Competition Day Mindset

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weihou0

28 posts

weihou0

#1 h Mar 9, 2025, 11:48 PM • 1 Y

Y by DhruvJha

Hi! I'm taking the MATHCOUNTS State test on March 15. I know that there's probably not enough time left for significant skill improvement, so I wanted to ask about things I can do on competition day to help me be at my best. Most importantly, I'm curious about what mindset I should have during the test. Should I be confident and cocky, or more humble and negative? I'm just curious about what preparations prior to the test help the most. Thanks!

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DhruvJha

739 posts

DhruvJha

#2 h Mar 9, 2025, 11:56 PM

Y by

weihou0 wrote:

Hi! I'm taking the MATHCOUNTS State test on March 15. I know that there's probably not enough time left for significant skill improvement, so I wanted to ask about things I can do on competition day to help me be at my best. Most importantly, I'm curious about what mindset I should have during the test. Should I be confident and cocky, or more humble and negative? I'm just curious about what preparations prior to the test help the most. Thanks!

confident doesnt necessarly mean cocky and humble doesnt necassarily mean negative. go humble and confident

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Pi_isCool31415

23 posts

Pi_isCool31415

#3 h Mar 9, 2025, 11:57 PM

Y by

Be confident and humble going into the test and take a deep breath and dive right into the problems. Good luck!

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PenguFish

18 posts

PenguFish

#4 h Mar 9, 2025, 11:58 PM

Y by

weihou0 wrote:

Hi! I'm taking the MATHCOUNTS State test on March 15. I know that there's probably not enough time left for significant skill improvement, so I wanted to ask about things I can do on competition day to help me be at my best. Most importantly, I'm curious about what mindset I should have during the test. Should I be confident and cocky, or more humble and negative? I'm just curious about what preparations prior to the test help the most. Thanks!

I can’t really help much, but you can set things up before you go to the competition, like meditating, or watching a funny video.

This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by PenguFish, Mar 9, 2025, 11:59 PM

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Robert00

92 posts

Robert00

#6 h Mar 10, 2025, 12:43 AM

Y by

i think before a test you shouldn't be hungry so you should eat something like a banana or chocolate before. Also be confident with your skill and do your best!

This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by Robert00, Mar 10, 2025, 12:44 AM
Reason: d

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Nioronean

103 posts

Nioronean

#7 h Mar 10, 2025, 12:47 AM

Y by

Robert00 wrote:

i think before a test you shouldn't be hungry so you should eat something like a banana or chocolate before. Also be confident with your skill and do your best!

Oh, and make sure to use the bathroom. The nervous butterflies feel worse when ur holding something in

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weihou0

28 posts

weihou0

#8 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:13 AM

Y by

Nioronean wrote:

Robert00 wrote:

i think before a test you shouldn't be hungry so you should eat something like a banana or chocolate before. Also be confident with your skill and do your best!

Oh, and make sure to use the bathroom. The nervous butterflies feel worse when ur holding something in

haha thanks I go to the bathroom an average of like 5 times at each competition venue

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HenryJW

42 posts

HenryJW

#9 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:15 AM

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Also make sure to warm yourself up on the way to the venue by doing some easy (very easy ones or else you’ll get burnt out) problems and reviewing formulas as well as going over silly mistakes that you made before to make sure you don’t silly on the contest. And try not to do a lot of math the day beforr

This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by HenryJW, Mar 10, 2025, 1:16 AM

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Nioronean

103 posts

Nioronean

#10 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:24 AM

Y by

HenryJW wrote:

Also make sure to warm yourself up on the way to the venue by doing some easy (very easy ones or else you’ll get burnt out) problems and reviewing formulas as well as going over silly mistakes that you made before to make sure you don’t silly on the contest. And try not to do a lot of math the day beforr

Id get rest the day before, and I wouldn't risk it if you aren't used to it, but I drink tea to wake myself up in the morning and I find that tea helps.

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MathPerson12321

3621 posts

MathPerson12321

#11 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:33 AM

Y by

Nioronean wrote:

HenryJW wrote:

Also make sure to warm yourself up on the way to the venue by doing some easy (very easy ones or else you’ll get burnt out) problems and reviewing formulas as well as going over silly mistakes that you made before to make sure you don’t silly on the contest. And try not to do a lot of math the day beforr

Id get rest the day before, and I wouldn't risk it if you aren't used to it, but I drink tea to wake myself up in the morning and I find that tea helps.

I usually become awake when I reach the comp anyway because we do warmups there.

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Nioronean

103 posts

Nioronean

#12 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:36 AM

Y by

MathPerson12321 wrote:

Nioronean wrote:

HenryJW wrote:

Also make sure to warm yourself up on the way to the venue by doing some easy (very easy ones or else you’ll get burnt out) problems and reviewing formulas as well as going over silly mistakes that you made before to make sure you don’t silly on the contest. And try not to do a lot of math the day beforr

Id get rest the day before, and I wouldn't risk it if you aren't used to it, but I drink tea to wake myself up in the morning and I find that tea helps.

I usually become awake when I reach the comp anyway because we do warmups there.

