subject: How To Overcome Test Anxiety Before Taking The Sat Or Act [print this page] Students must overcome test-anxiety because it is one of the biggest reasons why they do not always do their best on the SAT or ACT. Sometimes it is due to a lack of preparation. You get into the test and are nervous from the start. Sometimes, your brain actually freezes and you are unable to focus or think logically.
Most students are not poor test-takers; they simply do not have the skills they need to overcome test-anxiety. You can know everything you need to know about the SAT and ACT, but if you have not done some mental preparation, it may not make any difference. If you feel nervous, uneasy, or fearful, it is difficult to do well on anything.
The SAT and ACT are like "mental marathons." How many of you can sit for close to four hours and maintain the concentration you need? You know how easily it is to be distracted and you need to find ways to overcome test anxiety in order to be at your best. As a test prep coach, I like to give my students some suggestions that will help them feel in control before they take the SAT or ACT. I know that this will help them gain confidence in their test-taking skills and allow them to improve their scores on these two important tests.
1. Taking a test prep class can benefit most students. It should be limited to no more than ten students, have an experienced instructor, and utilize real tests from the ACT and SAT. This way you will gain some good practice and the test will be more familiar to you.
2. Be well rested and have a schedule you follow the day of the test. You should be up at least two hours before the test begins, take a shower, and eat a good breakfast. Then you should spend 15 minutes or so going over a few questions from the different sections of the test. This will get the mind working and not take an hour into the test before you are fully alert.
3. Deep breathing before the test begins and at short intervals during the test is a simple technique to help you relax. Breathe in through your nose and hold your breath for five seconds and then exhale through your mouth. You will not bother anyone and it will help to calm down and clear your mind.
4. Try progressive muscle relaxation by tensing the muscles in your shoulders, arms, and neck and then letting them go. Leaning over a test booklet for four hours can tense your body from sitting in one position for too long.
5. Focus on the SAT or ACT and do not allow yourself to be distracted. Pay no attention to other students around you because you may get anxious if you feel they are going faster than you are. Students can start anywhere on a particular section so you might actually be working faster than they are.
Test-anxiety can be frustrating, but it does not have to ruin your chances of doing well on the SAT or ACT. Do some self-talk before the test telling yourself, "I can do this. I will stay calm." Also, visualize yourself taking the test and feeling confident in your test-taking abilities. Do not talk to your friends before the test or during the break because it will only distract you and can cause the nervousness you are trying to avoid. Your goal is to be relaxed, focused, and overcome test-anxiety.
