South Salem High School is preparing for another year of standardized testing. Wednesday, October 12th will be a late start day as well as testing day for PSAT/SAT/ACT/ASVAB takers. Participants are expected to arrive at school at 9:30 and show up to assigned testing classrooms.
For many students, standardized testing is one big step for starting the college process. While lots of colleges aren’t currently requiring SAT scores in applications, some still require them. Preparing to get a desired score on the test can be a huge source of stress for students. Luckily, there are many resources to manage this stress.
For studying, there are books you can get from South’s library and the Salem Public Library to check out. Searching “SAT” in the library catalog will provide many desired results. College Board and Khan Academy also have practice tests on their websites. While studying alone can be effective, studying with a friend allows space for comparing answers and asking clarifying questions.
“My favorite way to study is to always study with someone else and explain the stuff to them and have them explain the stuff to me,” science teacher Amorette Drexler says.
The night before and the day of testing can be the most stressful part for some people. It might feel necessary to sacrifice sleep and cram at the last minute. However, doing this can raise stress and affect short term memory. It may be more effective to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and practice a self care method for calming pre-test nerves.
“Some people just need to talk to their friends, some people need to move their bodies, some people need to meditate, so I think the best tip is the one that works for you,” Drexler says, “find something that works for you and then stick with that.”
