The SATs: The Night Before
When you think about the morning of the SAT, how do you feel? A lot of people feel some level of nerves or anxiety about a big test-taking day. One of the ways to combat that stress is to prepare for the big day. Here are some simple suggestions on what to do – and not to do – to start your SAT day out right.
The Night Before
Don’t cram. While you can do some general reviewing the day before the SAT, cramming the night before the test will not help you. In fact, it may make things worse by tiring you out and overloading your brain before you even begin the exam. If you want to review, plan on studying in the afternoon and then leave your evening free to relax and get some rest.
Pack your stuff. You don’t want to be running around in the morning trying to find your pencils. So the night before, pack up all your gear for the test. For a full checklist of what to bring – and what to leave at home – check out The SATs: What to Bring the Day of the Test
Know where your testing facility is. Avoid the unnecessary stress of getting lost on the way to the SAT. If you haven’t been to your SAT testing facility yet, spend some time the night before the test figuring out where you are going. Either by yourself or with your parents, print out directions, look at a map, and/or take a test drive to the location.
Get some sleep. While you don’t have to be extreme about this and go to sleep right after dinner, you should plan on getting a full night’s rest before the exam.
The Morning Of
Get up early. Plan a little extra time in your schedule so you aren’t rushing around and you can have a relaxed morning. If you are not a “morning person,” you might want to give your brain some time to wake up, so you are fully awake by the time you get to the testing site.
Dress comfortably. This is a long test so comfort is important. Wear layers in case the room is hot or cold. Also, if you have a “lucky” article of clothing, you might want to wear it to the exam to give yourself a boost of confidence.
Eat something healthy. Again, this is a long test and, while you’re going to bring a healthy snack, you still need to eat some breakfast. A healthy breakfast is recommended over something sugary because you will stay fuller longer and a healthy breakfast will aid your concentration rather than making you spacey.
Grab your bag. You packed your stuff the night before – don’t forget to grab your bag on the way out the door!
Leave extra time for dropping off / parking. Whether you’re driving yourself or getting dropped off, leave extra time for the traffic jam that can occur outside the testing facility. That way you’ll have plenty of time to get signed in and find your testing room instead of rushing around and arriving in a panic.
Electronic devices: The College Board highly recommends you leave these at home. However, if you have a cell phone or other electronic device with you, turn it off now.
Now you’re ready to go. Good luck on the test!