How Chewing Gum Can Improve Your CFA Exam Performance

Is any possibility of getting a link to the study? Thanks!

Zee – thank you very much!

Correct me if I ‘m wrong but you’re not allowed to bring gum into the exam, and whilst you could probably being chewing on entry, I wouldn’t want the same piece of gum for 3 hours. gum eventually will break down in your mouth and getting rid of it then is not an experience I would recommend.

@monito you should be able to bring gum into the exam. Check out this post: http://www.300hours.com/1/post/2012/05/what-to-bring-to-the-day.html

Also directly from CFA Institute – unless they’ve changed the rules this year:

@Christine I remembered reading this article when I was buying my study supplies and I loaded up on tons of gum. I basically bought a pack of every flavor and threw them in a tub on my desk. So now when I go to study the first thing I do is choose which flavor I want to chew for the next few hours. It does seem to help me retain focus longer than I was able to before. Thanks for the tip!

@christine @zee what is the screw driver allowed inside for?!!! Because we aren’t allowed to take water or something life saving like Red Bull inside but a screw driver is allowed?!!!! :-O

hahahaha…

that is very random

@cfacharterwannabe @mitch895 The screw driver is to change your batteries for the BA II calculator. I would recommend paying the extra few bucks and getting the professional version though. It has a sliding battery cover so you can quickly change batteries. (and it has a lot more useful functions as well)

@Dr_Pain28 ohhhh here I was trying to make sense of the gruesome scenarios that kept popping up in my mind connected to screwdrivers and exams and the actual reason is well quite normal.
I already splurged and got the BA II PLUS PROFESSIONAL just last month. Just out of curiosity will the battery last till the exam in June? I am not very excited about the idea of changing battery during the exam.

@cfacharterwannabe I brought an extra battery for my calculator during the exam just so I could be 100% sure i would be ok. But like Zee i’ve had mine for 4 years or so and I’ve never had to change it

@Dr_Pain28 it is reassuring to know that since I bought it brand new last month. I don’t think I am going to have the motor coordination to actually employ a screw driver to change batteries during the exam.

I would give many many bitcoins to anyone who would try and enter the exam hall with this screwdriver. With video and pics.

@zee looking for that screw driver right now sir 😀

Another thing that can help is to use peppermint scented pencils. Studies have proven that the scent of peppermint can improve concentration.

Here’s one article but there are plenty more: http://www.damngeeky.com/2013/06/17/11999/boost-memory-and-concentration-with-peppermint-flavored-smart-smencils.html

@Dr_Pain28 it is reassuring to know that since I bought it brand new last month. I don’t think I am going to have the motor coordination to actually employ a screw driver to change batteries during the exam.

@CFAcharterwannabe The easier way (if you can) is to try and borrow a second one for exam day.

Another thing that can help is to use peppermint scented pencils. Studies have proven that the scent of peppermint can improve concentration.

Here’s one article but there are plenty more: http://www.damngeeky.com/2013/06/17/11999/boost-memory-and-concentration-with-peppermint-flavored-smart-smencils.html

@DollartoDonuts or we can get real peppermints 🙂