How to Prepare the Day Before Your SAT or ACT
With the next ACT and SAT coming up soon, it’s important to start thinking of how you’ll prepare – and I don’t mean test prep. How do you find the right mindset? Should you eat something specific? How many hours should you sleep? Below are some tips to best prepare the day before your test (and it doesn’t hurt to start these habits early!)
Do Something for Yourself
The day before your test, do something for yourself that makes you feel good. Maybe that’s taking some time to read your favorite book, or going for a run around your neighborhood. Today is a day of relaxation and revitalizing your body and brain! This includes no cramming. Yeah, I said NO CRAMMING. (Parents, are you reading this?) If you feel stressed enough on a certain topic that you want to lightly review, I won’t stop you – but remember that cramming has actually proven to have negative effects on the information you already have stored in your brain.
Get Your Things Ready
Get your backpack and materials together today. This includes pencils, erasers, snacks, a bottle of water, and even a quick overnight oats breakfast if you aren’t the kind to get up early and cook (more on that on our next blog). Don’t forget to map out the exam’s location, including the best route and how long it will take you to get there. Try to pick out a comfortable outfit for the next day. It might be warm weather outside, but you’ll likely be in a classroom or indoor area for multiple hours at a time, so layers and something comfortable are your best bet!
Nourish Your Brain
Enjoy a healthy and filling dinner a few hours before bedtime with a glass of water, and then skip the video games, TV, and phone time. Try an evening walk instead – the screen time doesn’t help you with getting adequate sleep. Not getting a good night’s sleep can negatively impact your memory and response time. High school students who sleep for seven hours per night do better on exams than those who get less than seven hours of sleep. (Adolescent sleep is one of my favorite topics – but more on that on another blog!)
Overall, this day is a day for taking care of YOU. Nourishing your body, warming up your brain, and getting into the right mindset. Good decisions today will pay off on exam day!