<p>when I took my psats this year...i panicked bcuz it was my first experience with ETS/CB material...so my score suffered.</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to prep myself mentally... because when i prep i get heart palpitations...and i break out in a sweat...</p>
<p>I kno the material, and im capable of a decent score (2100+) but i cant get over my fear of ...failing :[</p>
<p>I think of the SATs as just a test. If I do my best on it, I did my best. I really don't know juniors or seniors feel cause I have not reached that level yet.
I took the SAT my past freshman year and got 570 in math, 470 in critical reading, and 420 in writing. What I did was set a goal for myself every year.
400+ each section freshman, 500+ sophomore, 600+ Junior, 700+ Senior.I am guessing you are a junior cause some people take the PSAT as a sophomore. The PSAT lacked the essay, so the essay is a good way to just calm down and relax and write about your opinions on the essay topic. The rest is just being able to figure out what they are trying to ask you. </p>
<p>If you are capable of getting a 2100+, you must be pretty bright. Cause even though the SAT is an important factor in college admissions, there is much more than just the SAT that they look at. So get yourself ready for the SAT, but remember that it is just a test.</p>
<p>The way I prep mentally is just get the courage to get to the entrance door, go in, take a seat, pull out my pencil and calculator, think about my experience at school, take a deep breath and start.</p>
<p>One of the biggest mistakes I made on the SAT was answering the questions I knew were wrong cause I never saw the material before but I learned a lot that day and I now know the 2nd time around, it won't be overwhelming.</p>
<p>Keep practicing to build confidence. Just think of it as another practice test.</p>
<p>Here are two good strategies. The first is to be completely mellow. I know people who smoked before test but its not a good idea. Just relax and be completely chill about it. Second one is to be overconfident. Keep telling yourself you know this stuff, cause you probably do. Hearing it helpes you a lot though</p>
<p>wow thanks!
im gonna try to be either chill or overconfident during some of my practice sessions.
hopefully i wont have to resort to smoking lol :]</p>
<p>I agree with NBA fan. Being overconfident helps you to overcome test anxieties and puts you in a mental state where you don't over-think questions. Sometimes when we're nervous we start panicking on the easiest questions-i did- and tend to overcomplicate things. The SAT is a game, you're the player. </p>
<p>Know the rules.
get your equipment.
Beat the game.</p>
<p>As FDR once said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" .</p>
<p>i stay calm by telling myself that if i screw up i can just retake it :)</p>
<p>Don't think of it as a big deal at all. Remember that you can always retake it. That's what I did - that, and not eating breakfast, getting like 4 hours of sleep the night before, stuff like that. Don't act like you're going into a big test or anything. Bring stuff you love to eat for your snacks. I did all that, no studying or anything, and got a 2300 first try.
Just stay relaxed, and it's really not that hard.</p>
<p>Damn, i wish SAT was at midnight :D I'm most clever and alert at that time.</p>
<p>Smile. Just smile. Seriously. Put a smile on your face throughout the test. It helps.</p>
<p>What i've noticed is, is that people tend to score much higher when they don't care for the test. As in, a person here went from 2130 to a 2320 just because he didn't care for the test since he already had a 34 on the ACT.</p>
<p>I do my battle cry before the test is initiated.</p>