WilsonDailyPrep - Online SAT Prep That's Personal

Some situations are beyond our control – the weather, a traffic jam, interruptions of cable TV for news reports – but we do have control of the SAT and ACT.  To an extent, that is.

Though students can prepare, practice and get a good night’s sleep before they sit for the exam, they have no control over test site conditions.  In most cases, testing conditions are indeed just that  - testing conditions. However, sometimes proctors just aren’t considerate. Sometimes construction is going on in the room next door.  Sometimes a trumpet-blaring, bass drum-thumping marching band parades by the window.

So, take a practice exam at a busy cafe and train yourself to ignore distractions.  Hopefully you won’t have to rely on your training the day of the test, but just in case…

Click the link below for more on test site problems, inappropriate proctoring, and what to do.

Proctor, Please get off the Phone

The SAT and ACT require hours of straight thinking.  And, just as hours of anything can be, it’s exhausting.  Therefore, you need to train your brain.

Training for the SAT/ACT thinking-marathon is like training for any marathon.

Start small. Try taking timed sections in pieces.  Do 30 minutes here, 30 minutes there.  Eventually, do an hour of work.

Brain endurance does not come overnight. Student MUST take a full-length exam before showing up to the real exam. Be it at the library, kitchen table, or proctoring service, all students should sit through a full exam to ensure that endurance, stamina and pacing are perfected.

Walking into a test cold is the same as attempting a triathlon without ever having worked out.  It will exhaust you, and you most likely will not make it to the end without falling apart.

And, just as you would in any athletic competition – breath, refocus from time to time, and hydrate yourself during these exams.

Test days are stressful – they cause anxiety, breakouts, and stomach cramps. But they don’t have to.  Learn to relax and channel your nervous energy in productive ways so that you can arrive to the exam confident and in control.

First, start eating properly a week before the test. By properly we mean lots of greens, proteins and fruits. Eliminate high fat and sugar from your diet. These literally clog up your brain! Sugar rushes and sugar crashes only add to the stress on your body.

Second, exercise! Take a yoga or kickboxing course a day or two before the exam to release the nervous energy you’re building. Exercise also releases endorphins – the so-called happy drug – into the bloodstream.  Read more about brain-boosting exercises here.

Third, sleep! Cramming and pulling an all-nighter before a test doesn’t help. In fact, it hurts!  Research shows that students retain very little of the information reviewed in a cram session. And, without enough z’s, your brain can’t function properly. Brain function is the key to a high score, so make sure your brain is working!

The day of the test, blast your favorite song. Get pumped! Jump around, dance, and feel good. Eat a good breakfast, dress in layers, and chew on gum. Studies have shown that students who chewed gum or sucked on candy during an exam scored significantly higher than those who did not.

And finally, remember to breathe! Practice deep-breathing if you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed or anxiety-ridden. A few deep breaths will help slow your heart rate and focus your mind.

Mentally and physically preparing for a test a week in advance ensures that you are in peak performing condition. Remember, you are in control!