<p>Hi everyone,
I have a sister that does extremely well when she takes the tests at home (blue book). I taught her with the blue book, and online answers from collegeboard. All Writing first, then all critical reading, then all math. She would consistently get 10/11's on her essays, and she would get -1 or -2 on her writing. And in math, she would usually miss 1 and omit 1. On Critical reading she would miss 2 or 3. </p>
<p>But when she took the test this October, she didn't do so swell. She said she was nervous and couldn't focus, especially on the CR.<br>
I have a feeling it's a few things.
Her stamina, her focus, maybe she was unlucky and she got 4 CR's in a row at the beginning, her second guessing herself all the time, her lack of confidence.</p>
<p>But if anyone can help me think of something to help her, that would be awesome. I really want the best for her. And as of now, she's a senior, and she's taking SAT II's again this November. Her last shot at the SAT I is in December. Please help =/</p>
<p>this test is screwing you over. want to beat it, its just a stupid test. And all the answers are in front of you, how hard can it be. This should be the most exciting test you have ever taken. These passages are really interesting.</p>
<p>Thoughts like that helped me get through the SAT with ease.</p>
<p>Skip school the day before the SAT to relax and chill out. It's nice knowing that for a day you can not worry about schoolwork but just simply prepare yourself for the test.</p>
<p>What a good brother you are--she's lucky to have you. Has she been practicing timed full length tests all in one sitting so she's used to the length of the test? It really is pretty long stretch so she might benefit from building up endurance if she hasn't been doing this already. Sticking to her usual morning routine is probably wise. A good breakfast is recommended but if she's not used to eating a big meal at that time of day it might throw her off. She can bring snacks so that she doesn't get hungry and run out of gas. Maybe she could give some relaxation exercises a try? Some people find breathing and progressive relaxation (6 and 7 here <a href="http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/acapro/test_anxiety.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/acapro/test_anxiety.shtml</a> and I'm sure you can find others if you google). Practice at home might help her feel less self conscious about these things. Maybe taking a new perspective can help--what would she tell a friend in the same position? Any single test isn't the measure of a person.</p>
<p>If she's applying to schools that superscore the SAT she can bear in mind that any new scores can only help her. She has nothing to lose since only her best scores count. (Of course if her target schools don't superscore this isn't much help.) Best of luck.</p>
<p>Best of luck to your sister, I used to have the same problem. I just stopped caring, which wasn't so easy to do. But getting a bad test score isn't the end of the world, and I ended up improving my score by a lot with a calm set of nerves.</p>
<p>Also, I recommend that you eat 2 steaks right before the test. I did that, and my ears were ringing. I could see everything so clearly for the first half of the test...lol</p>
<p>tell her the blue book tests are the exact same ones that she is taking in that room, just in a different vicinity. make her think that way and she'll do fine.</p>
<p>I bring a watch with me to tests to keep track of time, and I used to get distracted by constantly checking to see how much time I had left. If she's worried about time, tell her to focus on working quickly, but that she doesn't have to rush.</p>
<p>always remmeber, how big of a deal is the sat in the long run? Think of all the successful people who didn't go to Princeton. Also, remmeber you always have the ACT as a option. If you freak out having a nervous breakdown during the test, that will only lower your score.</p>