May 22, 2025
The SAT can feel like a major milestone. However, success on test day isn’t just about how smart you are or how many formulas you’ve memorized. It’s also about how well you prepare, both mentally and physically. The good news? There are proven strategies that can help you feel more confident, focused, and ready to do your best. Whether you’re just starting your prep or getting ready to head to the testing center, these eight tips will help you make the most of your efforts and perform at your peak when it counts.
- Consider your why. Preparing for the SAT can be stressful, and it’s easy to lose sight of what you’re working toward. But when you take time to reflect on your bigger purpose, your why, you unlock motivation that runs deeper than test scores. As Brian Fenerty puts it, “Your ‘why’ is the driving force that keeps you going and helps you stay motivated when things get tough.” Maybe your why is to open doors for college, to pursue a career that excites you, or to simply achieve that dream score. Whatever it is, staying connected to that purpose gives meaning to the long study hours and practice tests. Before your next prep session, pause and ask yourself: Why does this matter to me? The answer can help guide every choice you make.
- Arrive at your testing location well-rested and early. The night before the SAT, set yourself up for a smooth morning by planning ahead: lay out your clothes, pack your bag with everything you need (printed admission ticket, photo ID, calculator, snacks, and water), and set multiple alarms. The College Board website share all the information you need to know about what to bring to your test. Knowing exactly what you’re doing in the morning reduces stress and helps you sleep better. Leave your house with 15 extra minutes to drive to the testing location. Arriving early gives you time to settle in, find your room, and avoid the panic of running late. A calm start sets the tone for a focused and confident test-taking experience. As Benjamin Franklin wisely said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
- Don’t neglect your physical health. Getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious breakfast, and staying hydrated can significantly boost your performance on test day. Sleep is especially critical: studies show that students who get 8 hours of sleep before an exam perform up to 10% better than those who don’t. A solid breakfast fuels your brain with the energy it needs to focus and think clearly, while proper hydration helps maintain concentration and reduce fatigue. Your body and brain work together; when you take care of one, you support the other. Treat your physical well-being as part of your SAT strategy.
- Spend quality time working on math problems in Desmos, the built-in graphing calculator available on the SAT. The more familiar you are with its features, the faster and more confidently you can solve complex problems on test day. Desmos can help you visualize equations, identify key points on graphs, and check your work: skills that are especially useful for algebra, functions, and geometry questions. Learning how to quickly graph a line, plot intercepts, or test values can save you valuable time, leaving you more mental energy to tackle trickier problems later in the section. Practicing with Desmos ahead of time turns it from a tool into a time-saving advantage.
- During your prep window, plan to take as many practice tests as you can – and then retake them! Each attempt helps you build endurance, sharpen your timing, and learn from your mistakes. As Michael Jordan famously said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Practice is where progress happens. The more effort you put in now, the more confident and prepared you’ll be on test day.
- Your success is also closely tied to your mindset, so stay positive and trust the work you’ve put in. If you’ve prepared with focus and effort, there’s no reason to doubt yourself. In fact, research shows that students with a positive attitude toward testing perform up to 12% better than those with high levels of test anxiety. According to Willie Nelson, “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” Believing in yourself isn’t just feel-good advice—it’s a strategy for success.
- If you start to feel nervous, focus on deep, slow breathing. Stress and anxiety can spike during the SAT, but your breath is a powerful tool to bring calm and focus back to your body and mind. As Grace Bullock explains, “focusing on the timing and pace of our breath can have positive effects on our body and mind,” activating brain regions connected to emotion, attention, and body awareness. Try paced breathing: inhale for four counts, exhale for six. This simple rhythm helps regulate your nervous system by reducing fear and sharpening focus.
- Keep this academic experience in perspective. The SAT is just one moment in your educational journey: a snapshot, not the full picture. Your preparation and effort matter, but they don’t define your worth or your future. In the grand scheme of things, this is a short chapter that will soon be behind you and your potential can’t be measured by a single exam. So take some pressure off this one moment in time and try to appreciate what you’re achieving simply by showing up, working hard, and staying focused. That commitment says more about you than any bubble you fill in.
Preparing for the SAT is about more than just getting a good score. It’s about building habits that will serve you far beyond test day. From taking care of your physical health to keeping your mindset in check, these strategies are designed to help you feel prepared, stay focused, and manage stress effectively. Remember, you’ve already accomplished so much by showing up and putting in the work. Trust your preparation, stay grounded in your “why,” and take pride in the effort you’ve invested. You’ve got this.
