surprise I ended up getting 700 on the reading section, but not because of that class.</p>

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<p>some people will actually go slower when they take stimulants. they concentrate on getting every little detail exactly right... and before they know it, time is up with 25% of the questions to go.</p>

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<p>Has anyone here (without ADHD) taken it? Can you share your story?
I had a summer school friend who said half his class took it for the SAT, so it's really popular and boosts their scores because of the concentration..</p>

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<p>fellowccviewer? have you not been reading this thread? it's illegal and it's not worth it you don't know how it will affect you. </p>

<p>i dont have ADHD, i take it, it keeps me awake. it doesn't affect my concentration.</p>

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<p>Why not snort a line of coke if you're not deterred by the fact that it's an illegal stimulant?</p>

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<p>This thread is really full of inaccuracies and prejudices, so I'm going to try and set a few things straight.</p>

<p>


</p>

<p>It's illegal. True. Not worth it? Debatable.</p>

<p>You are an atypical case if it doesn't' effect your concentration, since that is certainly in the amphetamine spectrum of effects.</p>

<p>


</p>

<p>Mmm... interesting point of view. Here's why I disagree:</p>

<p>Adderall has a know effects profile. At therapeutic dosage levels, it makes you more energetic, significantly better able to concentrate, more awake, and so forth (standard amphetamine stuff here). Of course, overdo the dosage and you get jittery, can't fall asleep (also happens if you take too close to bed), can't eat because you have no appetite (often happens at therapeutic doses too). There's also a whole range of rarer side effects, including significant mental issues (crippling depression, suicide, sudden aggression, etc.) that can occur at therapeutic doses as well as overdose levels.</p>

<p>If you keep dosage at a reasonable level (10 mg Adderall XR for many first time or occasional users without ADD is a reasonable level), the side effect profile is pretty standard. That said, bessie makes an excellent point that you could potentially have serious side effects or adverse drug interactions. While I would not necessarily recommend using the drug, if you go in with eyes open (and having researched the effects etc.), you could be entirely fine.</p>

<p>


</p>

<p>Sort of. Adderall can induce physical dependence over long periods of chronic abuse, true. But this takes much, much longer than with other amphetamines (meth is the comparator in this case), because it lacks the quick brain-penetrating ability conferred upon speed by its methyl group. That lack of delivery speed and lipid solubility also acts to significantly reduce psychological dependence, especially when the drug is taken in capsule form (bonus points if it's extended release [XR]).</p>

<p>Obviously if someone is snorting crushed amphetamine salts (that's what Adderall is), they could get addicted pretty easily. But amphetamine itself is really not as addictive as it's cracked up (get it? ;)) to be. Far less addictive than cocaine, meth, heroin, nicotine, etc. </p>

<p>As for Ritalin, it's a different compound entirely (methylphenidate), similar to Adderall only in its stimulant effects profile and efficacy in treating ADHD.</p>

<p>


</p>

<p>Actually, the amphetamine high varies widely. One little-realized thing is that you reap what you sow. What I mean by that is that if you take an Adderall on a day you know you're going to study a ton, and go just sit down in a library and bust it out, you will concentrate better than ever before, and get a ton done. If you take it at a party, you'll be hyper and flighty and unable to do almost anything without losing focus. Once you're experienced with mind-altering drugs, you can guide yourself into the right state of mind (this is most commonly discussed in psychedelic drug user circles, because the alternative to being in the right state of mind can be truly frightening).</p>

<p>Anyways, I'll close off this little post with the following advice: Adderall is incredibly for studying and concentrating. Incredible. But I wouldn't take it for the first time on the SAT, and I wouldn't take it in your case because you seem pretty ignorant as to the effects of these things (my personal rule is never do a drug whose effects you are unclear on). I also wouldn't take it unless you're comfortable with people finding out. Because that's the risk you run.</p>

<p>If you're comfortable with it, I guess go for it. People will act shocked and appalled that you used a <em>gasp</em> illegal drug, and you do run certain risks that are unnecessary, but life's all about balancing risks and rewards. As long as the two are sorted out for you, I see no reason not to go for it.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
You know, you think that's some kind of devastating rhetorical point, but it's really not. The answer is: I see no good reason not to, assuming one can control risks of being caught and health risks (addiction, OD risks, all that fun stuff).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Actually, I didn't intend for it to be a rhetorical point. Cocaine is useful and widely used for cramming, studying, whatever. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a school which has Adderall more widely available and cheaper than cocaine, and as far as I know the effects are similar. </p>

<p>I couldn't agree more with the statement "life's all about balancing risks and rewards.". It will make you concentrate better, and theoretically help you score higher on the SAT. If you're comfortable it's not a bad idea. The stigma of "illegal" drugs is something you need to look past. You use coffee or pop to stay awake when you're tired, and using a concentration aid like cocaine or Adderall may not be (won't be) as bad as you'd expect.</p>

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<p>kkei08: Haha, I totally misunderstood the point you were trying to make. ;)</p>

<p>I figured you were one of the people who thought that an appeal to cocaine or heroin ends every debate about illegal use of drugs. Clearly not.</p>

<p>Here, Adderall is certainly more widely available and cheaper than cocaine, at least in amounts necessary to really keep you going for a while - takes a fair bit of coke to equal Adderall XR's duration and level of effects, imo. I also find cocaine to lack the concentration-enhancing effects of Adderall, but that may be a personal thing. The last disadvantage of coke is that it's often looked down upon very much compared to Adderall - that is certainly the case at my school.</p>

