Heart-racing, stomach-turning. You fidget with the Number Two pencil in your hands as the instructor passes around the test.
Sound familiar?
You are not alone. Test anxiety on standardized tests in America is way more common than you think. Some studies have shown over 82% of students experience some measure of anxiety before a test like the SAT or ACT. Many professors and experts will tell you that a bit of nervous energy before taking a test is normal, and even beneficial, to your results in the end.
But what if this anxiety is hindering your performance on the actual exam?
Today, we are going to break down 8 tips to help you conquer test anxiety.
But first, what exactly Is Test Anxiety?
Test anxiety is a term that describes having severe or excessive physical and emotional reactions to being in a testing environment. These reactions are often so strong that they interfere with your ability to do your best on the exam. To read more about the symptoms and reasons for test anxiety, check out this post here.
If you are feeling anxious about the college application process in general, remember that you don’t have to go through this process alone. It might help you to work one-on-one with an admissions professional to know exactly what to focus on in this stressful season of life.
1. Practice makes Perfect
This might be an obvious one, but this is the best tip for quelling your anxious thoughts on test day. Prepare for the material and structure of the exams through practice tests and flashcards. Our admissions experts also recommend being consistent with the amount you’re studying, but to vary where you study. Try working from a coffee shop, local library, or even outside. This will help you retain information and stay focused!
2. Be prepared for the format and timing of the test
One of the biggest things that can trip students up on test day is not being comfortable with the structure or timing of the SAT and ACT. Be sure to do your research beforehand, so the test day doesn’t have as many unknown factors.
3. Register for the exam early and be aware of the date you pick
This one may seem simple, but we have seen far too many students forget to sign up for the test or double-book themselves! Try to register for an exam date that is in a relatively quiet season for your schedule. If you can help it, don’t schedule it for when you have busy personal things going on, or during your sports season for example. This will help ease your anxiety during the week leading up to the test.
4. Arrive 10 minutes earlier than you normally would
No one wants to be rushed and stressed out on the morning of the big exam day! Be sure to add 10 extra minutes to your morning routine, so you can arrive early.
5. Breathe – simple but effective
Remember, if the anxiety becomes too much in the middle of the exam, you can take a break and breathe through it. It’s not against the rules to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths in the middle of the exam. These breaths are not only steadying and calming but also giving your brain a bit more oxygen, which can help you figure out the problem you’re stuck on.
6. You’re not alone!
As we mentioned in the intro to this blog post, test anxiety is a phenomenon that affects many high school students. Recognize that in your testing room, it is likely that most students are in your same mental state.
7. Know the average SAT score for your target colleges
Before the big test day, be sure to look up the average SAT score for your top 3 schools. It might be lower than you are expecting! Knowing the range of questions you can miss and still make the mark for admissions can help ease some anxiety on the day of the test. You won’t know everything – and that’s okay.
8. Take advantage of expert advice
As you prepare for your upcoming test, always remember that you don’t have to go through this process alone. You can team up with college advisors, such as Ivy League-educated counselors or SAT coaches to give you 1-1 coaching. And you can find experts for every part of the admission process beyond the SAT, such as college essay coaches to guide you through the application essay drafting process.
We hope this helped relieve some of your testing anxiety and gave you some tips to use the next test day!
