Preparing for Long Exams: Tips for Staying Focused

[Noxide]

Just had a 4 hour exam and I was physically exhausted after taking the test. I'm in good shape, but concentrating for that long is tough. Does anyone know how to "train" for long tests? I was considering trying to study in 4 hour exam-like increments, any other tips?

 

[cristo]

I can sit in front of my computer for longer than 16 hours if needed aslongas my network connection is stable

That's not really "concentrating" though, is it?

 

[Matterwave]

try bringing a banana...

 

[MotoH]

Every 15 minutes or so, look at all the girlies in the class to refresh your mind.

 

[fasterthanjoao]

Just had a 4 hour exam and I was physically exhausted after taking the test. I'm in good shape, but concentrating for that long is tough. Does anyone know how to "train" for long tests? I was considering trying to study in 4 hour exam-like increments, any other tips?

I found that, over time, I got to know my limits of concentration. For me, trying to go full-haul for 3/4 hours is impossible - well, I have done it, but afterwards realize I've made many silly mistakes as a result.

In the past, the way I have handled long exams such as this is to take a short break every half hour or so. Think about something other than the subject of the exam. Make some doodles. I used to do something similar at the start of an exam, rather than launch into the paper I always found I was pumped up with adrenaline, and needed to relax a bit before thinking properly - I would sit for the first few minutes working on my breathing and relaxing myself in the environment. In long problem solving exams, I liked to have a quick scan through the paper for the first 10-15 minutes or so, and make tiny notes on my thoughts for each question (whatever equation flagged up in my mind, or what-have-you) - and I found that this meant I could relax a bit more since I knew what was coming up, rather than having a panic every time I move on to a following question.

For pre-exam preparation, the only thing I can think to recommend would be past papers. Set yourself up in an exam style environment and work through the paper - the practice is really an exercise in time management.

 

[Office_Shredder]

Don't cram the night before. Don't study the morning of the exam.

While an undergraduate at the end of each year we had four three hour exams on consecutive days. I spent the rest of those days just playing ping pong and watching TV; it's a lot easier to work for three hours on something when you're really only working for three hours on it

 

[drizzle]

Do you really need 4 hours for an exam? How many Qs in that exam you had? What was it?

I only recall my QM exams [I hated it!], 5 questions in 2 hours. That looks fine, only some of the answers to these questions are 3/4 PAGES long! I always finish at the last minute.

 

[turbo]

Every 15 minutes or so, look at all the girlies in the class to refresh your mind.

When I was in engineering school, there were 5 "girlies" and 300 guys, and not all the "girlies" were cute. Please adopt a less sexist attitude.

 

[MotoH]

When I was in engineering school, there were 5 "girlies" and 300 guys, and not all the "girlies" were cute. Please adopt a less sexist attitude.

Boohoo.


It's the lovely things about opinions though isn't it. The OP asked for help, I answered. Don't agree with it? To bad.

 

[fluidistic]

I don't have any tip. But if that makes you feel better, think about all the French people who want to enter University. They have to pass a series of exams (called the "BAC", abbreviation for baccalauréat.) In one week, they have more than 20 hours of exams. A day can be 7,5 hours of exams: 4 hours in the morning and 3,5 hours in the afternoon. It's hard and you can imagine your shape in the last day of the week.
See there for a "reference": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baccalauréat.

 

[rootX]

Simplest possible advice: Just don't give up no matter how tiring/painful it gets

 

[zpconn]

When I was in engineering school, there were 5 "girlies" and 300 guys, and not all the "girlies" were cute. Please adopt a less sexist attitude.

How is that even remotely sexist? Heterosexual males are attracted to women.

 

[Klockan3]

When I was in engineering school, there were 5 "girlies" and 300 guys, and not all the "girlies" were cute. Please adopt a less sexist attitude.

Isn't like 25% of the engineering students females today? At least where I went.

I don't have any tip. But if that makes you feel better, think about all the French people who want to enter University. They have to pass a series of exams (called the "BAC", abbreviation for baccalauréat.) In one week, they have more than 20 hours of exams. A day can be 7,5 hours of exams: 4 hours in the morning and 3,5 hours in the afternoon. It's hard and you can imagine your shape in the last day of the week.
See there for a "reference": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baccalauréat.

Bohoo, I have done many weeks with 25 hours worth of exams, often with 10 hours of exams in one day (our exams are usually 5 hours). It isn't that tiresome to take exams.

