Ideas for the Day Before the Standardized Test

Standarized tests require preparation and concentration.

Standardized tests, such as the SAT, PSAT, Iowa tests and others, gauge a person's placement in their schooling and potentially their future careers. During high school and college, preparing for standardized tests can be stressful and scary. Knowing what to do the day before the standardized test can help make taking the test go smoothly.

Eat Wisely

Yummy chocolate can help you before a standardized test.

Eating a healthy diet is necessary regardless of the occasion and especially before an important test like the SAT or other standardized exams. The day before--and the day of--the big test, eat a healthy and balanced breakfast of food that stimulate thought and energy. Fresh oranges and blueberries in a healthy fruit salad offer vitamin C and other nutrients necessary for healthy brain function. Eating beans and fish also stimulates the brain. For sweet treats throughout the day, chocolate presents soothing and relaxed feelings to help with pre-test jitters.

Study Briefly

Over-studying can wear you out, and cause more stress before a big test.

Burning yourself out with study materials the night before a standardized test can do more harm than good. Take short spurts of intense studying in between relaxing and enriching activities throughout the day before a standardized test. Study for each section of the test for one hour before taking a break to take a walk, have a relaxing swim or watching television for another hour. Briefly review each subject of your studies to allow your brain to absorb the information without stressing yourself out before the test.

Miscellaneous Tips

Avoid consuming too much caffeine before a test.

Getting plenty of sleep keeps your mind alert, but oversleeping can have the same effects of not getting much sleep at all. Try to get between six and eight hours of sleep the night before the test. Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks and caffeinated beverages that can cause your brain to fog and crash you out during the exam.

References

• PSU: Study Tips