By Leonard Williams
The GED® test is grueling. A timed 7.5-hour test, it’s a thinking marathon, and GED candidates should prepare for the test just like a runner would get ready for a challenging athletic event. Learn more: How to make the GED test easier.
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For people who are accustomed to working on their feet and moving around all day, just sitting in one place hour after hour is a very tough challenge. So it’s important that GED test candidates prepare their bodies and minds for sitting still and concentrating over a long period of time.
Here are some ways to prepare for the GED thinking marathon.
Train your Brain:
Make sure your GED practice includes a few lengthy study sessions of six, seven or even eight hours at a stretch, to give yourself experience with sitting and thinking over long time periods. You can also get GED classes online to prepare yourself. Just as a marathon runner trains the body to long distances, you’ll need to practice and develop concentration techniques to maneuver successfully through the long-distance GED test.
Pace & Persevere:
The competitor who starts a 26-mile race on a sprint seldom finishes the race. Smart marathoners understand pacing, energy preservation, and perseverance. Smart GED test candidates need to determine how to pace themselves over the full test course — mentally, physically, and energetically. Take a GED practice test online that approximates the test time. This will give you real-time experience with timing and pacing and alert you early to possible test obstacles. After taking a practice GED test online, use your experience to find solutions to obstacles and develop perseverance techniques. A good online GED practice test helps you review and interpret your results to prepare more effectively.
Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a GED online test or online GED diploma, so beware of websites offering fake online GED testing. While you can’t take your GED online, you can get GED test prep through great online GED classes, online GED practice test packages, and free online GED resources.
Avoid Brain Drain:
It won’t be possible to stop the GED test for a 10-minute power nap. But relaxation techniques can be just as effective. Using these techniques during the test is a good way to reduce stress, relax the body and mind, and re-energize. Just consider the impact that five minutes of stretching and fresh air have on drivers who are traveling cross-country.
Some people simply relax all their muscles for a few moments, close their eyes, breathe deeply, and visualize a pleasant scene. Some people use meditation skills they’ve learned through fitness classes or yoga. Or other people alternate muscular tightening with muscular relaxing, breathing deeply as they move through muscle groups from toe to head. Some people even use self-hypnosis.
Explore a variety of relaxation methods until you identify one that works for you. It’s an excellent skill that will help you avoid brain drain, persevere through the test, and go the distance.
Power Up:
A critical part of the athlete’s preparation is diet, nutrition, and sleep. Research shows that these factors are just as important to healthy brains as they are to healthy bodies. Are you nutritionally sound? While fast food is convenient, it’s not the diet a runner chooses before a marathon. Eat healthy, especially a few days before the test. Make sure your diet includes foods designed for physical and mental stamina. Get plenty of rest, too, so you won’t be fatigued at test-time.
Ready to run? Make sure you dress for the test. Wear clothing that’s comfortable, with a healthy snack or two in your pocket or purse, if allowed. When test breaks are given, take a real break. Stretch and breathe deeply. Clear your mind, and take a brisk walk back and forth. Drink water, and eat a healthy snack if you can.
on’t forget to visualize your goal. Just like the marathoner keeps the focus on the finish line, GED test candidates will want to keep an eye on the diploma. Visualizing success is an important motivator, during study time and at test time.