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<p>Adderall is extremely addictive METABOLICALLY. As in the more you take it the more you need. You won't necessarily go through heroin-esque withdrawl without it. I know this from experience. I would be on one dose, feel great, plateau, increase, feel great, plateau, until the dose i was on was just too high to be healthy. </p>

<p>And look, adderall may help you study, and that's your choice.
But the point we are all trying to make is it may make the OP worse and so it's not a good idea for his idea of taking on the SAT unless he perhaps "practices" with it first.</p>

<p>If someone wants to take adderall or ritalin on their own accord as either a stimulant high or a study aid, i'm not gonna argue. But I'm by no means going to convince someone to do it, which is borderline what you are doing.</p>

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<p>Nope, I'm just telling him the truth. The TRUTH is that in most cases, as long as it is used infrequently, Adderall is one of the best study aids (far, far better than caffeine, for example).</p>

<p>You are definitely right about it leading to tolerance, but it's not quite as quick as you seem to suggest. You may be an atypical case if that was how it worked for you.</p>

<p>As for the SAT, I never suggested that he take it cold going into it, having never used it before. Bad, bad idea. Gotta know what he's getting into.</p>

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<p>I have been reading; a few more opinions from different people never hurts.</p>

<p>And for the record, I decided not to retake my January SAT, because didn't review for it and I wasn't getting enough sleep (mock exams and basketball tournament!).</p>

<p>I thank you guys for the responses!</p>

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<p>I personally take aderal legally and buddy does it make me feel weird. For one if i go to sleep early say 9 or 10 i end up waking up at like 3 to 4 am and i cant go back to sleep for nothing. Another thing that i gotta be careful about is drinking coffee. I love coffee but if i drink to much i get a really buzzy feeling. Ive only been taking it for over a week and the only major bad thing is the sleep part. I take it because i went through vocational rehab for school and they suggested it might be something i should try as i go to school to help me concentrate in class since i get detracted very easily.</p>

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<p>i've been reading all of these replies and just could NOT not say anything.</p>

<p>after reading all three-ish pages
my responses:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>"why not use cocaine"? because cocaine lasts for about 3 hours, whereas adderall lasts 5-12 hours. depending if its regular/xr/mg</p></li>
<li><p>to the person who was saying he's now taking ritalin, go google ritalin. WAY WORSE THAN ADDERALL by all means. stunts growth, high risk of being addicted to other drugs, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>"legal" & "illegal" are being thrown out there.
bottom line:
legal for people with a prescription (whether with adhd or not, you NEED a prescription)
illegal for people without.</p></li>
<li><p>if you are going to take it before the sat, DONT.
take it three or four days before (so you're going to need more than just one pill) to see how you feel on it.
some people tweak out
some people get higher scores</p></li>
</ol>

<p>i personally, aced 4/5 finals two weeks ago.
(switching between adderall and concerta, but mainly adderall)
A in history, psychology, physiology, and math.
B in english because inclass essays weren't my thing.</p>

<p>yes, i'm done ranting and posting my opinion that is most likely going to get shot down.</p>

<p>ps. CAFFEINE + ADDERALL = NEVER. NEVER. NEVER
writhing stomach pains (on empty stomach) , irregular heartbeats, twitches, and so on.
just...don't do it.</p>

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<p>Naa man no *****ing about your post, your pretty much on the dot. Although caffeine in low moderation doesn't hurt for me personally its only when i go overboard is all. Its the whole purpose of this board is to learn from others personal choices they make and their ideas. ya mines straight from the Doctors:) I was very nervous about taking a drug to help me concentrate. My wife suggested i look into it and so i did. Ive been taking it for about 3 weeks now and can tell a big difference. I don't recommend anyone taking it just to stay awake thats just silly. I do take it because it does help me a lot better with functions of life such as school right now. I can so tell a big difference when I'm in class and able to listen to the teacher with out paying attention to the ass across the room from me texting or people showing up late to class. I get highly distracted with that stuff so I'm thankful that there is something out there that is helpful for my situation.</p>

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<p>ott3rpop5:</p>

<p>Good point about relative durations of cocaine vs. amphetamines - which was a point I already made - on the other hand, coke could potentially get one through much of the test, the comedown isn't bad, and if it's really a problem another line can be done quickly and surreptitiously. I agree with you though, amphetamine are definitely superior in this instance.</p>

<p>Also agreed about doing it beforehand to make sure it's all right. In fact, certain psychiatrists who give off-the-record advice have suggested that taking a practice test on amphetamines in a setting that exactly recreates the test conditions could be most useful.</p>

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<p>Himroydan Lol Do Not Drink Coffee With Adderall Ever!!!</p>

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<p>ott3r</p>

<p>"2. to the person who was saying he's now taking ritalin, go google ritalin. WAY WORSE THAN ADDERALL by all means. stunts growth, high risk of being addicted to other drugs, etc."</p>

<p>aww, aren't you cute. </p>

<p>i take ritalin instead of adderall because it's more effective for my narcolepsy at lower doses. I was on an unsafely high does of adderall, and had to switch. I don't care if google says it's worse, it's the only thing that keeps me mildly functioning.</p>

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<p>i'm sorry to be patronizing / mean i'm just SICK of explaining my health and medications to people. just take my word for it, i take ritalin for a reason</p>

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<p>oh okay then in that case it's acceptable
i'm just sick of people taking ritalin for the high when adderall or caffeine could be used instead.</p>

<p>and to two posts above this or whatever,
coke does have a crappy comedown.
and it's not like you can just snort another line in the middle of the test
so you'd be coked out and then crash while still taking the test</p>

<p>whatevuhhh. i'm done</p>