HELP! Exam in 8 hours, what do I do?

[Hashime]

Okay, here is the plan.
1. Nap if you can, DO NOT take any sleeping aids.
2. If you cannot nap, work until you are a zombie
3. One cannot write an exam in a zombified state, so make coffee, LOTS. Not an energy drink, not tea, coffee.
4. Drink as much as you can stomach, take some tums and most importantly 3-4 (or more depending on your weight) ibuprofen (not acetaminophen).

The combination of the two drugs will keep you alert, shakes should be at a minimum. Caffeine has a half life of 4 hours in the body, so keep that in mind when you take it. At about 3000mg (in 4 hours) you will have overdosed resulting in headaches, nausea, shaking. Keep coffee to a minimum (140mg /cup) but take enough, the pain killer will help with the other symptoms.

I have done this for two exams (5000mg caffeine, 6 extra strength ibuprofen) and had good results. Just a note, after about 4-5 hours you will crash hard. Do not consume alcohol within about 8 hours of doing this. Also of you have a corticosteroid available it helps.

 

[Just_A_Glitch]

Listen to some smooth jazz. Or a podcast you've listened to already.

Both work for me.

 

[chif-ii]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/loadingreadyrun/1526-Ways-to-Fall-Asleep
^This.

 

[eastinfecter]

Your only option is sex for an A.

On the other hand, if you want an A+...

 

[Erana]

I say take a bath if you need to relax. Grab one of your favorite books, and just flip to the best part- you'll undoubtably enjoy it, but you'll be able to stop reading 'cause you know what happens.
This is assuming that you're fairly prepared for your exam.
Good wishes, anyhow!

 

[geldonyetich]

Cramming doesn't make a gigantic difference anyway [http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-improve-longterm-memory-a80518]. Your best bet now is to sleep so you'll at least be fully rested in time for the test. If you've been paying attention in class, you should have a pretty good grasp on what will be in the exam. If not... now you know to pay more attention in class.

 

[timeadept]

In all honesty, the best thing you can do is go to sleep. DON'T try to study any more, you actually remember things better after you've had time to sleep on them. There is science to back that up too.
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefits-of-sleep/learning-memory
As for the stress that isn't letting you sleep, i wish i could help you there, but i have a very difficult time clearing my mind so that i can sleep myself.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Now I'm assuming from the text of your OP that you don't need to stay up to study, you're just too nervous to either sleep or do anything productive with your insomnia. If I'm right in this assumption, I can suggest that you do one of two things. If you have at least eight hours that you can devote to uninterrupted sleep -- unlikely at this point, but useful for future reference -- pop a benadryl or two. It's non-addictive, and it helps you sleep without completely knocking you out the way a prescription sleeping pill can. If that's not an option, then get in a nice, dark room, and meditate. If you aren't used to meditating, some kind of trippy/soothing music might help, but the idea here is to get your mind into a meditative state, somewhere between waking and sleep. It's more restful on its own than simply lying there, and once you do hit it, true sleep is never far around the corner -- and I mean a deep, deep sleep.

 

[newdarkcloud]

If you absolutely need to study right now, only do so for 30 minutes at a time. Your brain will begin to stop taking in information past that.

 

[toughguyjoe]

I suggest relaxation in some way that works for you, a light snack, and some sleep.

Your brain will be happier if you are able to relax before the test than try to show horn in facts.

Just sleep, head in with your head on straight and do the best you can. No one's going to kill you if you get a c+, or even if you fail.

Well maybe if you fail.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

If you absolutely need to study right now, only do so for 30 minutes at a time. Your brain will begin to stop taking in information past that.

I run a 45 min on, 15 min off, but basically newdarkcloud is absolutely right. Don't work straight through, or you'll kill your brain. Just like a muscle, the brain needs time to recover.

I suggest putting on some light music, and trying to relax, maybe meditate while lying down, and try sleeping that way. Total body relaxation. Right now, more than anything, you need sleep.

 

[Zantos]

Listen to music, lay in bed and calm down. Get some good sleep and you'll be able to concentrate properly. If you can go into an exam calm and concentrate well then its amazing how much floods back to you.

I too have an exam tomorrow, a super hard one. Im going to chill out to the sounds of Yahtzee berate my most disappointing game and get a good nights sleep. Niiiice.

 

[moose_man]

Cram for two hours, sleep.

 

[SodaDew]

Take a deep breath and organize your self, study and then have a good coffee and relax, watch TV. oh! and get of the internet...

 

[escapistraptor]

GET DRUNK. I'm not trolling or being sarcastic, senior year of undergrad I had a Physics final in the morning, but I knew more studying couldn't help and I'd probably get a B regardless. So I threw an awesome Christmas party, made it Star Wars themed (it was a Wookie Life Day party), had the best night of my life with friends and random people, went to bed drunk as shit, and woke up... not hungover like I expected but still DRUNK. I had that much alcohol in me. For the first half of my exam I was still drunk. Got a C+ or a B, I forgot. Either way, best exam story ever.

 

[Aerowaves]

Wikipedia. It'll wire you up mentally for being able to handle information, so you can hopefully revise again. Or just read articles, news, whatever.

 

[Death on Trapezoids]

I just had 4 finals and have another 3 in 12 hours.

My advice to you is to lay in bed and clear your head. As in, try not to think of anything; just a cool grey mist.
it works for me, anyway.

If you need to relax in order to sleep, do what I do; come from the viewpoint that you'll get the grade you will get, and there isn't a whole lot you can do about it right now except go to sleep as soon as possible.

If sleep is absolutely out of the question, find something to do that isn't too mentally taxing. The idea here is that you will eventually become tired enough to fall asleep, or if you don't, you aren't exactly burning up the brain cells.

 

[EMFCRACKSHOT]

I have an exam in 12 hours (Its 2:41 am here xD) and i'm preparing by playing defcon on a projector. It makes me feel like i'm in a cold war command center xD DON'T DO WHAT I'M DOING!!!!!!
Best thing you can do now is sleep and not dwell on cocking it all up, or at least finding some way of relaxing.

 

[smithy_2045]

Attempt to sleep.

 

[Lonan]

Go to sleep. TRUST ME, YOU HAVE TO GO TO SLEEP! You'll do far worse if you stay up because what knowledge you already have will be compromised come test time because you're mental faculties will be "please let me shut down" mode. Go to sleep, even if you only get 4 or 5 hours. Just lie down, close your eyes, and turn off the light. It's better than further damaging your mental abilities by stressing yourself when your body should be recovering from the days work.