Caffeine or no Caffeine?
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A very important maths exam is coming up, which I absolutely need to pass - lots of algebra and whatnot. However, the test will either be on a Tuesday morning, or a Thursday afternoon :sigh: so to improve my mental stimulation, brain activity, and concentration, do I load myself with caffeine (for example a can of Red Bull) so I'm awake and alert, or just try to get good nights of sleep before the exam, and hopefully pass it? As it's algebra, it would be helpful to be able to study my answers without shaking and craving more of the sweet drug and not make any silly mistakes, but I don't want to be dead on the day I do the exam and not be able to concentrate at all. Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
Go with the good night's sleep route. It's better for you than being all jittered up from the caffeine.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
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Question, why would you have an Algebra exam? If you're at university or college you ought to be at Calculus level :confused: Just curious...
Don't forget to vote if the response was helpful
Sig history "dad" Ishmail-Samuel Mustafa "There's no point questioning the actions of a c0ck-juggling thunderc*nt" From the book of testy commentary by martin_hughes Unix is a Four Letter Word, and Vi is a Two Letter Abbreviation
That was what I was thinking until he replied to you he wasn't.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
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First of all, Red Bull is a wimp when it comes to caffeine. Have a coffee - it's got twice as much. Second, caffeine messes with your brain. If you can, choose sleep. Nothing beats being well rested. If you must choose caffeine, drink it half an hour before your exam. It'll start kicking in at just the right time. If you have it sooner, you risk the post-caffeine nap-time right when you need to be alert the most. Cheers, Drew.
Drew Stainton wrote:
If you must choose caffeine, drink it half an hour before your exam.
Yeah that's my current strategy :) Thanks for the advice, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
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A very important maths exam is coming up, which I absolutely need to pass - lots of algebra and whatnot. However, the test will either be on a Tuesday morning, or a Thursday afternoon :sigh: so to improve my mental stimulation, brain activity, and concentration, do I load myself with caffeine (for example a can of Red Bull) so I'm awake and alert, or just try to get good nights of sleep before the exam, and hopefully pass it? As it's algebra, it would be helpful to be able to study my answers without shaking and craving more of the sweet drug and not make any silly mistakes, but I don't want to be dead on the day I do the exam and not be able to concentrate at all. Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
Study in the morning with a big pot of coffee or an even bigger pot of tea. Avoid Red Bull. Eat plenty of carbs - nuts, bread, oatmeal cookies... Avoid all caffeine the afternoon and evening before. Get some good sleep. Avoid sniffing whiteboard markers. Limit your caffeine - but do not eliminate it - prior to the test. Sneak in a can of Coke and a candy bar, sneaking sips/bites throughout the test. Keep your brain supplied with easy sugar. Stay the hell away from Red Bull! You really don't need to be spazzing while you're trying to sit and focus. Try not to think about how good those whiteboard markers smell.
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You're right. These facts that you've laid out totally contradict the wild ramblings that I pulled off the back of cornflakes packets.
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A very important maths exam is coming up, which I absolutely need to pass - lots of algebra and whatnot. However, the test will either be on a Tuesday morning, or a Thursday afternoon :sigh: so to improve my mental stimulation, brain activity, and concentration, do I load myself with caffeine (for example a can of Red Bull) so I'm awake and alert, or just try to get good nights of sleep before the exam, and hopefully pass it? As it's algebra, it would be helpful to be able to study my answers without shaking and craving more of the sweet drug and not make any silly mistakes, but I don't want to be dead on the day I do the exam and not be able to concentrate at all. Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
Crystal Meth
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego. -
Coffee can cause distractions (epecially if too much consumed), I personally take Ginkgo Biloba, Magnesium, Chromium Polynicotinate, Omega 3 and Black Currant Oil (and other stuff)... it tends to make one very focused (But thats prob bit extreme in your case). I think Ginkgo Biloba and Omega 3 would be sufficient. :) Disclaimer : Nothing contained in this post should be considered as medical advice, or as a substitute for advice given by a licensed health care provider. This post is not designed to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. No medical claims are implied or intended. :laugh:
TommyTomToms wrote:
I personally take Ginkgo Biloba, Magnesium, Chromium Polynicotinate, Omega 3 and Black Currant Oil (and other stuff)... it tends to make one very focused (But thats prob bit extreme in your case). I think Ginkgo Biloba and Omega 3 would be sufficient.
