The physical side of being ready for the GRE

A lot of test preparation focuses on what’s going on in your head. And that makes sense, given that the GRE is a test of your ability to work with complex ideas in math and verbal reasoning. That said, the sheer act of sitting in a chair and working for that long is a physical act – as is all the thinking that you’re going to be doing in that chair. It takes energy, and it takes physical effort. So let’s talk about the physical side of the GRE: how you can get your body ready to succeed as you are preparing your mind.

Making sure you have the stamina

“I know all the content, but I just couldn’t focus for that long on test day.” 

This is something that tutors hear from students retaking the GRE all the time. The issue here doesn’t just come down to what you’re studying, but how you’re studying. Too often students will just do practice problems, checking their answers and reading explanations between each problem, or getting up and going and getting a snack in the middle of a set of questions.

This is a problem for two reasons.

First, the GRE isn’t set up for you to know how you’re doing after every single question. On test day, you are going to have to learn to live with uncertainty about whether you got a question right or wrong. And while that might not seem like a big deal, the reality is that for some test takers the question of whether they got the last question right or wrong hangs over their heads, creating a high cognitive load that tires them out more quickly and that distracts them from getting the next question right. 

Whenever you are going through official GRE questions (remember, there aren’t that many of them!), you want to make sure that you are tackling multiple questions (say, 10) at a time before you look at any answer explanations. 

But wait, you might say, shouldn’t I be learning from my mistakes? 

And the answer is yes, definitely. But you shouldn’t be learning how to solve a particular problem type for the first time with an official question. Those questions are limited in number, so they should be reserved for more realistic practice. Use workbooks and unofficial problems when you want to learn technique. 

By doing longer practice sets, you will decouple yourself from the dopamine response of knowing immediately whether you got a question right or wrong. What you’re also doing is building stamina – the GRE is a long test, so the more practice you can get doing a set of questions at a time rather than only one at a time, the better.

Another thing that you can do to make sure you have the stamina to succeed on test day is to make sure to take at least a couple full length practice tests. By taking a full length practice test you are getting yourself used to sitting and concentrating for the length of the exam as well as getting a metric of how your preparation is going. Remember that there aren’t that many official full-length tests, so use them wisely! Make sure you are taking your test in the same sort of environment – and even at the same time of day, if possible – as you will be experiencing on test day. 

Get some sleep!

While it may seem obvious that you need good sleep the night (and even the week) before an exam, for some people it’s tempting to still try to squeeze in an extra bit of studying the night before. Don’t. Instead opt for a reasonable bedtime and do something relaxing, whether that’s going to the gym or watching a movie or playing video games. 

Remember also that it isn’t just the night before your exam that matters. Make sure that you are getting plenty of sleep the entire week before the exam, if at all possible. That way if you have an off night the night before the exam and don’t sleep as well it isn’t as big of a deal. 

Hydrate

Hydration, like sleep, affects brain function. Some studies have suggested that even a slight bit of dehydration can cause stress to the brain, lowering brain function and increasing stress. While you definitely don’t want to have to get up to go to the bathroom during your test, you also want to make sure that you are hydrated! This is another scenario where you can set yourself up for success the entire week before the test. Drink plenty of water (yes, seltzer does count) and get your bathroom time on a schedule as much as possible. 

Diet and exercise

While diet and exercise are long term considerations when it comes to preparing for a test (a habit of exercise can make it easier for your brain to deal with stressful situations), there are also a few things you can do the day before and day of your exam to get you started on the right foot as far as diet and exercise are concerned.

The first is your diet the day before. Aim to eat balanced meals that will leave you satisfied going into a good night’s rest. The day of the test, make sure to eat a good breakfast that has carbohydrates, protein, and fats to keep you going throughout the day. Now is not the time to try a new type of food or to eat the two-week-old pasta that’s sitting at the back of the refrigerator. It’s the time to eat things that you know your body likes and that will fill you up. 

Second, getting in a little exercise the night before the exam can help you make sure that you are relaxed going into the night before your test. In addition, doing a brief bit of exercise the morning of the exam – whether that’s a brisk walk or something a little more vigorous – can wake your brain up and lead to better engagement with the content of the exam. 

Clothes

Finally, it’s important to dress for success on test day. That doesn’t mean a suit and tie (although if that is what makes you feel confident going into the exam, then do it! What it does mean is to pick clothes that are comfortable, that you feel confident and good in, and that won’t be distracting. Avoid anything that will be itchy or that might feel a little stiff while you’re taking your exam. 

It’s also a good idea to dress in layers! You won’t know how warm or cool the exam room will be, so giving yourself the option to take off a layer while you're testing can go a long way towards making sure that your test day experience is as optimal as possible.

Last thoughts

As with any big event, there are dozens of factors that go into making the big day happen. Remember that you can’t control all of them. Pick a few that are likely to have a big impact on how you feel on test day and go from there. Happy studying!