Pulling an All Nighter for Exam- How to Get an A

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cyrus
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Time
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The thread revolves around the experience of pulling an all-nighter in preparation for an exam, with participants sharing their thoughts on study habits, the challenges of memorization, and the effects of sleep deprivation. The discussion includes personal anecdotes, humor, and varying perspectives on the effectiveness of cramming and the use of caffeine.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration with cramming and memorization, labeling it as "stupid."
  • Another participant suggests that creating patterns can aid in memorization, sharing a specific example of how to relate concepts.
  • Several participants discuss their personal experiences with all-nighters, including the effects of caffeine and the potential for crashing afterward.
  • There are humorous exchanges about the necessity of sleep and the challenges of managing multiple exams.
  • One participant claims to have achieved a high score on an exam after an all-nighter, while others express skepticism about the sustainability of such habits.
  • Some participants share their strategies for studying and preparing for exams, including the use of stories or images to aid memory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the effectiveness of all-nighters or cramming, with some advocating for different study techniques while others share their own experiences that contradict those views. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to studying under pressure.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of confidence in their preparation and the impact of sleep deprivation on their performance. There are references to personal limits regarding sleep and study habits, indicating that experiences may differ widely among individuals.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to students facing similar pressures during exam periods, particularly those considering all-nighters or struggling with memorization techniques.

Cyrus
Messages
3,246
Reaction score
17
I have an exam tomorrow and I am pulling an all nighter, this is fun. All I need is a 61% to get an A, but I had to study for other stuff and so now I am cramming in all these dumb facts about materials. Weeee I hate school.

BTW, it is currently 2:34 am, and I am talking to myself.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Think of what the people taking 17 credits are feeling :smile:
 
Too bad for them, don't take so many credits then.
 
Last edited:
shut-up, log off, and study.

Good luck. :biggrin:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: gracy
let's debate this, Ivan. :smile:

I'm trying to memorize this stuff, but memorization is just STUPID!

BTW: 2:52 AM.

I honestly thought I was done with meorization when I finished all my elective courses. This is pathetic.
 
Last edited:
Actually, what's pitiful is that you're in university and still can't spell 'memorisation'. As the old guy said, shut up and go to sleep (or study; same difference at this point).
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: gracy
Sleep is for the weak.
 
Last edited:
Might I remind you that cats are the most perfect killing machines on the planet (and don't bring up sharks, because their scope is limited), and they spend about 80% of their lives sleeping. :-p
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
let's debate this, Ivan. :smile:

I'm trying to memorize this stuff, but memorization is just STUPID!

I see that you're still online. Do I need to put you on a 24 hour ban?
 
  • #10
Ivan Seeking said:
Do I need to put you on a 24 hour ban?

I thought that Mitchum was the 24 hour brand.
 
  • #11
5:00 am, and the party is just getting started.

Ban, you can try. I am in the school library, aka 50+ computers all that I can make new bogus login names :devil:
 
Last edited:
  • #12
I have really bad memories about all nighters and tests... I once pulled an all nighter before a 6 hour test... Let's just say that the 5 extra hours of studying didn't help. lol. Good luck on your exam though!
 
  • #13
What time is your test?
 
  • #14
8:00 am

It is now 5:34 am. Right now my heart is pumping Red bull and Sobe. I do not feel tired.

Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.

I have the will to get above a 60% right now. I could get a C if I just wrote my name on the exam and turned it in, lol. That would be funny. Id get a B if I answered like two or three problems. I am just planning on getting partial credit everywhere and winding up with hopefully a 68-70%.
 
Last edited:
  • #15
That's not too bad then.I hate cramming, especially when it is pure memorization. Such as social studies (still in HS).
 
  • #16
The trick to memorizing things is making up patterns. For instance:

L= \alpha + \beta

\gamma = \alpha + \beta

L+ \gamma = \alpha

\gamma+ \beta = \alpha

Now, I could try to memorize all these RxNs, but I'm not going to. I am going to notice that the first two result in the same thing on the RHS, and the last two also have the same thing. Now I notice that the first one is just an L, and all the rest have a gamma in them. If I go down two I put in another L, and for the last one the only piece missing is the beta, so it has to be gamma and beta goes to alpha. I make up tons of these little 'tricks' so that I don't just memorize things.

Try it, it works.
 
Last edited:
  • #17
In the past 40 hours, I've had (at most) 3 hours of sleep. What's scaring me is that I don't feel tired at all, even though I had 2 finals about 10 hours ago.
 
  • #18
Yea, I usually try to do that too when trying to memorize stuff. I also find that if you can attach a story or at least an image to something you are trying to memorize it makes it much easier. I have only a couple of weeks til I got to start studying hard for diploma exams. :frown: Although I doubt I even need to study for physics/math/calculus... it's just the social I am scared of. Seeing as your test is in 1.5 hrs, I will wish you one last good luck before you have to go. Tell me how it went afterwards.
 
  • #19
Morphism. Go to bed! :)
 
  • #20
I still have lots of time, and I'm not even tired. I think after this semester I consumed enough caffeine to keep me awake for the next two months.

I think I know a good 70-80% of the material by now. Enough to get me that 62% I need.

6:34 am, yummy.
 
Last edited:
  • #21
Silly Engineers. I don't do all-nighters :smile:
 
  • #22
Well, it went O.K. I think I def got above a 61 to get my A.

Now I gota go home and sleep for a few hours and study for heat transfer :devil: :devil: Dammit that test is going to kill my ass. ~700 pages, open book, open notes comprehensive exam.
 
Last edited:
  • #23
Man, I can never do that. No sleep just kills me. I'd fall asleep during the exams.

I need 6 hours of sleep atleast.
 
  • #24
Well, I hope that everything works out well for you, Cyrus. I also hope you realize that if you're running on Red Bull, caffiene suppliments of any kind, bennies, or other such things... you are going to crash hard when they finally wear off. Be prepared to spend at least a couple of full days and nights in bed after it's over. Voice of experience here, kiddo.
 
  • #25
Danger said:
Well, I hope that everything works out well for you, Cyrus. I also hope you realize that if you're running on Red Bull, caffiene suppliments of any kind, bennies, or other such things... you are going to crash hard when they finally wear off. Be prepared to spend at least a couple of full days and nights in bed after it's over. Voice of experience here, kiddo.

:smile: :smile: You obviously don't know how many times I have had to do this in the past.
 
  • #26
Good luck, Cyrus!. You know i just finished the quarter, and i slept finally!. Hope you'll have the same opportunity soon :smile:
 
  • #27
Well, maybe you have the same sort of stamina as me. It's rare. My hard crashes were after 3-4 days awake, and then it was just a full day of doing nothing. I know an awful lot of people who tried to replicate it, though, and none of them lasted more than 2 days. (And for the record, I didn't take any drugs or supplements other than a lot of coffee.)
Do keep in mind that however well you feel now, it will take its toll after a few decades if you do it on a regular basis. I guess that if it's just for the sake of school, it should be okay. My mistake was in doing it every weekend for several years. Once I hit about 40...
 
  • #28
Hmmm, I when I went to bed it was sunny outside, and when I woke up it was dark...:confused:

That was a nice 7 hour nap :rolleyes:. I should be good to study until 2-3 am tonight.

You, hit 40? You don't like a day over 65.
 
Last edited:
  • #29
cyrusabdollahi said:
You, hit 40? You don't like a day over 65.

I thought I banned you.

Danger counts his years in hexadecimal...that way he has just the right number of fingers to count with.
 
Last edited:
  • #30
you are completely insane, Cyrus.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 39 ·
2
Replies
39
Views
5K
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
7K