I'll give 'em a try :) Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
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Study in the morning with a big pot of coffee or an even bigger pot of tea. Avoid Red Bull. Eat plenty of carbs - nuts, bread, oatmeal cookies... Avoid all caffeine the afternoon and evening before. Get some good sleep. Avoid sniffing whiteboard markers. Limit your caffeine - but do not eliminate it - prior to the test. Sneak in a can of Coke and a candy bar, sneaking sips/bites throughout the test. Keep your brain supplied with easy sugar. Stay the hell away from Red Bull! You really don't need to be spazzing while you're trying to sit and focus. Try not to think about how good those whiteboard markers smell.
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You're right. These facts that you've laid out totally contradict the wild ramblings that I pulled off the back of cornflakes packets.
Shog9 wrote:
Avoid sniffing whiteboard markers.
Damn :laugh:
Shog9 wrote:
You really don't need to be spazzing while you're trying to sit and focus. Try not to think about how good those whiteboard markers smell.
It's a tough one, but I'll give it a try :) Thanks for the advice, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
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A very important maths exam is coming up, which I absolutely need to pass - lots of algebra and whatnot. However, the test will either be on a Tuesday morning, or a Thursday afternoon :sigh: so to improve my mental stimulation, brain activity, and concentration, do I load myself with caffeine (for example a can of Red Bull) so I'm awake and alert, or just try to get good nights of sleep before the exam, and hopefully pass it? As it's algebra, it would be helpful to be able to study my answers without shaking and craving more of the sweet drug and not make any silly mistakes, but I don't want to be dead on the day I do the exam and not be able to concentrate at all. Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
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Regular exercise and sleep. It takes a while to make it a habit but works.
Visit http://www.notreadytogiveup.com/[^] and do something special today.
That shall be one of my New Year resolutions :) Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
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Crystal Meth
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego. -
A very important maths exam is coming up, which I absolutely need to pass - lots of algebra and whatnot. However, the test will either be on a Tuesday morning, or a Thursday afternoon :sigh: so to improve my mental stimulation, brain activity, and concentration, do I load myself with caffeine (for example a can of Red Bull) so I'm awake and alert, or just try to get good nights of sleep before the exam, and hopefully pass it? As it's algebra, it would be helpful to be able to study my answers without shaking and craving more of the sweet drug and not make any silly mistakes, but I don't want to be dead on the day I do the exam and not be able to concentrate at all. Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
Hi, Perspx, There were a series of interesting psychological studies back in the seventies that were lumped together under the name "state specific learning theory." The classic example was a situation where people were brought into a learning lab, given the equivalent of three strong doses of alcohol, then asked to study some material. A week later they came back to the lab and were tested while sober : not surprisingly their scores were worse than the control group (who had studied after drinking a placebo containing no alcohol). It's well demonstrated that alchohol interferes with short-term memory storage. The surprising result came in a follow-up : the original (alcohol dosed subjects) were brought back to the lab, given the same dose of alcohol, then re-tested : their scores were significantly better than when tested "sober." Supposedly there were parallel experiments involving stimulants and other depressants that demonstrated the same effect. It's been so long I've been in the social scientist game that I mention this to you with the heavy disclaimer that current research in neuro-biology and cognitive acuity may have much better theories and experiments now which would provide explanations for such results. And for all I know, "state specific learning theory" may be long discredited. The point I would make is that I think it makes "common" sense to vary your routine as little as possible in terms of the pattern of sleep, use of stimulants, before the exam. Or perhaps allow a day or half-day of rest after a few days of intensive "boning up" before the exam. Again, I think there's probably no "one size fits all" answer here, and I used to do all-nighters myself before exams :) One specific (and current result) I am aware of is that a slight period of rest before trying to recall recently studied material (which I assume is in short-term memory, not yet "processed" into long-term memory) seems to be to really increase recall compared to being tested immediately after exposure to the material. best, Bill
"The greater the social and cultural distances between people, the more magical the light that can spring from their contact." Milan Kundera in Testaments Trahis
