<p>How do you make yourself stay focused throughout the whole 3 and a half hours. I always get so tired midway and just stop caring. It happens with all of my tests. Any test that's 1 hour+ I get bored and stop caring.</p>
<p>Fear!
(It sounds bad, but it really works for me...)</p>
<p>Do lots of practice essays. Oh, and during a test when I got tired and bored, I'll just think to myself "I've been able to focus in worse conditions, like wrestling practice. At least I'm not there."</p>
<p>I hope you won't feel that way when you're driving...</p>
<p>What a familiar prob it is? maybe fear makes you more unfocused... I don't know</p>
<p>I dunno. I just stay really focused, probably because i've got some adrenaline pumping. I take a little bit of a monster before long tests (haha I know its not recommended, but i've found it helps me.)</p>
<p>drink lots of water! and if you have to go to the bathroom, use the 5 minute breaks they give you..but don't just chug water down in one section lol</p>
<p>Just keep telling yourself "I can do this. If I don't push myself now, I'll have to do this all over again."</p>
<p>Didn't someone a while ago say to take adderoll or soemthing? Lol, nah, just eat nutritious and do practice tests every weekend to get in the rhythm.</p>
<p>when i lose focus, i tell myself "this is the only shot ive got, ive worked hard for this. Ive been in worse situations than this. I ll get through it" and it works.</p>
<p>Getting a lot of rest really helps. A week or two before the test, try to start going to sleep earlier. It might sound juvenile, but it really helps. For me personally, nothing can make me distracted more than being tired and grumpy. </p>
<p>Also, try to eat lots of good carbohydrates the week of the test (bagel w/ peanut butter, potatoes, rice, pasta, cereal, popcorn). Try to eat healthy for a week before the test. You should try to have vitamin B-12 (one of the main components of an energy drink, you can find it in fish and cereal and less so in beef/meat).</p>
<p>These may sound like trivial but they really help a lot more than you would think. I also drink half of a "5 hour energy" before I test.</p>
<p>I prepare like I would for a track meet. A mix of carbs and fruits containing high amounts of water (grapes work the best for me) the 24 - 48 hrs before. Get at least 10 hours of sleep.</p>
<p>take lots of practice tests. full timed ones. I was able to focus partially out of fear...haha....but it was mostly because of all the AP exams and stuff. My mental stamina was pretty good in june</p>