How to stay attentive for 3 hrs 45 mins..

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
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<p>Well JBVirtuoso, it helps if you know the test center and the weather, but even then I always prepare for the worst in layers.</p>

<p>First, I wear a T-shirt, then a long sleeve over it. I'll usually bring a sweatshirt if it's not June-August. October-April usually merits some sort of lightweight fleece, and November-Feburary, a full on jacket.</p>

<p>You may make fun of me, but I had to go to an SAT (John's Hopkins, old style) and the room was 50 degrees (you could see your own breath).</p>

<p>Usually, I wear long socks during non summer tests (I roll them down if it's warm), and I always take something cold to drink. If possible, I take a convertible pair of shorts/pants during the fall/spring, and I always wear pants during the winter.</p>

<p>Yes, I'm obsessive, but I'm always comfortable in the testing room :D</p>

<p>Even if I'm at the same test center, I plan as if the room is cooled/heated differently or (more likely), I'm in a different room. My test centers are always crowded.</p>

<p>I'd try to sit as far away as possible from other people in a non crowded test center- if you get a jerk for a proctor, he's less likely to kick you out when you sneeze or go to pick up the pencil you dropped. If you get a lenient proctor, you're still far away from distractions (and temptation).</p>

<p>In short, JB, I always overdress because you can remove clothing if you're too warm, but you can't add clothing you didn't bring, and if you sit away from other people, it'll make you more comfortable (you won't hear their nervous tics as much) and the proctor too.</p>

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<p>@ coopjust</p>

<p>wow u really wasted ur time writing all that.
All I'm saying is that even though it may be safe, it doesn't mean its good for you. Plain and simple. I'd rather drink something healthier like milk, water or juice than a red bull a day.I'm guessing ur just trying to justify ur addiction though and I would def. consider one red bull a day an addiction. but that's just my definition of addiction esp. since red bull does not provide the body with anything nutricious. It just makes people feel good since there is a lot of sugar, which isn't good for you either.</p>

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<p>


</p>

<p>I don't want to start a flame war or anything...let's try to keep the thread on topic.</p>

<p>You said that I was "I'm (you are) guessing ur (I'm) just trying to justify ur (my) addiction though". Congratulations on a baseless assumption. I don't drink Red Bull regularly. I have less than a can a month.</p>

<p>Anyhow, large quantities of any stimulant are unsafe, and you should try to avoid becoming absolutely dependent on a stimulant in order to get on with your day. Common sense, a lot of people ignore this, whether it's Red Bull or coffee.</p>

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<p>@Little_Duck</p>

<p>Enviroment helps- I have a test center that is a longer commute, but is much more comfortable.</p>

<p>I went to a diff. one when my fave was overbooked in the spring. They opened the windows in an air conditioned room (that's right!). Not only did it get stiflingly hot and stuffy, but it drove my allergies nuts.</p>

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<p>Coopjust; Just curious; how many 3 hour 45 minute tests have you taken?</p>

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<p>Hmmm...</p>

<p>Well, let's see. I've taken the SAT with John's Hopkins twice, the PLAN, the PSAT, 2 ACTS, 2 SATS, three SAT IIs at once (that's 3 hours 10mins with 2 5min breaks, but still).</p>

<p>I've done it a few times :D And I'm doing it a few more...</p>

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<p>HERE'S THE RESULT OF MY "EXPERIMENT"</p>

<p>Basically, real simple. I went to the bathroom beforehand, and got a vocab list and studied on my bed (to make me tired faster). At about 11:40, after I completed about a page, I started dozing off. I drank HALF a can of red bull, and then brushed my teeth and waited to give the caf time to kick in. from 11:45, I managed to study wide awake til 12:20 until I crashed again (studied at the same place).</p>

<p>Placebo effect (imagining that I will stay awake, so therefore reacting to that thought), and the fact that I washed my face after brushing my teeth might have helped me get started again. But I did get a 35 minute boost, which isn't bad. Also, I found out that I didn't really get distracted or hyper.</p>

<p>It's an interesting idea to try to use red bull to boost you up on a test. I haven't really examined the consequences of it though... (crashing, hyper, etc).</p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

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<p>"Congratulations on a baseless assumption"</p>