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Hi, Perspx, There were a series of interesting psychological studies back in the seventies that were lumped together under the name "state specific learning theory." The classic example was a situation where people were brought into a learning lab, given the equivalent of three strong doses of alcohol, then asked to study some material. A week later they came back to the lab and were tested while sober : not surprisingly their scores were worse than the control group (who had studied after drinking a placebo containing no alcohol). It's well demonstrated that alchohol interferes with short-term memory storage. The surprising result came in a follow-up : the original (alcohol dosed subjects) were brought back to the lab, given the same dose of alcohol, then re-tested : their scores were significantly better than when tested "sober." Supposedly there were parallel experiments involving stimulants and other depressants that demonstrated the same effect. It's been so long I've been in the social scientist game that I mention this to you with the heavy disclaimer that current research in neuro-biology and cognitive acuity may have much better theories and experiments now which would provide explanations for such results. And for all I know, "state specific learning theory" may be long discredited. The point I would make is that I think it makes "common" sense to vary your routine as little as possible in terms of the pattern of sleep, use of stimulants, before the exam. Or perhaps allow a day or half-day of rest after a few days of intensive "boning up" before the exam. Again, I think there's probably no "one size fits all" answer here, and I used to do all-nighters myself before exams :) One specific (and current result) I am aware of is that a slight period of rest before trying to recall recently studied material (which I assume is in short-term memory, not yet "processed" into long-term memory) seems to be to really increase recall compared to being tested immediately after exposure to the material. best, Bill
"The greater the social and cultural distances between people, the more magical the light that can spring from their contact." Milan Kundera in Testaments Trahis
Thanks very much for your input :) I think I've heard about those studies, or similar studies; I've definitely heard about the "rest before recall" studies, which I generally employ, whilst others frantically partake in some last minute revision ;P Thanks for your advice, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
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Question, why would you have an Algebra exam? If you're at university or college you ought to be at Calculus level :confused: Just curious...
Don't forget to vote if the response was helpful
Sig history "dad" Ishmail-Samuel Mustafa "There's no point questioning the actions of a c0ck-juggling thunderc*nt" From the book of testy commentary by martin_hughes Unix is a Four Letter Word, and Vi is a Two Letter Abbreviation
Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
If you're at university or college you ought to be at Calculus level
Ironically, I had to fight to get pre-calculus in our High school and even Trig. The school system was still of the opinion that no one really needed college, and those that did could always catch up when they got there. :doh: We got the advanced math, which for a backwater town like Grants, NM, that meant we caught up with the rest of the world (almost). :laugh:
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."
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Question, why would you have an Algebra exam? If you're at university or college you ought to be at Calculus level :confused: Just curious...
Don't forget to vote if the response was helpful
Sig history "dad" Ishmail-Samuel Mustafa "There's no point questioning the actions of a c0ck-juggling thunderc*nt" From the book of testy commentary by martin_hughes Unix is a Four Letter Word, and Vi is a Two Letter Abbreviation
Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
Question, why would you have an Algebra exam? If you're at university or college you ought to be at Calculus level
Not all Algebra problems are easy :P
Mark Brock "We're definitely not going to make a G or a PG version of this. It's not PillowfightCraft." -- Chris Metzen Click here to view my blog
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A very important maths exam is coming up, which I absolutely need to pass - lots of algebra and whatnot. However, the test will either be on a Tuesday morning, or a Thursday afternoon :sigh: so to improve my mental stimulation, brain activity, and concentration, do I load myself with caffeine (for example a can of Red Bull) so I'm awake and alert, or just try to get good nights of sleep before the exam, and hopefully pass it? As it's algebra, it would be helpful to be able to study my answers without shaking and craving more of the sweet drug and not make any silly mistakes, but I don't want to be dead on the day I do the exam and not be able to concentrate at all. Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
do u know that i'm a math teacher. no really i am i give math private lesson at home. if you need help ask me i might give you lesson over the internet PS: when i took my algebra at college i took 100/100 on it it is way too easy best of luck dude
The Web Developer. Beirout-Lebanon
