<p>I got my SAT scores this morning and needless to say, I was devastated. I was expecting 2200+ but got over 100 points lower than that. I studied vocabulary, writing rules, and went through math again even though it is my best subject. I took over 25 practice tests and was averaging over 2250-2300. I score 800's in math and writing and around 700 in reading on my practice tests FROM COLLEGE BOARD but my test scores do not reflect it. When it comes to the day of the test, fear and panic take over and I am not able to do my level best. </p>
<p>I really need some advice. Does anyone else have the same problem? Does anyone know how to overcome it?</p>
<p>Any advice would be helpful…</p>
<p>Take it again. Often people can handle emotions better when they are more experienced. Taking practice tests are not the the same as taking it for real. Now that you took it for real, you know more what to expect and might be able to control your fear better. Did you time your practice tests like the real one so you get the same time pressure?</p>
<p>Yea I had the same exact timing for every practice test I took but its the feeling of knowing that I messed up in the previous section or looking at a math question that I have never seen before that causes it. </p>
<p>This is the second time I took the test and I did worse than the first time but I studied MUCH MUCH harder for the May one.</p>
<p>My D got 2300+ in the last several full timed practice tests, but she got disappointed twice in real test. In the meantime, she got great score on ACT and gave up on retaking SAT.</p>
<p>Take it enough, and you’ll pull through. Trust me.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>The thing is that I studied so much and depleted all my resources. I deprived myself of so much but I still cant get the score I want on test day. If I took a test right now, I would probably get mid-2200s. I just need to practice in a way that imitates the real pressure of taking the test. Any idea on how to do that?</p>
<p>I do plan to study hard in the summer. The thing is that this is not lack of knowledge but poor test taking skills. What I don’t understand is that I do really well on school tests but not on the SAT.</p>
<p>Maybe you were too nervous? It definitely could have been caused by nerves.</p>
<p>Can you have a parent or a friend proctor you as close to test conditions as possible? Quiet room, no cell-phone, no distractions, reading out instructions, timed breaks only when they are supposed to occur?</p>
<p>I follow the test directions exactly but on the day of the test, I get extremely nervous.</p>
<p>Honestly bro, I got around two 2050s while I was getting in the 2200ish range in practice. </p>
<p>I woke up at 4am on the next test day, very nervous, and without really prepping that much more. I drank a coffee, and was just in a proverbial zone and wound up with a 2310/800CR.</p>
<p>My dad kept telling me that I’d shank a few and get a couple low scores, but that I’d eventually get that great score. I didn’t really believe him but… #anygivensaturday</p>
<p>So, if you’re already in that 2200 range, you don’t need to prep much more. Maybe read over some Chung tips, and study the essay.</p>
<p>I also tend to get super nervous on the day of the actual tests. What I have done to get better at controlling my nervousness and emotion is that I pretend that it is the actual test day. I bring a bag with the necessary items that I would bring on the actual test day and I sit in a different setting. I time myself and give myself the recommended breaks. This allows me to familiarize myself with the testing conditions and more importantly with my mentality. I get used to the nervousness and I know how to deal with it since I have taken so many practice tests in a “real testing” environment. Once, you get to the actual test day, you would have rehearsed the motions and this nervous feeling would not affect you as much. This method worked for me. It might help you, too. :)</p>
<p>Hmm, that really stinks! If you’re timing yourself realistically for all of your practice tests, I don’t really see what the problem would be! But you need to trust your own knowledge, and at this point it seems like you have practiced A LOT. So I think it’s not worth it to take a bunch of more practice tests, but just have confidence in yourself and in your ability. If you go into the test with an attitude of “I’ve got this”, which obviously, according to your practice scores, you do, and just focus on what is in front of you without worrying or freaking out because it’s the “real thing”, then I think you can definitely do great. If you’re already going into it with a good attitude, then I don’t really know what to tell you, maybe it’s just bad luck! I had a lot of anxiety on test day too, but everyone works differently when faced with pressure- it’s good for some people and not for others. Next time, don’t focus on cramming everything into your brain, but just trust that you know it and can do it.</p>
<p>Yea especially with my first bad score, I lost all confidence and I guess my nervousness spilled over on to my May test. </p>
<p>I’ll try to imitate the pressure when I take practice tests. Thanks guys.</p>