"morning of" caffeine/nicotine/liquid intake

[Coyosso]

 

For caffeine/nicotine users, what is your strategy the morning of? Do you find that it increases your anxiety at all, or does it give you what you need to concentrate?

Also, what do you do about liquid intake the morning of? Do you try and drink water to hydrate well in advance, or do you just skip it to avoid having to go during the exam?

 

Edited October 9, 2017 by Coyosso

[_kita]

Until about 2 years ago, I was an avid tea drinker. But that changed during my 2nd masters program. I had pretty consistent migraines from the commuter traveling and other stress. I took caffeine as a migraine stress headache reducer, and found that espresso was a better cure than Excedrin (which gave me an upset stomach). So, my strategy for a test, stressful day, anything when I'm prone to a stress headache...

Wake up early enough that I can at least eat a bagel for breakfast, have 2 shots of espresso with creamer, and then drink water. A lot of water. It keeps my blood flow from constricting, reducing the migraine, and gives me what I need to continue.

For a test, always, always, use the bathroom right before going in. It never fails, I will need to use the restroom 2 minutes into a stressful meeting/test/etc if I don't.

[Coyosso]

Thank you! That's great advice. I ask because the first time I took the GRE, despite having gone right before the test, I still had to go 5 minutes into my first verbal section (and did). I had to go so bad that I couldn't concentrate. That was slightly nightmarish, but fortunately, my verbal score didn't suffer to much. How long before the test was your last drink of water? I'm thinking if I wake up 2 1/2 hours beforehand and chug a liter of water, that should suffice in hydrating me and giving me enough time to go to the bathroom before the test, without having to go during.

 

Edited October 9, 2017 by Coyosso

[_kita]

20 minutes ago, Coyosso said:

 How long before the test was your last drink of water?

Probably a few moments  before going in. Dry mouth and hard swallowing. I wasn't worried about quantifying the amount of water I had. I probably had 2 large glasses of water, and that was fine. My suggestion... use the break. First time I took the GRE, I didn't and had to use the bathroom and felt like my throat had a marble in it the entire time. The last time I took it, I went to get a sip of water and use the bathroom between the break. It really does help shake off mid-test nerves and keep you moving.

[Coyosso]

Awesome. Thanks, Kita. Will keep this in mind!

[Coyosso]

Hey, one last question: did you bring food with you, just in case you got hungry during the 10-minute break? I was thinking of bringing a small bar or banana to chow down on during that interim to give me a little boost mid-test. 

[_kita]

I did. I think it was peanut m&ms. But I didn't end up eating anything. Which isn't suprising since I don't usually eat breakfast early and had to that morning. I chowed down after the test.

[TakeruK]

When I took the computer-based General GRE years ago, when you are on the Instructions screen, the timer doesn't count down. So, that is the best time to take a bathroom break.

[Coyosso]

Can you do that? They won't notice that you are on the untimed screen and disallow you to leave, or penalize you? I tried to ask this in another post, but didn't get any replies. That would be excellent. This confuses, because they give you a "1-minute break" inbetween sections, but really, you can take as much time as you want. Is that correct? 

Did you actually do this during you exam without penalty?

[TakeruK]

I only took one bathroom break and it was during the long 10-minute break. So I haven't tested that myself. However, I did use the Instructions page not counting down time for all my other requests (e.g. for more scrap paper). For these requests, I just got up from my station and went to the desk where the exam invigilator/front desk employee sat.  All test takers were in a computer lab room and the one employee watching us was in the other room that had a window into our room. But that one employee was also responsible for phone calls to the testing center, checking in new arrivals etc. I also took the opportunity to take a longer break on the instructions screen (closed my eyes, cleared my mind etc.) in addition to the 1 minute you get between sections. I don't remember with certainty whether they even checked my screen when I asked for the bathroom break during the 10-minute break.

I think there is likely a ton of variations based on the working policies at each of the testing centres contracted by ETS to conduct these exams. My experience was different from others I talked to. For example, when I went to the bathroom, I just informed the front desk person / invigilator and they told me where to go. When I returned, I just had to show that my pockets were empty and they checked my ID again. Other people told me that they were escorted to the bathroom and/or had to go through metal detectors. 

Since the employee doesn't actually work for ETS, they don't really have any power over your test score. If they suspect you did something wrong, their choices are basically: 1) do nothing, 2) let you complete the exam and file a report with ETS or 3) kick you out. So I'd say that if you need to use the bathroom outside the long break, you might as well ask if you are able to go. If they say no, then you haven't really lost anything. 

[Coyosso]

That's great to hear from someone else. I'm definietely going to do exactly as you did and take some "me time" inbetween sections to shut my eyes and clear my head. I'll try not to ask for bathroom breaks during that time, but your'e right- it can't hurt.  

[Coyosso]

Hey one last question: I don't know much about human physiology, but if I hydrate well (> 1 liter), and stop drinking any liquids within an hour and a half of taking the exam, do you think this should be enough time to evacuate all fluids before test time?

[_kita]

Umm. I'm not qualified as a nutritionist so would not be the person to answer that!

[TakeruK]

5 hours ago, Coyosso said:

Hey one last question: I don't know much about human physiology, but if I hydrate well (> 1 liter), and stop drinking any liquids within an hour and a half of taking the exam, do you think this should be enough time to evacuate all fluids before test time?

I guess you could experiment on yourself and try this in the days leading up to the test to see if this strategy will prevent you from having to use the bathroom during the equivalent test time. Note that it does take some time between arrival at the testing centre and actually starting the test (not sure if you were planning on going through the check-in process and then immediately going to the bathroom (requiring you to do some of the check in again) or if you were planning to go before arriving. Also, at my testing centre, they let me start an hour earlier than my registered test time. I arrived super early since the test was in a different city so I had to crash at a friend's place the night before and then figure out that city's transit system. So, if you also arrive early and don't want to start early, might be a good idea to kill some time before checking in (keeping in mind that they do want you to check in a bit before your test time).