GMAT and energy drinks

Question

Guys,

Sorry if the below is a repetition of any opinion already posted in this forum. I navigated through the site, but did not find any relevant threads with the experience similar to mine.

Inspired by some posts on this forum, I decided to use redbull to improve performance during the actual GMAT. Notice that before I drank redbull very very rarely, once a year at most and in small portions.

However, having less than one can of the drink during each of the two breaks brought an absolutely opposite effect. I felt as if I returned home in the morning after an alcohol party (heart was pumping and brain was not working well). Of course, I cannot blaim redbull alone for my underperformance, but the fact is that this energy drink may have different effects on various people.

So, if you plan to use an energy drink, try it during your simulation test to avoid any inconvenience during the actual test.

anaik100 · Answer

i even tried to eat the same items during mock tests

hemanthp · Answer

thank you guys! i will not drink any such drinks during the test. i will eat a chocolate, drink water or gatorade and wash my face during the breaks.

Lethal · Answer

Good advice, I wouldn't do anything too out of the ordinary before the test. I took a 5 hour energy before my last 2 CATs and my score was a lot higher than ever before. I haven't taken a CAT in over a month before those so I don't know if the energy helped at all. Either way I am going to be sure to drink one before my actual test next week.

shaselai · Answer

5 hour energy is the bomb - its one shot for 5 hours and no crash.

kissthegmat · Answer

In India from where we can get energy drinks like redbull? I doubt whether I have ever seen this in India or not. May be I'm living in remote area that's the reason

madammepsychosis · Answer

I'm personally a big advocate of repetition before big tests. By this I mean that for a period of time (say, a week) before the test, do the exact same thing every day that you plan to do on test day. So, for example, if you have a 9:00am test time, make sure that you eat and drink (whatever is a normal breakfast for you) before that time and be sitting at a desk somewhere ready to exercise your brain (e.g., start doing practice problems or a practice CAT) right at 9:00. Your body gets into rhythms, so by getting into a routine in advance of test day, you ensure that no unknown variable will taint your performance.

This is especially true when it comes to coffee and/or energy drinks. I used to do the same thing before big exams: buy a red bull to drink half way through. That is a fine strategy  if  you are used to it. For someone that does not normally drink coffee or red bull, these drinks will just make you jittery and make your mind race or jump around more than you're used to. So, my advice is, if you start every day with a strong cup of coffee, do the same on test day. If not, don't. If you use red bull (or 5 hour energy) to reinvigorate yourself fairly often, then it will probably be beneficial on test day. If it's not part of your normal diet, don't switch it up on game day.

In short, test day is not the time to experiment.

Matt1177 · Answer

This post makes sense --- absolutely agree with it.

shadow · Answer

some sound advice - thanks for sharing.

vwjetty · Answer

This is what I use. And it's all I need. 1 bottle right after the AWA and for some reason, im not a scientist, but it keeps me alert and full for the rest of the day if drink it around 2PM without any slight sense of hunger even at dinner time. Simply epic.

https://pc7.penguicon.org/images/MonsterEnergyDrinkLogo1.jpg

n2739178 · Answer

be careful, i find too much caffeine means my brain goes dead and I can't concentrate

supereco87 · Answer

Thank you for your advice! Short after I drink Redbull I also sometimes feel the opposite effect. :-D

Frozenace · Answer

If I am not mistaken, Red bull is also carbonated, which could make you feel bloated if you drink more than 2 cans.

They have this new product called Red Bull Energy shot. It's got 133mg caffeine per 100ml, no added carbon dioxide and comes in 60ml packages. It's twice as expensive and after trying it, I can say that it would most likely make me fall asleep during the exam.

Maybe eating some tea leafs could help

I will give that a try.

AmrithS · Answer

Drinking a Red Bull during the break has become a GMAT Club ritual

I personally think it's a placebo..

tarkaston · Answer

no harm, will try it during my next simulation test

akhu · Answer

Can i take coffee just before verbal .... ?

prateekbhatt · Answer

No, they wont allow you the leave that place for coffee and if you meant cold coffee then yes, you can carry it and take it before verbal.

ashkul123 · Answer

for my last MGMAT CAT, I took an energy gel as here in Sydney I could not find 5 hour energy shots. The gel comes in a small pouch and is easily available in coles etc. The pouch says that it is used by people who are working out or athletes etc. and is some sort of sugar concoction.

The problem is ,I took it during the break before verbal and when I started the section, I felt my eyes getting heavy and I could not concentrate. I was finding it very difficult to even look at the screen.

I ended up getting 35 in verbal , but more importantly I had a string of CR and 1 SC question wrong. That SC was at 300-500 level. Even worse , I had an entire RC wrong which is normally my strength and I never get more than 1 question wrong /passage if at all.

By the time I was done with the test , I actually felt quite fresh unlike how I feel after a mock. Just wanted to know if anyone did use these drinks successfully during their actual GMAT ? If yes then what did you use and what was your strategy.

Kindly advise.

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GMAT and energy drinks

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