How To Prepare For SAT Test Day

In order to perform your very best on the SAT, it is crucial to know how to prepare for the exam day and to know how to spend the overall day before the exam.

The day before:

On the day before the SAT, you will need to draw up a checklist of all items required for the test day. This list should include the necessary documents, ID cards and writing implements for the test that you’re allowed to bring.

You will need to bring the following:

1)     Your Admission Ticket (print it at www.collegeboard.com).

2)     Your photo ID card such as your Driver’s License or Passport. It must be valid, original and current (no photocopies).

3)     A few No. 2 pencils (sharpened) and soft erasers. Coloured markers, highlighters and pens are not permitted.

4)     A calculator (graphing or scientific). Devices such as laptops, cell phones, iPads, digital organizers, electronic dictionaries, etc. are NOT ALLOWED.

5)     A watch with no alarm.

6)     Batteries or a back-up calculator.

7)     A bag or backpack.

8)     Snack food and drinks for the breaks.

No notes, books, or measurement instruments are permitted. Do not take any prohibited items into the test centre. You are not allowed to use them at any time, even during the breaks.

After you have organized your materials for test day, and while it’s still early in the day, do some SAT Practice Test questions by going over the 3 sections tested: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. Work on the weaker areas that you have targeted for improvement: for example, you could do higher-level or more challenging math problems in algebra, probability or geometry and work down to easier questions, which are normally in the beginning of the sections. And for the essay, practice writing an outline of what your response would look like.

In the evening, take your mind off the SAT and relax. Do something fun and enjoyable so that you’re feeling stress-free. Recognize that you have worked really hard to be prepared for the SAT and that you ARE already successful. Go to sleep one hour earlier than normal so you’re well rested for test day.

SAT test day:

On test day, wake up one hour earlier than you normally do and try a few SAT Practice Test questions to get your mind adjusted and ready for the high performance level necessary for the real SAT exam. Work for a half hour or so, so that you feel like you’re able to approach SAT questions with all cylinders firing. After that, take a break and go to the SAT Test centre with all the items you’ve packed the night before. Think good thoughts and GOOD LUCK!