8 am test... how did you all wake up?

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Munkaboo: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 7; Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:13 pm

by Munkaboo » Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:05 pm

Did any of you drink coffee or any other energy booster before your test?

I am NOT a morning person, and I had to choose the 8 AM slot.

I'm also worried about getting to sleep the night before, have any of you tried just taking some benedryl or something else to get you to sleep?

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Source: Beat The GMAT — GMAT Strategy | Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:05 pm

freezing: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 7; Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:43 am

by freezing » Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:58 pm

I haven't scheduled my test yet, and I'm hoping I can get an afternoon slot, if they're even offered here.

If I were to drink coffee before the test, there would be no point in taking it at all - I react badly to coffee in the morning, I'd start shaking and wouldn't be able to concentrate at all. So, whatever you do, try it out at least a week before the exam under the same conditions. Take the sleeping pills you're planning on taking for the exam, get up at the same time you'd have to on test day in order to get to the test center on time, and do a practice test at 8am. Don't try anything the day of.

Btw, from other exams in the past, I know that what works best for me is to try to get up around the same time the day before, go to bed so I get around 8h of sleep and then just get up in the morning and do the exam, without changing anything else. The adrenaline seems to be enough to enable me to concentrate despite the unusual time.

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VP_Jim: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1223; Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:29 pmFollowed by: 15 members; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 185 times

by VP_Jim » Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:47 am

If coffee works for you, then I'd drink it.

Another thing you can try is to get into the routine of sleeping early and waking up early the week before the test. That way, by the time the actual testing date comes, you'll be at least slightly used to getting up early.

By all means, revert back to your normal routine after the test, but I don't recommend trying to take massive amounts of caffeine or a sleeping aid right before!

Good luck!

Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep

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Munkaboo: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 7; Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:13 pm

by Munkaboo » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:34 am

Yeah, I'm taking baby steps. I woke up at 9:30 this morning, I intend to wake up at 8:45 tomorrow. Then 8 on wednesday and 7:30 on thursday. (I usually wake up around 11, go go late classes!

From what I remember with the SATs, adrenaline kept me going pretty well, so I'm not terribly worried.

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aim-wsc: Legendary Member; Posts: 2469; Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:09 pmFollowed by: 14 members; Location: BtG Underground; Thanked: 85 times

by aim-wsc » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:47 am

I'd try to adapt myself to be fresh at 8.00 am a week prior to my test.

errmm try big leap instead of baby steps

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Munkaboo: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 7; Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:13 pm

by Munkaboo » Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:10 pm

aim-wsc wrote:I'd try to adapt myself to be fresh at 8.00 am a week prior to my test.

errmm try big leap instead of baby steps

8 AM it is for tomorrow, then!

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