I think like last year, the reason I made countdown was because I didn't think I would so I wasn't nervous at all. When ur nervous your mind blanks so try to calm yourself somehow by thinking you will reach your goal no problem

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stjwyl

1251 posts

stjwyl

#13 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:37 AM

Y by

Nioronean wrote:

HenryJW wrote:

Also make sure to warm yourself up on the way to the venue by doing some easy (very easy ones or else you’ll get burnt out) problems and reviewing formulas as well as going over silly mistakes that you made before to make sure you don’t silly on the contest. And try not to do a lot of math the day beforr

Id get rest the day before, and I wouldn't risk it if you aren't used to it, but I drink tea to wake myself up in the morning and I find that tea helps.

i went to states half asleep :/

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weihou0

28 posts

weihou0

#14 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:39 AM

Y by

Nioronean wrote:

HenryJW wrote:

Also make sure to warm yourself up on the way to the venue by doing some easy (very easy ones or else you’ll get burnt out) problems and reviewing formulas as well as going over silly mistakes that you made before to make sure you don’t silly on the contest. And try not to do a lot of math the day beforr

Id get rest the day before, and I wouldn't risk it if you aren't used to it, but I drink tea to wake myself up in the morning and I find that tea helps.

Mmmmm yeah thank you
I really enjoy tea as a stimulant and I guess its worth a try
because I feel like most other stimulants and drugs(caffeine, sugar) don't really have an effect on me

This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by weihou0, Mar 10, 2025, 1:40 AM

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MathPerson12321

3621 posts

MathPerson12321

#15 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:41 AM

Y by

#12
Yeah that was me in 2023, except I did no cdr practice so yeah.

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AOPSUSER6

107 posts

AOPSUSER6

#16 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:42 AM

Y by

Good luck! Confident does the trick.

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ChickensEatGrass

37 posts

ChickensEatGrass

#18 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:44 AM

Y by

Yeah good luck! What state are you in bc I might see you if you're in NJ

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weihou0

28 posts

weihou0

#19 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:48 AM

Y by

nah IN
I havnt found a single person on this site that's in IN
plus im a NSC so im super lonely

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Nioronean

103 posts

Nioronean

#20 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:52 AM

Y by

MathPerson12321 wrote:

#12
Yeah that was me in 2023, except I did no cdr practice so yeah.

Ye I still remember that year, the people who were throwing a fit when claiming their trophy because they didn't make nats.

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ChickensEatGrass

37 posts

ChickensEatGrass

#21 h Mar 10, 2025, 1:52 AM

Y by

Aw that sucks, well good luck you'll do great! :clap:

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MathPerson12321

3621 posts

MathPerson12321

#22 h Mar 10, 2025, 2:01 AM

Y by

Nioronean wrote:

MathPerson12321 wrote:

#12
Yeah that was me in 2023, except I did no cdr practice so yeah.

Ye I still remember that year, the people who were throwing a fit when claiming their trophy because they didn't make nats.

rip rohith im friends with him currently
jisu cooked everyone in cdr

i got 11th at chapter so my reaction was liek

This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by MathPerson12321, Mar 10, 2025, 2:03 AM

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Nioronean

103 posts

Nioronean

#23 h Mar 10, 2025, 2:14 AM

Y by

MathPerson12321 wrote:

Nioronean wrote:

MathPerson12321 wrote:

#12
Yeah that was me in 2023, except I did no cdr practice so yeah.

Ye I still remember that year, the people who were throwing a fit when claiming their trophy because they didn't make nats.

rip rohith im friends with him currently
jisu cooked everyone in cdr

i got 11th at chapter so my reaction was liek

I remember helen was mad when getting that trophy, she got cooked by Jisu. I can't say that though cuz I wasn't even close to cdr.

This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Nioronean, Mar 10, 2025, 2:16 AM

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parnikap

290 posts

parnikap

#24 h Mar 13, 2025, 7:57 PM

Y by

I'd say go to the competition relaxed but confident. Trust your first instincts on a problem, don't second guess, and try your best not to waver (unless it's actually a really confusing problem and you're super sure your original answer is wrong). If you start being negative, you probably won't do as well on the test as you could've, and you'd be setting yourself up for failure. Also, try your best not to stress (easier said than done, i always stress so badly on the day of AND I HAVE STATES TOMORROW, MARCH 14th, AM I COOKED OR AM I COOKED) and do something that makes you happy or makes you laugh before the test. Take your mind off of it but when the test starts YOU LOCK IN. That's all I have to say. And it's longer than I thought it'd be.

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aoh11

200 posts

aoh11

#25 h Mar 13, 2025, 11:17 PM

Y by

weihou0 wrote:

Hi! I'm taking the MATHCOUNTS State test on March 15. I know that there's probably not enough time left for significant skill improvement, so I wanted to ask about things I can do on competition day to help me be at my best. Most importantly, I'm curious about what mindset I should have during the test. Should I be confident and cocky, or more humble and negative? I'm just curious about what preparations prior to the test help the most. Thanks!

you should just do some mocks on areas you lack and review necessary formulas that may come up like shoelace or fermats little theorem

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PhoenixDragon324

8 posts

PhoenixDragon324

#26 h Mar 14, 2025, 3:01 AM

Y by

Drink water (but not like a lot) and don't overthink problems, especially the earlier ones. From personal experience, I think being slightly nervous isn't necessarily bad but that might just be me.

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Charizard_637

89 posts

Charizard_637

#27 h Mar 14, 2025, 3:06 AM • 1 Y

Y by MathPerson12321

HenryJW wrote:

Also make sure to warm yourself up on the way to the venue by doing some easy (very easy ones or else you’ll get burnt out) problems and reviewing formulas as well as going over silly mistakes that you made before to make sure you don’t silly on the contest. And try not to do a lot of math the day beforr

Honestly warm yourself up physically too, venues are often kinda cold

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