Big exam coming up soon - fast before or during?

[Superbaldguy]

On April 9th, I am scheduled to write the exam for my real estate licensing. It starts at 12:45pm and goes for three hours. I am very familiar with the principle of fasting and prayer and have a testimony of its effectiveness.

Simple question - should I fast BEFORE I write or would it be beneficial to fast DURING the exam?

[marshac]

On April 9th, I am scheduled to write the exam for my real estate licensing. It starts at 12:45pm and goes for three hours. I am very familiar with the principle of fasting and prayer and have a testimony of its effectiveness.

Simple question - should I fast BEFORE I write or would it be beneficial to fast DURING the exam?

That sounds like a decision you need to make for yourself. Personally, I wouldn't fast at all for a major exam- your brain needs glucose to function, and an exam is when you need to be functioning at your peak... in fact, for a three hour exam, I would be bringing a snack.

[Snow]

Listen to marshac.

What you are proposing is counter-productive. It's like saying to God, if I voluntarily behave in a way that is harmful to test taking, will you please make sure I do great in spite of myself?

I am pretty sure that the proof that God supernaturally raises test scores in response to not eating is exactly equal to zero - but if anything, I'd think that should God get involved in test scores (which I doubt) that it would only be if you did everything you could to maximize your score on your own - instead of in spite of yourself.

[Gwen]

it would not be unreasonable to request a blessing, especially if you have test anxiety.

i don't know that god "gets involved in test scores" but he will bless you. it's reasonable to ask for calmness, clarity, understanding, the ability to recall what you have studied.....

outside of that i suggest getting plenty of rest the night before so you can wake up a bit early. that way you don't have to rush to get ready or get to class. get dressed a bit nicer than normal but something comfortable. the better you feel about yourself the better you will score. try to have a good protein breakfast vs all carbs. make sure you are well hydrated (soda's don't count), but not so much you have to leave the test to pee. lol

oh, and good luck

[beefche]

Who says you have to fast the day of or the day before the test? Fast the Sunday before.

[Superbaldguy]

I think a Priesthood blessing may be more beneficial, thanks for the suggestion. Of course, proper preparation for any examination is essential. Thanks folks.

[MarginOfError]

And if you really want to fast, have your regular meal before you go into the test, say a prayer to start yoru fast, take your test, and continue your fast through the next day.

[Gwen]

I think study and fast!

For me, food makes me tired and slow. Fasting makes me more alert. Kind of like many preditors - the big cats / lions etc. etc. they gorge themselves on food, then fast for a couple days, then they go hunting when they are sooper hungry. Their hunger helps them to be more alert I think. That's just my opinion though.

if you load up on carbs the night before and the morning of it will make you sluggish. simple sugars don't help either. if you eat fresh veggies and good protein the night before and a simple high protein breakfast (fresh fruit is good too) your mind will be more clear and less sluggish. unless you are addicted (don't need the withdraws) avoid caffeine and simple sugars. lots of water, the brain requires it to work properly.

[mnn727]

I would study instead.

God helps those that help themselves.

[Gwen]

i don't think he was talking about instead of studying. but what does it hurt to do everything you can. especially if you have test anxiety or this test could alter your future. the lord has asked us to call on him, to take our cares and concerns to him. i think he would be disappointed in us if we did not think of asking for his help at such important times.

[Just_A_Guy]

You've probably already heard this, but:

No matter how unprepared you think you are, stop studying no later than 5 PM the afternoon before the exam. Get a good night's rest.

[marshac]

You've probably already heard this, but:

No matter how unprepared you think you are, stop studying no later than 5 PM the afternoon before the exam. Get a good night's rest.

That might work for some, but for the last major test I took (MCAT), I was studying up until the hour before the test- there were just too many formulas I had to keep straight not to. I also went to bed at 9PM (early for me), but was unable to sleep- I was just too nervous to sleep... my newfound wisdom from that has led me to think that it's important to get plenty of sleep in the nights leading up to an important exam just in case you can't sleep at all the night of.

In psychology there is something called "state dependent learning"- if you load up on caffeine and sugars and are half sleep deprived when you study/take the class, then you would probably have better memory recall and better overall performance if you take the exam in the same mental/physiological state. I really believe this, to the extent that I'll try and study in the same room/seat that i'll be using for an exam whenever possible.

