What do/did you do to calm down before exams?

**LegendKiller** · 06-03-2004, 11:51 AM

I am taking off work tomorrow in preparation for the CFA lvl1 exam on Saturday. It goes from 9am-12pm and then 2pm-5pm, 240 multiple choice questions, 1.5 min per question. I am VERY nervous despite studying an average of 3 hours per day for the past 7 months.

This is, upset stomach, jittery leg, head floating nervousness. I wasn't this nervous for the SAT, GMAT, or any finals before. Passing this gives me the chance for a massive raise and will really please my boss (along with making their investment worth it).

So, how do you guys relax when you have something so massive that it makes you almost want to throw up?

I can't imagine what i'll be like for my wedding.

**gear02** · 06-03-2004, 11:53 AM

think about something else...

play a video game, watch tv...just think of something else. And don't think about what happens if you get a good score/bad score...

**psycho-** · 06-03-2004, 11:53 AM

Killl people...umm..I mean....take a nap

**baggio248** · 06-03-2004, 11:58 AM

I used to listen to really loud music to get out all my nervousness and built up energy, or just have a drink or 4.

**blueindian** · 06-03-2004, 12:04 PM

get high and rub one out.

**Nija** · 06-03-2004, 12:05 PM

To be honest, all I do is study as hard as I can.

Right before the test I try to drink a lot of water, to make myself have to urinate. I don't, however go to the bathroom. Then right before I take the test, I close my eyes, and as deep a breath as I can, and slowly exhale. Open my eyes and start testing.

The holding out on peeing thing seems to make me concentrate so much more on the test. Maybe it's a superstition on my part, but it seems every test that I've used that on, I've gotten better scores than on the non-having-to-pee tests.

**topane** · 06-03-2004, 12:06 PM

Get a couple of hookers, do a few lines, moon some cops.

**Nija** · 06-03-2004, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by blueindian

get high and rub one out.

**cheapie** · 06-03-2004, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Nija

To be honest, all I do is study as hard as I can.

Right before the test I try to drink a lot of water, to make myself have to urinate. I don't, however go to the bathroom. Then right before I take the test, I close my eyes, and as deep a breath as I can, and slowly exhale. Open my eyes and start testing.

The holding out on peeing thing seems to make me concentrate so much more on the test. Maybe it's a superstition on my part, but it seems every test that I've used that on, I've gotten better scores than on the non-having-to-pee tests.

what an incredibly weird answer.

**LegendKiller** · 06-03-2004, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by cheapie

what an incredibly weird answer.

I agree, if I had to pee during an exam I would probably be too distracted to do well.

LK

**~~Cantacuzene~~** · 06-03-2004, 01:07 PM

I dont ever study, I usually just take a nap and make sure I get plenty to eat. Thats usually worth more than studying.

**brainsmile** · 06-03-2004, 01:20 PM

I usually have the same sort of preparation setup. I always take exams with my "lucky" pencil/pen and always take some food with me for extra energy. Don't take it when you feel hungry... eat before you hit that wall.

**nickel** · 06-03-2004, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by blueindian

get high and rub one out.

i am noticing a trend with you....

**ski** · 06-03-2004, 01:29 PM

Adderall, 2-3 hours before the test

**Airencracken** · 06-03-2004, 01:35 PM

*fap,fap,fap,fap,fap*

Usually I just have lunch or something...

**Yossarian** · 06-03-2004, 01:37 PM

nothing. but thats because i never study

**InfiniteNothing** · 06-03-2004, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Cantacuzene

I dont ever study, I usually just take a nap and make sure I get plenty to eat. Thats usually worth more than studying.

nothing. but thats because i never study

Get a real major!

Big test? I draw. Try it. I've drawn lots of really nice things. It cools your nerves and preserves the short term left brain and stimulates the right brain. When you take the test, you use both and do well.

But pre test rituals are crucial. Canta's dead on with sleep I can't emphasise sleep enough. A little caffine helps to (but not too much). Weed if you have some helps. Good breakfast. DON'T shower that morning if you studied all night. If you begin studying that morning then go ahead and take that shower. I know there's more

**LegendKiller** · 06-03-2004, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Yossarian

nothing. but thats because i never study

Wish I didn't have to for this one. During bschool I usually didn't study much and I came out with a 3.92, but this stuff is just...massive. Anything connected with finance is in it, ethics (heh), macro/micro econ, global econ, quantitative methods (stats, port analysis, bayes theorem), financial statement analysis, assets, liabilities, fixed income analysis, capital markets, derivatives, alternative investments, its just one big clusterfvck of knowledge.

Listening to music has helped. Somebody at work suggested getting hammered fri-night (good one) since I am going to be on South Beach. That happens sat night for sure, and sunday night too.

LK

**poiselle** · 06-03-2004, 02:09 PM

I like animal crackers before the exam. Seems to settle my stomach. Worked for the GRE. This one sounds harder so try burning off some energy. Do you ride a bike or anything?

**DaFunkyUnit** · 06-03-2004, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by InfiniteNothing

DON'T shower that morning if you studied all night.

so you can create a stink aura around you in order to distract everyone else?

**LegendKiller** · 06-03-2004, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by poiselle

I like animal crackers before the exam. Seems to settle my stomach. Worked for the GRE. This one sounds harder so try burning off some energy. Do you ride a bike or anything?

Not here, yet. Even if I did I am driving down to Miami from orlando to take the exam and staying in a hotel on south beach (4 blocks from the exam center), no bikes are possible.

LK

**ray** · 06-03-2004, 02:31 PM

listen to music of course.

**InfiniteNothing** · 06-03-2004, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by DaFunkyUnit

so you can create a stink aura around you in order to distract everyone else?

showering clears your medium/short term memory. Good if you need to learn something after, bad if you have to use last nights knowledge

**cheapie** · 06-03-2004, 03:01 PM

kinda like hitting control-f5?

**bachviet** · 06-03-2004, 08:43 PM

Rest and drink some tea...

**ufcrusher** · 06-03-2004, 10:08 PM

It all depends on the exam and who I am with.

For the bar exam, I always went out the night before and saw some stupid (definitely non-law related) movie. Just relax and veg out. Had a good meal as well. The morning of I just got there early and paced a bit. Tried my best to not discuss anything before the test. Just relax and figure out what I am going to do when I am done.

Sex is also always in order to relax the body and mind as well.

**revil** · 06-03-2004, 10:14 PM

hmm. I've never been nervous for tests... except one i didn't really study for. the one i was nervous, my body was all tight while i was taking the test and I was stressing. I was so tight, I couldn't hold back a fart... it was quite loud. All I could do was laugh, and that calmed me down quite a bit.... then again, if you don't want to embarass yourself... I don't know.