pencils with unblemished erasers, your ID, two calculators, and your admission
ticket by the door. Say your prayers, and go to bed early.
- MANEK’S METHOD: BE MELLOW.
Tranquillity is the key. Skip school the day before and relax—turn off your
phone, lock the door, and put a cloth over your goldfish bowl so you won’t be
distracted. Lie down on the floor with your favorite potato and breathe deeply.
Starting with your toes and progressing to your earlobes, calm your entire body;
feel yourself losing control of your muscles. When you’re marvelously mellow,
put your most prized possessions in the microwave and melt them. If you feel
alarmed at this stage, then you’re not totally tranquil—go back to the beginning
and try biofeedback.
When you are entirely free of tension, center your thoughts on how
wonderful it will feel to be done with the test, while pronouncing solemn and
meditative syllables of wisdom. Close your eyes. Sleep.
- PAUL’S METHOD: GET PUMPED.