You have been waiting your whole high school career to prove your self-worth by taking this test.  Those sleepless nights have led you to those final hours, and as you lie awake in bed on the eve of that fateful day, you can’t help but let the nerves take control while awaiting the following morning of demanding SATs, and that peaking anxiety from the knowledge that this is the exam to decide which colleges you can attend, and that your entire future lies in its hands.

But instead of stressing, imagine a world where those pre-test breakdowns we’ve all experienced are nonexistent.  Plenty of people have dealt with the pressure, and surely juniors and seniors can learn from the elders that have already braved the intimidating world of standardized testing.  The advice from  past seniors can make those few weeks leading up to the SAT less stressful, something almost every underclassman can appreciate.

The Class of 2011:

Sleep:

Maggie Kelleher: “I definitely don’t agree with staying up all night studying for an aptitude test, but I’ve noticed that if you’re used to less sleep, when you start sleeping more you begin to feel more tired, so sleep as much as you know will leave you best-off in the morning.”

Kelsey Miner: “Get lots of sleep the night before, you’ll get tired about a third of the way through the test.”      

Katie Murray:  “I went to bed at eleven before each test which was early for me.  I feel like that was beneficial for the test”

Food:

Maggie Kelleher: “Eat something filling, but light, for example, a small waffle breakfast. It’s a long test, but you don’t want to feel weighed down. I would say not to risk a coffee or sugar high, if caffeine is not something you are used to. During the test, I would say the same thing, and not too much sugar- no one wants to crash two hours into a three hour test.”

Kelsey Miner: “Eat a huge breakfast but not anything not normally in your diet, like extra protein or sugar, because along with the nerves, it could upset your stomach.”

Katie Murray: “I had a granola bar before the test and another one during the break.  I also brought a water bottle with me.  Food during the test’s breaks is personal preference, and you should worry about your own comfort.  If you know you’ll be hungry halfway through, and if that will wreck your concentration, plan ahead.”

Preparation:

Maggie Kelleher: “I was tutored for months ahead of the actual test date, and it was definitely a helpful way to focus my preparations and learn to take best advantage of strengths, but I would not say it was crucial, especially if you are motivated enough to do practice tests on your own.   Pinpoint the problems you have the most trouble with and practice those sections more; a tutor is only adding another layer to your own ability to understand your strengths.”

Kelsey Miner: “I only met with a tutor one time about two weeks before the test in the fall of senior year, but the score for the topic we reviewed went up by a lot. I would have taken more prep courses if I was really preparing, definitely take it once then enroll in classes for your weak subjects.  I took the SAT twice, but I like standardized testing.  Some may prefer to take it more times. ”

Katie Murray:  “I never took a course and I never did a practice book because there really isn’t anything to learn, test covers material you basically already know. I do recommend practicing taking the test while timed if you’re slow. If you are able to answer questions quickly and accurately you’ll succeed. I took the SAT twice, the ACT twice, and three SAT II tests.

All graduates were in agreement that students should spend the Friday night before the examination  gathering a calculator, ID, registration ticket for the test, a water bottle and a healthy snack for the exam’s break, even if you are only taking a subject test.  The Saturday afternoon following the test should be a time for complete relaxation—the stressful morning will have finally ended, and your brain may need to recuperate and restore itself.

Standardized tests are an important factor to college admissions, but in a world filled with so many deadlines, there is no need to make SATs your personal stress graveyard.  Pack a few extra erasers, your calculator, and remember to take a few breaths—there are plenty of opportunities to retake the SAT or the ACT if your first round doesn’t end as successfully as you had hoped.