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A very important maths exam is coming up, which I absolutely need to pass - lots of algebra and whatnot. However, the test will either be on a Tuesday morning, or a Thursday afternoon :sigh: so to improve my mental stimulation, brain activity, and concentration, do I load myself with caffeine (for example a can of Red Bull) so I'm awake and alert, or just try to get good nights of sleep before the exam, and hopefully pass it? As it's algebra, it would be helpful to be able to study my answers without shaking and craving more of the sweet drug and not make any silly mistakes, but I don't want to be dead on the day I do the exam and not be able to concentrate at all. Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
As a lifetime caffeine addict who started his addiction by splitting a full jar of Vivarin (pure caffeine tablets) every night in high school to get through the dinner rush at a pizza joint, I recommend a good night's sleep. Yes, caffeine has its uses, but concentration isn't one of them. If you're moving - cooking pizza, back then - it helps to keep moving when you're dog tired. But if you're sitting, trying to use your brain, it's worse than useless. Study hard this weekend, do lots of practice problems, then put away the books Sunday night and know that you are as prepared for the exam as you can ever be. Good luck - algebra is the end of arithmetic, and the beginning of math. And it's much more important to understand it than to simply cram and pass a test. By the way, assuming you plan to continue studying math, a funny thing happens when you hit calculus. You look back and wonder why algebra, geometry, and trig were so hard, because they all seem so easy from that lofty height. But, conversely, you won't comprehend calculus until you wade through those three and survive them. Strange... But once you understand calculus (and a bit of physics) the world you see and live in is a completely different place from what the rest of the herd call reality.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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I'm not at university or college ;) Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
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A very important maths exam is coming up, which I absolutely need to pass - lots of algebra and whatnot. However, the test will either be on a Tuesday morning, or a Thursday afternoon :sigh: so to improve my mental stimulation, brain activity, and concentration, do I load myself with caffeine (for example a can of Red Bull) so I'm awake and alert, or just try to get good nights of sleep before the exam, and hopefully pass it? As it's algebra, it would be helpful to be able to study my answers without shaking and craving more of the sweet drug and not make any silly mistakes, but I don't want to be dead on the day I do the exam and not be able to concentrate at all. Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
One of my lecturers gave us a long talk months before our finals on the use of caffeine. Basically what he said was "Drink coffee or take stimulants and you will find you can stay up late in to the night. However when you come off it you will drop!" I took his advice and steered well away from it - in the end I did better than I thought I would. My tip would be to aim more for improving your memory than extending the time you can cram information into yourself. I used a mnemonic system and it stood me in very good stead. Basically stay off the caffeine as you will either be tired or on edge like a crack addict when it comes to the exam and what you want to be is relaxed (stay off the bong too). And Good luck ;)
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
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A very important maths exam is coming up, which I absolutely need to pass - lots of algebra and whatnot. However, the test will either be on a Tuesday morning, or a Thursday afternoon :sigh: so to improve my mental stimulation, brain activity, and concentration, do I load myself with caffeine (for example a can of Red Bull) so I'm awake and alert, or just try to get good nights of sleep before the exam, and hopefully pass it? As it's algebra, it would be helpful to be able to study my answers without shaking and craving more of the sweet drug and not make any silly mistakes, but I don't want to be dead on the day I do the exam and not be able to concentrate at all. Regards, --Perspx
"The Blue Screen of Death, also known as The Blue Screen of Doom, the "Blue Screen of Fun", "Phatul Exception: The WRECKening" and "Windows Vista", is a multi award-winning game first developed in 1995 by Microsoft" - Uncyclopedia Introduction to Object-Oriented JavaScript
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Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
Question, why would you have an Algebra exam? If you're at university or college you ought to be at Calculus level
Not all Algebra problems are easy :P
Mark Brock "We're definitely not going to make a G or a PG version of this. It's not PillowfightCraft." -- Chris Metzen Click here to view my blog
I was considering it in comparison with other mathematical problems :)
Don't forget to vote if the response was helpful
Sig history "dad" Ishmail-Samuel Mustafa "There's no point questioning the actions of a c0ck-juggling thunderc*nt" From the book of testy commentary by martin_hughes Unix is a Four Letter Word, and Vi is a Two Letter Abbreviation