[Snow]

So what if your teacher grades on a curve?

In that case you would be praying that God supernaturally intervene to cause you to score higher than you would normally would by virtue of merit at the expense of others... that is, you would ask God to help you while harming others.

I find it hard to believe that God manipulates test scores.

[Gwen]

no one has claimed a manipulation of test scores or as i've read it requested such. we aren't talking about some jock praying to win the football game. seeking help to be calm during a test or to have you mind clear or the ability to recall what you have put effort into studying isn't wrong. in fact i think god would like us to be doing that. we are supposed to take everything important to us to the lord. why would this be excluded from everything?

[Snow]

no one has claimed a manipulation of test scores or as i've read it requested such. we aren't talking about some jock praying to win the football game. seeking help to be calm during a test or to have you mind clear or the ability to recall what you have put effort into studying isn't wrong. in fact i think god would like us to be doing that. we are supposed to take everything important to us to the lord. why would this be excluded from everything?

A manipulation of scores is exactly what was asked for. The poster was talking about fasting and prayer for the purpose of coming away with the same score that he would have otherwise received without fasting and praying. He sought to alter the score that he would normally have received through supernatural interference with the normal state of affairs.

[Guest Alana]

I like the idea of fasting the Sunday before. Learning is something we are supposed to do and I don't see anything inappropriate in fasting for a strengthening of your ability to learn, for your ability to stay calm and focused when needed. I personally wouldn't approach it as a 'please help me pass this test' only type of fast, but you have positive goals for your life and you're asking for the strength and knowledge to be able to attain them. Sunday sounds like a great time to fast because your actions will be more focused on worshiping your Heavenly Father. I don't see fasting only during study or during the test as necessary.

[Guest Alana]

A manipulation of scores is exactly what was asked for. The poster was talking about fasting and prayer for the purpose of coming away with the same score that he would have otherwise received without fasting and praying. He sought to alter the score that he would normally have received through supernatural interference with the normal state of affairs.

Yup, he'd be asking to be able to learn better, be able to retain more information, to be able to understand information that will help him in a major life goal and all those things will help him do better on a test (and afterward). I don't see a problem with that.

[Snow]

Yup, he'd be asking to be able to learn better, be able to retain more information, to be able to understand information that will help him in a major life goal and all those things will help him do better on a test (and afterward). I don't see a problem with that.

Nope - sorry, that is not what he asked for. He asked for divine intervention it taking the test and not for generalized help in being a dedicated student.

Regardless, this is exactly the kind of thing that can be studied scientifically. Take 300 students with a major upcoming exam.

Have 100 of them pray to God,

Have 100 pray to Elvis

Have 100 study diligently.

See who does better on the exam.

[beefche]

Regardless, this is exactly the kind of thing that can be studied scientifically. Take 300 students with a major upcoming exam.

Have 100 of them pray to God,

Have 100 pray to Elvis

Have 100 study diligently.

See who does better on the exam.

Snow, are you communist? My dad, who was raised in a communist run country, said the govt officials would do the essentially the same thing. "Pray to god to give you candy right now!" When the candy didn't appear, the kids were told to "pray to "govt official" to give you candy right now!" And voila! candy magically appeared on their desks.

[Gwen]

On April 9th, I am scheduled to write the exam for my real estate licensing. It starts at 12:45pm and goes for three hours. I am very familiar with the principle of fasting and prayer and have a testimony of its effectiveness.

Simple question - should I fast BEFORE I write or would it be beneficial to fast DURING the exam?

Nope - sorry, that is not what he asked for. He asked for divine intervention it taking the test and not for generalized help in being a dedicated student.

when i read the op i don't see any request for divine intervention on the grade of a test to avoid being a good student. he asked if he was going to fast should it be before or during the exam. how do you know what the specific fast would be for?

[Snow]

when i read the op i don't see any request for divine intervention on the grade of a test to avoid being a good student. he asked if he was going to fast should it be before or during the exam. how do you know what the specific fast would be for?

Yes - perhaps he wasn't praying for help on the the text. Perhaps he said: "On April 9th, I am scheduled to write the exam for my real estate licensing. It starts at 12:45pm and goes for three hours. I am very familiar with the principle of fasting and prayer and have a testimony of its effectiveness" because he was praying that Mao Tse Tung would arise from the dead and mow his lawn.

