SAT nightmare...

[riptide]

In my years fencing, I've faced some of the toughest opponents in both my division and southern Canada. Some bouts I've won, and some I've lost. But through all of them I've managed to keep a steady nerve. Never before has an opponent made me lose my cool.

Until now.

I now find myself facing both a battery of AP tests and the *new* SAT all in the same week. I can actually feel my hair becoming gray.

And so I send this desperate plea out into cyberspace in the hopes that somebody will hear/care: any advice about how to cope with test anxeity?

much obliged.

[melihop]

Are you taking it on saturday the 7th????

[riptide]

'fraid so.

[melihop]

oh ok.. umm.. to get rid of nerves.. remember.. that i am taking them and freaking out about them at the same time you are?

but more sereiously.. just.. calm down.. and.. do things to distract yourself.. you are not doing to learn a billion new things... in less than a week.. so calm down about them.. and youc an always take them again!

[cameroncrazy323]

Well I'm taking 8 AP tests this year with 3 on the same day...SO STOP YOUR WHINING! lol. About the SAT, I hate it more than anything. I consider myself to be a pretty scholarly guy and cannot get above a 1300 on the thing, but I can kill the ACT. I'm not sure how the new SAT works because it doesn't matter for me anymore . My advice would be to take the ACT because it is more about what you know then how you take a test (if this makes sense). Also most colleges don't require you to take SAT II's with the ACT so that's a big plus.

[riptide]

Well I'm taking 8 AP tests this year with 3 on the same day...SO STOP YOUR WHINING! lol.

Dang. I've only got five. I'm humbled.

I too consider the SATs to be ridiculous. They are far too academically abstract to present any clear indication of one's actual intelligence. Ah well, c'est la vie (I hope I spelled that right, I take Spanish).

[mrbiggs]

In my years fencing, I've faced some of the toughest opponents in both my division and southern Canada. Some bouts I've won, and some I've lost. But through all of them I've managed to keep a steady nerve. Never before has an opponent made me lose my cool.

Until now.

I now find myself facing both a battery of AP tests and the *new* SAT all in the same week. I can actually feel my hair becoming gray.

And so I send this desperate plea out into cyberspace in the hopes that somebody will hear/care: any advice about how to cope with test anxeity?

much obliged.

This weekend, I have the SATs, prom that night, work the next day, mothers' day the rest of the day, wake up in the morning and take the Bio AP test.

[fixxmyweapon]

i feel your pain. i have two finals tomorrow, one on tuesday, and one on wednesday. i take the SAT 2 on saturday for math placement. this time of year sucks for everyone who's in school.

[InweCiryatan]

Ahh! Yonder lieth the dreaded testing creation brought into being by the Evil Testing Serpent. (ETS) As if the olde test beith not diabolical enough, the ETS hath thought of a new devilry, the monstrous writing sectione. It stands virtually undefeatable by any means, be it foil or epee or sabre, save by extreme knowledge.

Might I recommende the dark art of 'sillye puttye' voodoo for thy anxiety? Spelleth out "Test" then watch as thy nemesis slowly melts into naught but a quivering puddle of goo. I hath recently founde in mine quests a wondrous and helpful book which goeth by the name 'Up your score, the underground guide to the SAT,' and this book beith quite a funny volume, with many useful tips about defeating yonder evil test. As for the APs, good luck to ye, I have experience with these beings and they beith not fun. All I can say is, get plenty of sleep, eate much protein, and drink large quantities of caffeine.

(Sir ThatReallyHurt, this beith my fourthe poste on thy daring dare, and as of yet I have only one more poste to complete.)

[UTEpee]

wow, im getting a flood of memories from senior year. one way to cope with SAT test anxiety is to drink heavily the night before. I mean its on a satuday, do they really expect you to stay in on a friday night? speaking from experience, if you are tired/hungover, youll just be happy you completed the thing. As far as your score, i wouldnt worry too much about it, unless youre going ivy league or something. if youre taking AP courses, then youll probably do just fine on the SAT regardless of your condition. Do be well rested/not hungover for the AP exams though as they can be rather engaging. If you have managed to take a practice AP exam or two, and did well, then you will be fine and theres no reason to worry about it. be sure to know any relevant case studies as well. good luck!


note: sorry if this post was unclear/made no sense, ive been up all night, and am preparing for finals myself

[Soldier]

The SAT isn't bad at all; I took a nap after every section of the test when I took it. Just relax and realize that how much you actually know makes no difference, and as soon as you get into college the whole damn thing won't matter.

[mrbiggs]

The SAT isn't bad at all; I took a nap after every section of the test when I took it. Just relax and realize that how much you actually know makes no difference, and as soon as you get into college the whole damn thing won't matter.

It's not bad, but it's loooooooooonnnggg...and stressful. One mistake makes alot of difference on a test that really affects the rest of your life.

[Soldier]

Does it, really? Yes, it's one of the factors for getting into college.

But when you're getting jobs, who really pays close attention to where you went to college? Sure, some of the big-name schools might catch some attention. But other than those, who really cares about it? Or the grades you get, for that matter? Hell, even your major?

[mrbiggs]

Does it, really? Yes, it's one of the factors for getting into college.

For me, it's THE factor.

Because my SAT scores are far better than my grades or extra curricular activities.

But for anyone, it is pretty important. I'm not too stressed about it, but I can understand how others might be.

[fixxmyweapon]

One mistake makes alot of difference on a test that really affects the rest of your life.

Yeah right. That is absolutle crap. It does not decide the rest of your life. If you can't get into a school because of your SAT score and you have done all you can to get in there, chances are you were not ment to get in there. If you are an interesting person, and have good grades and blah blah blah, or even rock out the ACT in some cases which I found to be easier, they will accept you.
You guys take it waaaaaay to seriously. It's only a set of questions intendted to measure your knowledge level. Standerdized testing is lame anyway.

[mrbiggs]

It does not decide the rest of your life.

No, but it affects it. I didn't say decides, which is a completely different thing.

[Zasha]

Standerdized testing is lame anyway.

yes, i agree. but speaking as one muddling through AP exams and with the SATs on saturday, most people do not seem to know that. you need to point your bullhorn at every teacher who pushes an SAT class, every person who wrote a prep book(because most of them are useless, not all, but most), and a large percentage of parents who have raised honors students.
because they are pushing the illogical.

[fixxmyweapon]

No, but it affects it. I didn't say decides, which is a completely different thing.

yeah, either way, its a minscule factor into the way it affects your life. my main point is that it isnt worth freaking out and stressing over.

[mrbiggs]

yeah, either way, its a minscule factor into the way it affects your life. my main point is that it isnt worth freaking out and stressing over.

I agree, people do attach too much importance to it. But if there was any single test that would most affect the rest of your life, this is it.

In terms of standardized testing, I am for it, for two reasons:

1. It levels the playing field between economic classes, large and small schools, grade inflation, etc.

2. I'm good at it.

[fixxmyweapon]

yes, it does level the playing field in a sense for everyone as it presents the same information for anyone who takes it but the issue with standardized testing is that teachers will teach to the test. the SAT is a different story since it is not required but end of grade testing and such is lame because some teachers don't even have the resources to teach the material that is required in their curriculum and even if they do, they have so much material to teach in a small amount of time that if a child does not understand the presented material during the time its taught, too bad.
i still disagree with standardized testing such as the SAT as an admittance exam because i do not think it properly measures one's knowledge supposedly learned through out middle and high school. there are some students who just flat out do not test well. the SAT is more like an endurance test for your mind. by the time you reach the end of it, your brain is fried.
but, thats just my take on such things.