For a lot of us, especially high school juniors, the SAT is an everyday worry. We worry about getting good scores or what will happen to us if we fail. The good news is that there are tricks that will help with overcoming testing anxiety. Whether you are taking the SAT for the first or second time, or you’re just a freshman worrying now, we can all use these good tips on how to handle this test.
Tip #1→ Stress is the enemy. Even if you do not feel that you have studied as much as you should, if you go in on test day with a clear mind and a positive attitude, you may find that you will be able to answer more than you thought you did. The SAT tests college readiness, but you have been preparing your entire life for this. Take a deep breath, you’ll be okay.
Tip #2→ Stay sharp as a tack. The SAT is about staying as mentally sharp as you possibly can. Sitting 5 hours or so in a testing room is not easy, but if generations of students have done it, so can you. The toughest part of the SAT is probably avoiding mental exhaustion at the end of those five or six long hours.
Tip #3→ Full stomach = happy mind. You’d be surprised how important it is to have a healthy breakfast on test day. Though breakfast is an important part of every day, something nutritious and fulfilling is especially important on test day. Make sure to eat something with more complex sugars like oatmeal and whole wheat bread instead of sugary cereals. It takes a lot longer for your body to process complex sugars, which means that they will keep you full longer and give your brain a kick start of energy throughout the day. Bringing snacks is also a good idea. Don’t bring a three course meal; you will only have 5 minutes to eat or use the restroom whenever you have a break, but do bring something light that will keep your belly full even after 4 hours of test taking. Again, ditch sugary snacks which will give you a sugar high and cause you to crash.
Tip #4→ An article a day keeps bad scores away! Reading newspaper articles or just reading in general is a great way to improve your reading skills. “Reading newspaper articles like ones from the The New Yorker help because the articles, just like the passages given on the SAT, are not that long,” says Elaine Cheng, a junior at Harvard University. “You are getting in the habit of reading passages, learning new words, and as a bonus you’re learning about the world around you. It’s a win-win in all aspects.”
Tip #5→ Surprise, surprise! Studying actually helps! The SAT is a test that can be studied for. Everybody has their own study techniques, but the most important thing is to review as much as possible. If you have taken it already and are looking to improve your scores or are taking it for the first time, there really is no better tip than just to do some plain, old-fashioned studying.
More than anything, just relax. This test does not define you, and it is not the deciding factor in your college acceptance. Being scared of the test only puts you at a disadvantage. It is just like any other test you have ever taken; you just have to remember to push through it. You’ll be great!
