<p>I've been studying and I've realized that when I'm calm I do really well (CR and Writing) but when I start to freak out, like on a Writing problem if the words are weird my mind produces too many answers that I jump at the first one that looks right and forget to look at the rest. So hep me, what do you do to stay clam and collective. Thanks in advance :)</p>
<p>I have the same problem. Whenever I stay calm, stay focused and not feel like I’m pressed for time, I do good. But when I start freaking out about a hard passage, I do really bad.</p>
<p>Breathe.
I read just breathe in and out 10 times. Then tackle. I tried it. It works :)</p>
<p>^ It works. Just relax. Close your eyes for 10 seconds and breathe. Then, continue working on the problem.</p>
<p>Another thing I have trouble on is pretending to like a CR passage. How do you guys do it?</p>
<p>^^LOL I have the same problem, to get excited my eyes like widen and I smile and it sort of makes it exciting a little. Thanxs you guys for the response. Breathe just Breathe, I’m going to try that and I’ll report tomorrow. :)</p>
<p>Lol breathe. Just breathe is a line from my favorite song xD
And yeah the reading thing. Just pretend say say WOW! THIS IS SO COOL. seriously it works xD</p>
<p>I do that, and sometimes I say it sarcastically without meaning to. lol :)</p>
<p>Haha at type in title.</p>
<p>^
LOL u mean typo? xDD</p>
<p>I totally did that on purpoe. :D</p>
<p>Make jokes about the questions that are absurd or just really random. Thats what I do :D</p>
<p>lol Dorkyelm- I think I know that song. Is it Breathe by some girl name Anna. I think the lyrics are, “2 am and still awake writing a song, if i get it all down i’ll be … its no longer inside of me threatening the life i belongs to.” lol I think that’s the song, I use to be obsessed over that.</p>
<p>Actually it’s Breathe by Ryan Star. </p>
<p>p.s. I checked this thread out just because of your title. I was seriously wondering how CLAMS have to do with the SAT?</p>
<p>I COMPLETELY clear my mind of every single thought and read the question aloud in my head in a british accent. Dont ask me why but it works.</p>
<p>I try to envision myself as my favorite marine bivalve during the essay. That helps me stay clam. But any CR passage that mentions seafood kinda throws me off.</p>
<p>^LOL</p>
<p>Just remember that a significant portion of your life depends on how you do on this test, and that if you screw up… well… life goes on?</p>
<p>lol Dorkye, sorry about that, i was freaking out and not being CALM. sorry about the misspelling everyone :)</p>
<p>jd989898- love the british accent, i might try that</p>
<p>As an adult, I take the test without any pressure and it is so much easier. I realized this a couple of years ago when there was a substantial bet riding on my score (in which I would pocket a decent amount). I froze in Section 2. Totally blew a couple of questions and omitted a couple more. We had a short break afterwards and I regrouped. Figured the money was gone and I suddenly relaxed. When I got my results back, I didn’t miss anything after Section 2. </p>
<p>So I understand how the pressure can get to you. But I also know how much easier the test is when you can take that pressure off. You have to accept that you are going to do your best, and that’s all you can ask of yourself. When you get stuck on a question, let it go. Worrying about it is only going to lower your concentration on the next couple of questions. You have to adopt an “oh well” attitude. We all know those slackers that never studied for the SAT (or any of their classes for that matter) but wound up with a 2200. Part of the reason for their scores is that they do not feel pressure the way most students do. It’s an “oh well” world for them. </p>
<p>I believe that we end up where we are supposed to be. I have to believe this or I’d go crazy thinking about missed opportunities. If you don’t get the score to get into X University, you just are not meant to be there. You don’t know what’s waiting for you at Y College–a future spouse? Best friend? Excellent job? I know that the next 4 or 5 years seem like the most important ones of your life, but they most likely are not. They may be years that you look back on fondly, but it’s unlikely they will be the 4 or 5 years you’d want to relive if given the choice as an 80 year old man or woman. </p>
<p>Okay, enough philosophizing. That’s how us old people stay “clam” on the SAT.</p>
<p>^ Completely out of curiosity, do you continue to take the test as a hobby or because your profession requires it? Do you take it at a unique center?</p>
<p>To stay calm, I imagine my dog is curled up by my testing desk and it’s raining outside. And I have my fan going. Happy place, you know?</p>