Put to the Test: Preparing for the SAT/ACT (continued)

The night before:

• Do set out everything you'll need (including your no. 2 pencil!). Then you won't have to run around early the next morning.

• Don't schedule a huge social event.

• Do plan to do something that relaxes you—reading a favorite book, watching TV, talking on the phone (but not about the test!), taking a walk.

• Don't stay up late to catch Letterman.

• Do go to bed early—you'll think better if you're well-rested.

The morning of:

• Do plan to arrive at the testing center early.

• Don't skip breakfast. When you're hungry, it's harder to concentrate—and you'll feel more sleepy.

• Do bring a snack. If a full breakfast is too much for you first thing in the morning, eat an apple on the way to the test center. And bring a snack to munch on during the break.

Finally…

A pep talk from Jonathan Burdick, associate dean at the University of Southern California: "Stop worrying about it so much. [Tests are] supposed to be a guideline, not a new way of life. If a college is going to admit or deny you based on your test score, you don't want to be there anyway, and it's their loss. Go to some place that's prepared to appreciate you for who you really are."