Veg Out
Although preparation is
key to doing well on the
test, you shouldn’t exhaust
yourself trying to cram
information into your
head. Take some breaks
between study sessions to
relax, unwind, and
rest your mind.Should You Sleep for 36 Hours?
Some guidance counselors tell their students to get a lot of sleep the night before the SAT. This probably
isn’t a good idea. If you aren’t used to sleeping 12 hours a night, doing so will just make you groggy for
the test. The same goes for going out all night: Tired people are not good test takers.
A much better idea is to get up early each morning for the entire week before the test and do your
homework before school. This will get your brain accustomed to functioning at that hour of the morning.
You want to be sharp at test time.
Before dinner the night before the test, spend an hour or so reviewing or doing a few practice problems.
The goal here is to brush up on the material, not to exhaust yourself by over-cramming.
Furthermore...
Here are a few pointers for test day and beyond:
- Eat a good breakfast before the test—your brain needs energy.
- Work out a few SAT problems on the morning of the test to help dust off any cobwebs in your
head and get you started thinking analytically. - Arrive at the test center early. Everyone is headed to the same place at the same time.
- You must take acceptable identification to the test center on the day of the test. Acceptable
identification must include a recognizable photograph and your name. Acceptable forms of ID
include your driver’s license, a school ID with a photo, or a valid passport. If you don’t have an
official piece of ID with your signature and your photo, you can have your school make an ID for
you using a Student ID form provided by the College Board. Complete instructions for making
such an ID are found on the College Board’s website and in the SAT Registration Bulletin.
According to ETS and the College Board, the following forms of ID are unacceptable: a birth
certificate, a credit card, or a Social Security card. Make sure you read all of the rules in the
Registration Bulletin, because conflicts with ETS are just not worth the headache. Your only
concern on the day of the test should be beating the SAT. To avoid hassles and unnecessary
stress, make absolutely certain that you take your admissions ticket and your ID with you on the
day of the test.
#1: Eat Breakfast
You’ll work better on a
satisfied stomach.
#2: Try Some Problems