Top 10 Tips when Competing in Mental Calculation

After any training is over, actually performing in a calculation competition is an opportunity for participants to demonstrate their new skills.

For all future mind sports competitors – here are my top 10 tips for preparing for an enjoyable and successful experience!

#1: Three nights of good sleep
The brain works best when it is given enough time to rest. I’ve had competitions where for various reasons I couldn’t sleep well the night before the competition, so I recommend to get a good amount of rest for the three days before the competition so that your brain will be ready regardless of the circumstances.

#2: Read the rules beforehand
Each competition has its own rules – take care to read these before the competition as this allows you to plan your strategy and avoid any unwelcome surprises! This includes the scoring rules, the time allowed for different activities, and anything that might be forbidden.

#3: Plan your strategy
Which sections will you answer first? Will you aim for speed or accuracy? What method(s) will you use for each section? Do you start with the easy questions, work systematically, or make time for the surprises?

My most successful appearances have been when I’ve had a clear strategy rather than improvise during the competition. This is especially useful for monolithic events such as the Junior Mental Calculation World Championship and the Mind Sports Olympiad.

#4: Stay hydrated
To maintain concentration during a long mind sports event it is helpful to drink enough water. Don’t drink excessively beforehand otherwise you’ll need the bathroom at an inconvenient time, but if possible, bring a clear water bottle into the competition and take occasional sips.

#5: Bring sugar tablets
It’s healthiest to maintain a low-sugar diet in general. However during a calculation or memory competition, the brain can burn sugar faster than the body can generate it from its own energy stores.

To give it the fuel it requires for longer competitions such as the 3-and-a-half-hour MSO, I like to eat a normal breakfast but then bring a pack of sugar tablets to the competition, and eat one every 30 minutes or so (but no more). To avoid the sugar damaging my teeth I take a sip of water after each one.

#6: Bring enough stationery
You want to avoid having to ask for other people to borrow a pen or worry about your ink running dry in your only pen (like me last time I competed!) so I recommend to bring at least 3 pens to the event.

Of course this only applies to competitions where the answers must be written on paper and not e.g. Memoriad.

#7: Make a smart choice of warm-up categories
There’s only limited benefit in practising immediately before a competition because you won’t learn anything new. However it can be helpful to warm up with the following:

• categories where you have difficulties with accuracy as practice is an effective way to protect against errors. For me this is multiplication and square roots.
• categories where you work visually but sometimes your inner voice distracts you. Doing some light training just beforehand – not for speed or accuracy but purely aiming to “tune out” your inner voice – can help if you have any categories like this.
• categories where you are used to training on a different format. For example I train calendar dates on the Memoriad software, but before the Mental Calculation World Cup I prepare some printed sheets to get used to answering on paper.

  

#8: Personalize your performance
Some participants like to bring specific items with them to add to their competition appearance and reduce any impostor syndrome. For example you might like to:

• Bring a small mascot
• Bring a national flag or other item
• Wear a team T-shirt or other stash (if you have one)

Some participants will prefer not to bring anything like this – it’s only if it helps you.

#9: Don’t set competition goals
Measuring progress and setting goals is very effective for motivating you to do your best during training. However it is usually best to leave these expectations behind when it comes to the competition to reduce your chances of disappointment, and to release some pressure during the event.

#10: Feel supportive towards the other competitors
Sometimes you can feel a lot of pressure during the competition when it feels like everyone else is answering questions very rapidly! The best way to reduce this pressure and perform at your best ability is to wish success to your fellow competitors.

With this mindset you will feel like you are only competing against the calculation questions and not against all the other participants. With better management of the pressure comes more chance of success!

Additional Tips

Have you competed in a calculation competition and have a tip of your own to share? Use the comment section beneath to share your experience!