The deadline to reschedule an online ARE exam is 24 hours before the scheduled appointment time. After this time, you get locked into taking the exam at the scheduled time with no chance to back out. I feel like everybody has their own routine for their last few hours before an exam, and I find this moment interesting because it can begin to border on the realm of superstition for some people.

In the grand scheme of things, whatever we do in those last moments won’t make much of a difference in the outcome of the exam because the bulk of the preparation has to be done with weeks of studying and memorization in advance. That preparation is a methodical and strategic process that will ultimately determine whether we understand the content of the exam or not. Cramming as much information as possible at the last minute probably won’t move the needle too much. Instead, that last day is used to mentally prepare ourselves to be in the right headspace for the exam.

I thought some people might find it interesting to read my personal routine to get prepared for an exam in the last 24 hours before launching the exam. Some of the things I do might be a bit particular, but I truly believe they have helped me in the last five exams that I have passed so far.

I like to take my exams on Saturday because it comes after Friday. Fridays tend to be a lighter day at work and all of my tasks for the week have been done. I also don’t have to come back to the office the same day after the exam or take PTO to have the rest of the day off. A nice, long Friday night lets me unwind and relax so I can get to bed at a good time. It’s important for me to not try to learn any new content for the exam the night before; I’d rather spend the time reading a book or watching a movie I’ve been meaning to just to turn my brain off. The night ends at a good time so I can get at least eight hours of sleep.

I like to schedule my exam appointment for 8:30 AM. Keeping a consistent sleep schedule is important for any day, not just on an exam day. I usually wake up at 6 AM, so I wake up at the same time to keep the same routine my body is already used to. Two and a half hours is plenty of time for me to gear myself up for the exam at leisure. In that time, I go through my daily morning routine to get ready for the day and have breakfast. It also gives me enough time to have a quick review of the most important things to remember for the exam I am taking.

The most important reason why I choose this time specifically is because studies show that students who take exams at an earlier time in the day tend to score higher than those who test at a later time, especially in the afternoon. The brain is simply fresher in the morning after a good night of sleep and with more mental resources available at the start of the day. The window to begin testing is 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after, which for me is 8 AM - 9 AM. That is, in my opinion, the optimal window for beginning to take an exam.

Apart from preparing my mind, I also have to make sure my body is ready too. Any test content that has been viewed will not be accessible after taking a break during the middle of an exam. I always review the entirety of every exam before completing it, so I need to be able to see every single test item. For that reason, it is important for me to be ready to sit in my chair for four hours straight. I eat a light breakfast that will prevent me from feeling hungry, but also won’t be a distraction during the exam.

One of the most important things I do before an exam is drink as little liquid as possible. I made the mistake of drinking an energy drink before my first exam and nearly didn’t make it without a break. Instead, if I want to consume caffeine, I’ll take a caffeine pill and take it with as little water as possible to keep my mind sharp without the liquid that will make me need to go to the restroom.

And with that, it is almost 8:30 AM and I am ready to take my exam. All of these are steps that I take to get myself into the right mindset. They might not be the same for other people, but what matters is that we all have some way to build up our confidence and make us feel ready to take the exam. These steps have been helpful for me in the past and I will do the same for my last exam that I will be taking soon.

Maybe in the future I will write a part 2 called “T-plus 3–4 hours,” which would talk about the strategies I use while taking the exam.

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