You’ve done it all—put in countless hours for tutoring and studying, taken more than a few practice tests—and now you find yourself in the gruesome twenty-four-hour stretch leading up to your test. Preparing for these tests is no small feat, and even if you know the test front-to-back, it’s imperative to spend the last day leading up to the test getting yourself in the proper headspace to do your absolute best.
The Yerkes-Dodson Law describes the interplay between stress levels and performance. Nervous system arousal level isn’t linearly related to performance; instead, it resembles a negative parabola: your performance peaks at a medium stress level but quickly falters if you’re too stressed (or not stressed enough). You can use this to your advantage and take steps to get into the optimal headspace pre-test.
One thing to note is that you shouldn’t spend the day before the test studying. By this point, your brain has absorbed all the months of instruction, and doing more work today won’t increase your recall abilities by much. New information is even trickier—given how the brain’s encoding and retrieval process relies on spaced repetition, that one fact you’re trying to cram in at the last minute probably won’t stick.
So what should you do instead? It may seem counterproductive, but taking care of yourself is the best course of action. Even though these tests can influence admissions prospects, it’s important to remember your test, whatever kind it may be, is just that: a test. Please don’t allow it to upend your life completely; this rings especially true on the eve of your test date.
To help you achieve this balance and set you on the right path, we’ve outlined several key strategies below, each designed to ensure you’re in the right mindset and physically prepared for success on test day.
Social interaction
Humans are a social species. We thrive off interactions with others, particularly involving friends and family. Take the time before your test as an opportunity to hang out with some of your loved ones. Positive communication with someone you care about has been shown to upregulate the brain’s release of dopamine, which can help calm your stress levels before the big day.
Mindfulness techniques
Practice mindfulness techniques in the weeks leading up to the test so that you know when and how to use them properly. Each section of your test is designed to wear you down, so it’s important to take brain breaks when needed. During these brain breaks, you should employ mindfulness to help recuperate your energy and focus. This could come in the form of mental visualization, where you imagine you’re in your happy place (mine’s the beach with a good book); focused breathing, where you bring your attention to the breath by inhaling for four seconds, holding it for six seconds, and exhaling for four seconds; or by staring off at a blank spot on the wall to help your eyes relax. Some students also find grounding helpful, where they note what each of their five senses experiences to better focus on the task at hand.
Eat and sleep properly
It’s crucial to go into the test feeling well-rested and well-fueled. Be sure to get at least seven hours of sleep the night before, and practice good sleep hygiene by putting your phone to rest thirty minutes before you do. In the morning, eat a balanced breakfast that will keep you fueled for the entire duration of testing. A high-protein meal will serve you well here, as protein takes longer for your body to digest. Consider bringing jerky, nuts, or vegetables with nut butter for your mid-test break snack.
Get prepared
The night before your test, be sure to have your outfit and test materials ready. For high-stakes standardized tests like the ACT and SAT, examinees are required to bring the following items: a printed copy of your admissions ticket, government-issued photo identification, and number 2 pencils for scratch paper. Additionally, the ACT allows you to bring a silent watch and a calculator; both are embedded in SAT’s Bluebook application, so there is no need to bring them to your SAT. Also, bring snacks and water to, in the ACT’s words, “enjoy” during your break. For more details on test day dos and don’ts, see ACT, Inc.’s ACT Test Day page or College Board’s What to Bring on SAT Test Day page.
You should take other steps to ensure you’re as prepared as possible before bed on test day eve. Double-check your admissions ticket and your email to confirm the correct information, particularly the testing center location. Students have been forced to delay their testing due to last-minute location changes, so be sure you know where to head in the morning.
Unwind
Once you’re satisfied with your preparation, allow yourself time to unwind. Set your alarm, put your phone away, and do something without a screen. Take this as your sign to do some self-care—catch up on a few pages of a book you’ve been meaning to revisit, put a bath bomb and Epsom salts to good use, pen a journal or gratitude diary passage, stretch or do yoga, or listen to music. Consider also dimming the lights and reducing noises and distractions to relax the body and prepare it for sleep.
Set your sights high and manifest positivity
Above all, project a bright outlook. You’ve put countless hours of review, practice problems, mock tests, and tutoring sessions into your test date, so don’t treat walking into the test like walking into a parallel universe. Instead, tap into your experience and visualize taking the test with the same vigor and vigilance you applied to your countless practice rounds. You’ve been drilled on the format, timing, and question content, so try your best, and success will follow.
