Sat math Essentials

T E C H N I Q U E S A N D S T R AT E G I E S
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3 5

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The Day Before
It’s the day before the SAT. Here are some dos and
don’ts:
DOs
Relax! 
Find something fun to do the night before—
watch a good movie, have dinner with a
friend, read a good book.
Get some light exercise. Walk, dance, swim.
Get together everything you need for the test:
admission ticket, ID, #2 pencils, calculator,
watch, bottle of water, and snacks.
Go to bed early. Get a good night’s sleep.
DON’Ts
Do not study. You’ve prepared. Now relax.
Don’t party. Keep it low key.
Don’t eat anything unusual or adventurous—
save it!
Don’t try any unusual or adventurous activ-
ity—save it!
Don’t allow yourself to get into an emotional
exchange with anyone—a parent, a sibling, a
friend, or a significant other. If someone
starts an argument, remind him or her you
have an SAT to take and need to postpone
the discussion so you can focus on the exam.
Test Day
On the day of the test, get up early enough to allow
yourself extra time to get ready. Set your alarm and ask
a family member or friend to make sure you are up.
Eat a light, healthy breakfast, even if you usually
don’t eat in the morning. If you don’t normally drink
coffee, don’t do it today. If you do normally have cof-
fee, have only one cup. More than one cup may make
you jittery. If you plan to take snacks for the break, take
something healthy and easy to manage. Nuts and
raisins are a great source of long-lasting energy. Stay
away from cookies and candy during the exam.
Remember to take water.
Give yourself plenty of time to get to the test site
and avoid a last-minute rush. Plan to get to the test
room ten to fifteen minutes early.
During the exam, check periodically (every five to
ten questions) to make sure you are transposing your
answers to the answer sheet correctly. Look at the ques-
tion number, then check your answer sheet to see that
you are marking the oval by that question number.
If you find yourself getting anxious during the
test, remember to breathe. Remember that you have
worked hard to prepare for this day. You are ready.