How to Optimize Your Prep for the SAT or ACT

While a large portion of colleges have gone test-optional, submitting a strong SAT or ACT score can still enhance your chances of acceptance.

“The risk of taking the SAT is fairly low, while the potential reward can be high,” Matt Whittle, an education writer at Forbes, says. “While the time invested in preparing may be in vain if a test-taker becomes unsatisfied with their exam results, test-optional schools will never know about the applicant’s scores.”

US News recently shared some tips on how applicants can bring their A-game on test day, including rest breaks, optimizing time, and even what to eat for breakfast.

UTILIZE PRACTICE TESTS

There’s no better way to prep for test day than to take practice tests. Prepping with practice tests can help minimize any surprises come test day and familiarize test takers with certain test functions, such as the SAT’s built-in graphing calculator.

Additionally, practice tests offer an excellent opportunity to gauge your timing.

“We know the (ACT) overall is longer, but even the individual sections are very lengthy,” Michelle Hunt, a college admissions exam prep teacher at Kaplan, says. “Having that mental endurance is a different type of prep than they’ll have for the SAT.”

TAKE REST BREAKS

The night before test day, be sure to take time to relax and sleep early enough to feel refreshed.

“You should have already done just about all of the heavy lifting over the past three-to-four months by focusing on any academic weakness prior to the test,” Pierre Huguet, CEO and co-founder of admissions consulting firm H&C Education, says. “Students should focus on lowering their stress level as much as possible at this stage. That isn’t accomplished by actively focusing on ‘not stressing’ but rather by proactively engaging in activities that will take your mind off the test.”

EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST

Testing day is all about performance. Up until this point, you should be well-prepared to test well. Experts recommend fueling up before the test with plenty of protein to perform at your optimal level.

“Eat it before you go to the test site, so that you’ve had a little bit of time to digest it,” Ginger Fay, a consultant for Green Apple College and Guidance, a college admissions consulting firm. says. “So all the blood and energy is not targeted on your stomach, because you want it back in your brain.”

Sources: US News, Forbes