[Guest Alana]

Nope - sorry, that is not what he asked for. He asked for divine intervention it taking the test and not for generalized help in being a dedicated student.

Regardless, this is exactly the kind of thing that can be studied scientifically. Take 300 students with a major upcoming exam.

Have 100 of them pray to God,

Have 100 pray to Elvis

Have 100 study diligently.

See who does better on the exam.

I do have a way of putting my own spin on things:P

We had an Elvis impersonator as the witness when we got married, he didn't steer us wrong.

[Gwen]

Yes - perhaps he wasn't praying for help on the the text. Perhaps he said: "On April 9th, I am scheduled to write the exam for my real estate licensing. It starts at 12:45pm and goes for three hours. I am very familiar with the principle of fasting and prayer and have a testimony of its effectiveness" because he was praying that Mao Tse Tung would arise from the dead and mow his lawn.

"help on the test" does not mean some magical divine intervention to get out of being a good student. "help on the test" means asking for help as a person. help in being a good student who is taking an important test. help as a person to be your best.

i frequently prayed before tests. i was a good student, horrible test taker. i needed all the help i could get. i also prayed and fasted before going to court regarding custody of my stepson. not because i wanted some divine miracle to make things go "my way" without the effort. i prayed for calmness, clarity, clear thinking, discernment (for everyone involved), to be able to know what was god's will in this, to know which battles to pick, assurance that things were in his hands and would work out in the end.......

if you don't pray for guidance or help to be your best as a student or employee or whatever it is you choose to do in your life that's fine. you can be set to make it though this world on your own if that's what you want. but there is nothing inappropriate about someone who chooses to follow the admonitions given and seek the lord in ALL things. there is nothing wrong with someone that chooses to have faith in EVERY aspect of their life. that does not mean they want god to bail them out of doing their best. just means they believe him when he says he cares about each of us individually and what is important to us is important to him. live your life however you want but drop the condescending attitude. someone relying on the lord does not make them less than those who choose not to.

[pam]

So what if your teacher grades on a curve?

In that case you would be praying that God supernaturally intervene to cause you to score higher than you would normally would by virtue of merit at the expense of others... that is, you would ask God to help you while harming others.

I find it hard to believe that God manipulates test scores.

I didn't see him asking for intervention or God to manipulate test scores. I saw someone asking about whether to fast before or during a test. He didn't specify what he was asking for.

He could have been referring to help to keep his mind alert or to help him remember the things he had studied.

Many of us have done that before a test. We've done all the studying required for the test. What we are asking for in prayer and in fasting is usually what I mentioned in the previous paragraph. I've done the same thing for an interview. I didn't pray I would get the job, I prayed that I would be relaxed and that I would have my mind open to answer the questions well. That's not asking for God to intervene, it's just to have a comforting feeling during the interview that I might do well. It's up to the interviewer to make the decision.

I think there is a huge difference in asking God to intervene and asking God to help us remember the things we have spent hours studying.

But I think there is a presumption that I just don't see based on the OP.

[Snow]

I think there is a huge difference in asking God to intervene and asking God to help us remember the things we have spent hours studying.

But I think there is a presumption that I just don't see based on the OP.

If God helps you to remember then God has supernaturally intervened. It's not "a huge difference." It's the same thing. The person praying seeks God's assistance in changing (manipulating) circumstances so that the test score comes out higher.

1. If the grade is based on a curve, then it is the same thing as someone who prays for God's help in getting a job. They pray hoping that God causes them to get the job over someone else that would have gotten the job if they hadn't prayed. Same for sports competition. Frankly I think it's nuts to assume that God will harm others in order to help you.

Many people recognize the absurdity of players praying that God will cause them to win the football game, but then fail to apply the same sound reasoning to something like a test or a job. Perhaps people understand the absurdity of praying for divine manipulation in a sporting contest because they view, for example, a gridiron contest as frivolous - but in many respects it's no more frivolous than a test or a job - at the pro-level, money / livelihood and continued employment are often at stake and at the high school or college level, elevation to the next level, ultimately to a professional level (and hence a paying job) are at issue.

2. Evidence that it works would be easy to come by but yet is non-existent as far as I know.