 

[turbo]

Boohoo.

It's the lovely things about opinions though isn't it. The OP asked for help, I answered. Don't agree with it? To bad.

If the OP was stupid enough to look all around the exam room periodically instead of keeping his eyes on his exam, a proctor would soon escort him out with a nice fat 0 for a score.

 

[ronaldoshaky]

If I was doing well in an exam, I would take a five to ten minute break. You can sit there and not write anything. Dont be foolish and look around, because the invigilators will notice it. But you can stare into the middle distance and fold your arms, like someone who is zoned out. Nobody is going to bother you.

Never sat a four hour exam in my life. The most was three hours.

 

[Noxide]

If the OP was stupid enough to look all around the exam room periodically instead of keeping his eyes on his exam, a proctor would soon escort him out with a nice fat 0 for a score.

Especially since alphabetical order seats me in front of everyone else. A pi/2 turn would not turn out well for me.

 

[Klockan3]

If the OP was stupid enough to look all around the exam room periodically instead of keeping his eyes on his exam, a proctor would soon escort him out with a nice fat 0 for a score.

I often look around the exam room and none have even begun watching strangely at me for it. Do you got personal issues with that guy or what?

 

[davesface]

It is never a good idea to needlessly look around during an exam. Even if it's totally innocent, it invites suspicion. I don't see any reason to take the risk.

 

[Nabeshin]

If the OP was stupid enough to look all around the exam room periodically instead of keeping his eyes on his exam, a proctor would soon escort him out with a nice fat 0 for a score.

I definitely look around during exams, be it at "girlies" or whatever else. You get so drawn into the piece of paper, it's nice to take a step back as it were and get your bearings on your surroundings. Plus I like watching people so it's hilarious to see the little ticks people have while answering exam questions (you know yours!).

It's true, can sometimes be a spat of trouble, though. Although ever since I got to my current university, I hardly ever think about it. Not the kind of heavily proctored environment -- everyone is very honest and it's not like high school where proctors are out to catch cheaters (they're there to answer questions!).

 

[turbo]

Well, the most important tests in engineering school (mid-terms and finals) were held in very large halls with lots of oversight by instructors and grad students. Students were crowded fairly close to one another, and you'd definitely get some fallout if you were gawking around during exams. No calculators allowed (slide rules only), no cheat-sheets or notes, and no looking at anybody else's exams. In such a competitive environment even the appearance of attempting to cheat would get you noticed pretty quickly.

 

[Nabeshin]

From the sounds of your posts, this was a while ago, no? I'm not in engineering, but perhaps things have lightened up.

Also girlie-guy ratio has improved somewhat.

 

[turbo]

From the sounds of your posts, this was a while ago, no? I'm not in engineering, but perhaps things have lightened up.

Also girlie-guy ratio has improved somewhat.

~40 years ago. Engineering was a highly competitive field at my school and there was zero tolerance for cheating. Wandering eyes during exams would get you warned at a minimum, and ejected with no score if it appeared to be egregious.

 

[zpconn]

It's definitely not like that everywhere. My university for instance has an honor code which disallows professors from proctoring exams. Many exams are take-home as well. Cheating is still taken very seriously. Actually, if you get caught cheating here, you're pretty much screwed: the default punishment is an F in the course plus a two semester suspension. In my opinion, that's too severe--but that is a discussion for another time.

 

[flyingpig]

Think about dirty stuff, I am not even kidding. It works lol

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

The longest exam I had was 4.5 to 5 hours.

Not for the faintest of hearts.

 

[Gib Z]

I've had 4 hours, but usually when an exam is that long to begin with, there is scope for finishing early. I have a routine where I read all the questions, decide which ones look hard and which ones I can do quickly, attempt the ones which look hard and once I've thought seriously about all of them and I can't get anymore done, I do the easy ones. I guess those are my mental breaks. It's not the best routine if you think you'll be short pressed for time, because you don't want to not have the easy questions done and the exam to finish!

If it actually noticeable effects you, at the half time mark take a 2 min break, have some water. If it only makes you uncomfortable, just deal with it.

 

[wisvuze]

when I start getting worn out or bored, singing to myself usually helps :P

 

[Werg22]

Try energy drinks.

 

[TMM]

Try energy drinks.

I don't know about the rest of you, but these kill my ability to think straight.