<p>What do you guys do to simulate actual testing conditions?</p>
<p>Do you have a sibiling to actually keep time for you or somehting?</p>
<p>I think my biggest problem seems to be adjusting to normal testing conditions. My practice test scores come out wayyyyyy higher than my actual test scores for some reason, at least this time that is the case.</p>
<p>Say to yourself, “I suck. I can’t do math. I fail at life. I’m never going to get into Columbia.” While you try to figure out the answers, lolol.
I get 730s on my math practice tests & 630 on the real tests.</p>
<p>Sleep less than 4 hours the night before, drink red bull at 8:00AM, don’t eat solid food for breakfast, and feel nauseated and dizzy. Other than that, just use the timer on an iPod or something. I feel I do much better on practice tests than real tests, but it’s always like that for students everywhere. Just don’t let anxiety and fear get to you on test day and just remember that during those 4 hours, it’s only you and the test. For 4 hours, it is your mate and demands your absolute and undivided attention.</p>
<p>^LOL to your first sentence? you’re kidding right?</p>
<p>Nope, that was my actual condition on testing day :D</p>
<p>I’d think taking something like the PSAT (as a sophomore/freshman when it doesn’t count), APs, SAT IIs, and other standardized tests would really prep you for the dread silence and other factors of taking the SAT actually.</p>
<p>One book I read suggested taking the practice tests in the mornings, starting around 8:30 local time. It limits when you can take it (weekends and days off from school), but you really do think differently at 8am than at other times of the day. One of my friends took practice tests with other people in the room to get used to people shuffling around while she was testing, but I always thought that was a little much.</p>
<p>just get an isolated quiet area, bring your Blue book and timer, and do the test. I like to do it at 9 AM, because that’s when the actual SAT starts testing. Don’t give yourself extra time if you forgot to do a few problems, and don’t take breaks in between.</p>
<p>Use the simulation on the college board site to get the timing and wording, then have a parent or sibling do it as you take the test.</p>