Three mistakes to avoid the day before the GMATWe’ve all done it—pulled a well-intentioned but poorly executed, caffeine-fueled study bender the night before a big test. This, however, is exactly what not to do if you want to perform your best on an intellectual undertaking like the GMAT.
Here are some typical last-minute pitfalls that we strongly encourage you to avoid before taking the GMAT, plus some advice on how to overcome them so you can excel on test day.
Three of the most common missteps to avoid are:- Cramming
- Not getting enough sleep
- Not eating properly
Mistake #1: CrammingThe underlying issue surrounding cramming is actually twofold when it comes to brain function and test-taking, according to Joan Salge Blake, Clinical Associate Professor at Boston University's Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Cramming itself is almost never a good bet for knowledge retention; it wears you out and can cause undue stress. Think of preparing for the GMAT like one prepares for a marathon: you wouldn’t run all those miles the night before the race, would you? Make sure you’re well-prepared and have most of the material down in advance. It’s best to save the night before the GMAT (and the morning of) for a brief, simple review.
Cramming is also directly connected to the two other biggest GMAT prep pitfalls, because when you cram, you tend to stay up for long periods and eat convenient but nutritionless food. That brings us to...
Mistake #2: Not getting enough sleepAgain, think of this like training for a marathon. “You wouldn’t just wake up and go; you have to train for it,” says Blake. “I've seen it so many times—students don't sleep well, wake up, grab a big coffee and go to the test.”
Also, be careful with caffeinated beverages the day before, she warns, as they can take up to eight hours to wear off, preventing a restful night of sleep. And the same goes for alcohol.
“The day before the test, you want to sleep better, so you want to watch any alcohol consumption,” Blake explains. “It can affect your sleep cycle and really disrupt it; when the effect of the alcohol wears off, it can wake you up, and falling back asleep can be a nightmare.”
Mistake #3: Not eating properlyAfter getting that seemingly elusive good night’s sleep the night before your test, remember to eat a well-balanced breakfast to stoke your intellectual fire.
“Your brain loves carbohydrates, so you want to make sure you wake up and have a really good breakfast with complex carbs, whole grains, proteins, and a little bit of good fat,” Blake advises. A classic example is whole-grain cereal with low fat milk topped with nuts or fruit.
These simple measures will ensure your brain and body are fueled properly for test day.
Good Luck !