The SAT and ACT are right around the corner and you may be feeling a little nervous about the big day. You may be consumed with wondering what it will be like and how you will do. You might also be feeling pressure from family members, coaches or prospective colleges to get a certain score in order to get scholarships, admittance, or even compete with an older sibling. The problem with all this anxiety is that worrying can keep your mind from working at its full capacity. So, it is important to learn ways to cope and manage your anxiety, both before and during your exams.
Eat Well, Sleep Well, and Control Your Thoughts
A good way to start is to recognize what your worries are. Consider jotting them down in a journal or diary to get them out of your head. Notice whether each is a logical worry or a thinking trap. Many times anxiety can appear reasonable, but actually winds up being a case of the mind playing tricks and goading you into the spiral of overthinking.
To keep your cool on the big day, try to get a good night’s rest the night before your exam. Practice mindfulness by lighting a candle, saying a prayer, journaling, or even using meditation to help you get to sleep. Avoid pulling an all-nighter to study or go over notes. The more tired your brain is, the more difficult it will be to think and make proper decisions on your exams. Along with proper sleep, make sure to eat breakfast, even if it’s only something small. My grandma’s advice was to always make sure to have a glass of juice for blood sugar support and some peanut butter toast for protein and carbs.
Your First Score Need Not Be Your Last
It is also important to remember to go easy on yourself. Remember, these exams can be taken more than once, so if push comes to shove, don’t be afraid to take advantage of this fact. You can choose to take the stress off for the first exam and allow yourself to just get a feel for what it is like. I myself needed to take the ACT four times before I felt happy with my score. Doing this allowed me to learn the areas where I needed extra help or study, as well as helping me learn to pace myself and get used to the test structure.
If you feel you cannot or do not want to take the exam multiple times, consider taking practice tests online, or even buying a practice test booklet to get yourself used to the structure and time constraints for each section. This can help you to feel more at ease because you’ll know what to expect come test day.
It All Comes Down to Preparation
Here are a few extra tips to help you to relax and prepare for test day:
- Know the test location and room ahead of time.
- Have your clothes and materials laid out the night before.
- Make sure to set your alarm for the morning. Use more than one if necessary!
- Read each question carefully.
- Don’t pay attention to others.
- Focus on the clock.
- Move on to the next question if you don’t know the answer.
- Breathe! Imagine yourself at home, feeling relaxed in your bed, knowing the ACT or SAT is behind you.
- Get to the testing site early.
- Use positive self-talk.
With these tips you will be on your way to success and a more relaxed testing day!