<p>duh. that's why I said I'm GUESSING <----key word</p>

<p>anyways, we agree on the same thing so I don't know why ur showing me so much attitude. </p>

<p>anyways, ya, I have a teacher that drinks like 3 mountain dews a day. at least it's diet tho. lol. and I have a teacher that drinks diet coke all day.
I think its funny to watch them freak out when they missplace the can and can't find it. lol.</p>

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<p>Chocolate and mint mentose work for me lol.</p>

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<p>ya, I usually take some candy with me.</p>

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<p>Well, my school is unairconditioned so I'm used to thinking when the room is 95 degrees, as the classrooms by the greenhouse usually are. But I'm very unfamiliar with this test center, and it's a 45 minute drive away. I just don't know what to expect.</p>

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<p>Yeah JB, you never know what to expect, esp. with a new test center.</p>

<p>It's really interesting to see everyone elses strategies for keeping alert throughout the end of the test. I myself drink a lot of cold water- this keeps me hydrated, and wakes me up. I go to the bathroom (so I'm not bursting during section 8) and I'll usually splash some water on my face (it helps with keeping alert).</p>

<p>I'll have to see about trying with a mint or something, who knows? A bit of flavor might be able to really help.</p>

<p>EDIT: I just read this over and realized how obsessive I am about my standardized tests, Hey, if it helps me get into a better school, a little bit of obsessive compulsivity couldn't hurt, right? :)</p>

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<p>writing "Future" all over the test usually suffices</p>

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<p>LOL it's hard for me to focus the first 3 sections (especially if it's CR and an experimental CR..grr...)
Then I get the hang of it and I usually get less wrong towards the end.
Yeah, I know, I'm a bit weird.</p>

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<p>Red-Bull Sugar free and normal? i have never tried the sugar free, does it have the same effect?</p>

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<p>Eh, it's sweetened with aspartame (brands Equal & NutraSweet). It supposedly tastes like the original, and it lacks a little bit of the immediate kick (no sugar). I personally don't</a> trust aspartame, but that's just me.</p>

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<p>i tried a red bull...and it didnt really help me. Is monster better?</p>

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<p>There are various factors to help or cut your concentration.
(1) Get a lot of rest. This is extremely important, because if you don't sleep enough, then your mind will have a hard time even thinking.
(2) Make sure you are appropriately dressed, so that you can maintain a comfortable body temperature.
(3) Bring a bottle of water. When I took a practice Spanish AP test with one of my friends, I noticed that he had a bottle of water to keep him hydrated and keep his blood flowing properly. He was also very focused, not letting anything distract him, while my brain wandered off thinking about many things: the time, the noise, and my thirst. He was able to finish the Spanish critical reading section 15 minutes ahead of me.
(4) Don't think too much; just focus on the test. If you think too much about everything going around you, your mind will start to wander off. This may happen during the Critical Reading passages.
FINAL PREPARATION
- Try practicing some tests so that you know the patterns of each section. This will certainly relieve test anxiety and feelings of helplessness.
- Keep your mind focused and don't get distracted by hot girls; that kind of happened with me during the subject tests, but maybe in a positive way; I ended up finishing my U.S. History test 20 minutes early so that I could check out the girls; I ended up with a 680 on that test; maybe I could have done better, or maybe the placebo effect helped me concentrate to finish, but my mind wandered off in the next two tests.
- The little things matter. Bring a pencil and eraser; not lead pencil! On the SAT I, I ran out of lead and I freaked out and did horribly. Also, check your calculator batteries! My calculator happened to be running out of batteries, probably because I played too much Tetris in math class. That also freaked me out.
- Study some grammar so that the writing sections will be a breeze. Also read previous essays that were scored well.</p>

<p>FINAL NOTE
With everything going wrong on my first SAT I test, I hope that I will be able to implement my strategies and do better on the test. My last score (last October) was a 1670; when I get this October's results back, I will probably report it here to prove that my preparation plan helps.</p>

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<p>chocolate with Red Bull is preferred</p>

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<p>why hasnt anyone tried for naturals??? wait up i'll send my post soon.... red bull is a very good energizer but how long does it last?? besides it plays directly with ur hormone levels better go for naturals.</p>