How to prevent headache/fatigue during GMAT?

[onsamline]

Has anyone else struggled with this? I've taken the GMAT twice now, and each time I get a dull/massive headache in the back part of my head during the middle of quant and lasts through the remainder of the exam. It severely affects my ability to think or even decipher what I'm reading. Does anyone have any recommendations to prevent this from happening (e.g. energy drink break? advil? chocolate?)

I make sure to eat a solid breakfast and drink water/have a snack during the break (even did a few pushups), but it doesn't seem to help? Please let me know if you've found a way around it, as I'm facing the GMAT one more time... :cry:


(FYI, it happens during practice exams too, though usually later during the verbal section).

[StaceyKoprince]

I can think of a few different possible causes.

Your eyes might be hurting you from staring at a computer screen for so long. Do you wear glasses? Is it possible that you might be having eyestrain issues? If so, you would want to see an eye doctor.

You might also be so tense that your neck muscles tense up or you clench your teeth or somehow tighten up your head and neck muscles. If so, stretch both during the test and on breaks (and also be aware that you're "tightening up" so that you can try not to do it). Roll your head around from side to side, etc. Maybe even get a massage the day before so you're super-loose.

Headaches are often also caused by dehydration. Perhaps nervous energy / adrenaline is causing you to sweat more than normal? So maybe you need to hydrate even more than normal? Are you getting thirsty at all, even a little bit, while in the room? You may need to drink a lot more. (Once you actually feel thirsty, your body is already dehydrated.)

What normally helps you get rid of headaches? Does advil or something like excedrin help? If so, maybe take some preemptively. Try it on your next practice test.

Are you having other symptoms of anxiety? Racing heart? Sweaty palms? Serious inability to concetrate (more than normal)? If so, you may want to talk to your regular doctor.

Anyone else have any ideas or experience something similar?

[PhillyPhillie]

Yes, I have experienced similar issues during my prep and the actual test, which I crashed.

It sounds like tension may be the culprit and I'm trying to learn to keep calm on my MGMT CATs. I can sympathize with the push up strategy, which I found to be counterproductive personally. I would feel so tense from a bad headache/dizziness whatever that I would do lunges or squats quickly during the eight minutes, which brought my pulse up and caused my mind to race even more and thus, continue the headache.

Also, posture may be an issue. Though you may not be concious of how you are sitting since you are thinking the entire time, bad posture can come back to haunt you during the test. For me, it's lower back. For you, it may be your neck. Just watch how people are hunched over their laptops in coffee shops (it seems like caveman posture to me). Do you sit in the same manner? I do sometimes and yes, it can hurt.

What is your attitude and mentality heading into the CATs? Tense? Combative? Determined? Stressed? I have found that focusing and thinking too much directly before the task at hand can be deleterious and causes me to feel mentally washed out early despite being fed and hydrated. I know GMAT is important, but I'm trying to think "it's just the same old test with the usual stuff, no big deal." Also, I've started watching some funny You Tube videos shortly before the test to make me feel relaxed and positive. This could help your tension too and maybe not feel the burn so suddenly.

Also, putting only moderate emphasis on IR and the essay could help you conserve energy. Thinking actively, but not aggressively could help.

And yes time is an issue, but I find if I stare out the window for five-seven seconds, my eyes thank me in the long run.

Hope this helps!

- R

[StaceyKoprince]

Thanks for sharing, PhilaPhan!