<p>I know that some kids get REALLY nervous when taking the SAT/SAT Subject test.
I remember taking the SAT subject test for the 1st time and one guy threw up because he was that nervous. </p>
<p>I was always surprisingly calm when it came to the subject tests but I assume that the SAT is even more nerve-wracking.</p>
<p>So my questions are:
<p>LOLOLOL at the guy who threw up.</p>
<p>It’s not that nerve wracking. Keep in mind that being calm gives you a much better chance of getting a really good score than being nervous. Tell yourself that you WILL do better if you are calm.</p>
<p>I wasn’t really nervous when I took the SAT/ACT, I think because I already had done so many practice tests that I was used to it.</p>
<p>It is not that nerve racking since you always have another chance. You can take the SAT more than once, so if you get stuck on a section or you feel like you aren’t doing well, just remember that it is no big deal since you can take it again if you don’t do so well. The first time you take the SAT in the center is a new experience and can get a little nerve racking…but I would assume the second time wouldn’t be so bad.</p>
<p>It was nerve racking the first time I took the SAT, I mean I was doing my nervous dance in the lobby of the school, but the second time I was calmer. I think there is a sense of peace when you know that you have prepared and practiced long and hard for the test, because then you realize that you’re going into the exam to do well.</p>
<p>I know some might chide me for this, but just look at the SAT as another test only this time with stricter time limits (again if you practiced long and hard then this wouldn’t be a problem). Some people tend to overplay the SAT as the be-all end-all, but try not to let that cloud your mind on test day. Its just another pesky test needed by colleges to show how awesome you are.</p>
<p>It’s nerve wracking because its this huge test and its significant, and you have prepared a lot for it.</p>
<p>It shouldn’t be nerve wracking because you do have another chance, you should be well-prepared, and freaking out never helped anyone’s chances.</p>
<p>I was decently nervous for the SAT, but almost threw up on the morning of the PSAT. Tip to future PSAT test-takers: don’t think about National Merit after having a big breakfast AND five minutes before leaving for the testing center. Urgh. It turned out fine for me though, so I guess my stress was unfounded.</p>
<p>Just take a deep breath and know that its re-takeable. No biggie</p>
<p>First of all, just want to point out that it’s nerve-racking(wracking).</p>
<p>But, getting back on topic.</p>
<p>It’s definitely nerve-racking before and after the test as you wait for your score. In terms of when you are actually taking the test, I would say that you won’t be nervous unless you come across something you don’t know how to do or something else along those lines. However, I would say to remain calm and remember that you will have future chances to take the test.</p>
<p>But, with that in mind, also be able to keep yourself in check. Don’t have a mindset where you’re set on leaning back on having another test date. When I do that, I find that I make more careless mistakes. Take your test seriously and calmly, even if you do know for a fact you have another chance.</p>
<p>I was only slightly stressed on the test day. It went fine. I was stressing alot a few days before the test, but I think all the prep I did helped calm me down on test day.</p>
<p>The fact that I could retake it made me far less nervous for the SAT than the PSAT. There was less weight on my shoulders.
Anyways, I had a really calm testing center. None of the kids around me seemed nervous, maybe a bit bored. My testing proctor was making origami things out of post-its for nearly the entire time.</p>
<p>Nerves can really get to you I took the SAT’s officially for the first time in Nov, but had done countless practice exams. On the November SAT I missed 5 on my first non-essay section (math), but for the other 2 math sections I only missed one. I was just nervous going into it.</p>
<p>I never really worried about studying, because I knew that my high school experience as a whole would be what really helped my score, not any sort of drawn-out review. The whole week before I took the test, I didn’t even think about it at all. The night before, I just chilled around and brushed up on a couple of early/simple math concepts which I hadn’t seen in a few years. On the morning of the test, I rolled out of bed ten minutes before I had to leave, got dressed, ate breakfast, and simply went to the testing center without a second thought. When I arrived, I talked to a couple of my friends who were testing near to me and just relaxed as I would on any other school day. Absolute no nervous jitters or stomach-sinking at all :).</p>
<p>NOW, as to whether that strategy worked, you’ll have to wait until the 16th to find out ;). I am fairly confident that I scored 2100+, though.</p>
<p>Benfster, you did no prep at all? How did you do on the PSAT if you took it?</p>
<p>Got a 210… which is right on where the cutoff should be for NMSF in SC</p>
<p>No, I wasn’t nervous. I would definitely avoid any caffeine the day of the test (substitute with a good night’s sleep), because it will add to jitters. If you go in feeling prepared and with a positive attitude, it’s hard to be nervous, especially over such an extended period of time. In this way, it’s not as bad as the Subject Tests. The essay, being first, might be a little bad (just because there’s a degree of suspense over what the prompt will be), but the rest of the test really shouldn’t be.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of anyone getting all that nervous about the test itself. The scores, yes; the test, no.</p>
<p>I took SAT I for the first time last october and to be honest I wasn’t that nervous on the test day (the week right before I took the test is a different story…) I gave myself a little pep talk before heading to the test center. Both my mom and dad came with me for moral support (haha).</p>
<p>I don’t know about anyone else but the WEEK I was talking the test I had an emotional breakdown because I spilled pencil sharpener shavings onto my carpet. and I tried to get it out w/o my mom knowing…and was studying for a big apush test at the same time. THAT night was bad…</p>
<p>I’ve taken the SAT twice so far. First time was in Oct 2011… I was definitely nervous and got a 2090. Took the Jan 2012 one and was still nervous but also a lot more determined. My head was kind of swimming going into it a little but I focused on utter determination. All it really takes is for you to realize how badly you want a good score and all of a sudden your worries don’t really matter. Anyway, I’m 99% sure I did a lot better on the recent one.</p>
<p>I’m definitely a lot more nervous leading up to the test than on the test itself. This has been especially true with the ACT, as I did no prep the first time and bombed it with a 22. The second time, I did 2-3 practice tests worth of prep, and got a 25… better, but still a bit sad. It was mostly a matter of working inefficiently under timed conditions, and not being able to finish each section. I then decided to take the SAT, and my parents had me get about 2 weeks of tutoring before the test. Though the reading section is a bit more difficult, I found the practice tests much easier to score high on simply because I had time to finish. I was a bit upset by the time of the test though, because my practice scores had gone down, not up. I didn’t let this bother me though, and I got a good night sleep before the test and took some caffeine the morning of the test. The caffeine made me a bit jittery, but I wasn’t nervous at all, and was able to think clearly throughout the entire test. I’ll have to wait till the 16th to see, but I think I got the score I want.</p>
<p>I was also signed up to take the ACT that was yesterday, and had 2 more weeks for prep. I felt that all the prep I did had me ready to be able to finish all the sections on time, which would ensure a good score. I was really anxious before the test though, as it was my last chance to take the ACT, and because of my past experiences. I tried to relax the day before, but I was wired that night and didn’t sleep very well. Caffeine to the rescue again… I don’t know if I was at my best, but I was awake throughout the test, and completed all but the science section, which was a lot harder than the practice tests I’d taken. </p>
<p>So to sum it up, yes I get nerve-wrecked before timed tests. During the test, it’s not as bad, but it’s still a bit difficult to keep my nerves. It helps a lot if I focus on the test and avoid looking at the time more than a few times per test (once per page at most). Looking at the time counting down has a bad psychological effect of freezing my brain up, and almost making me panic. It’s better to think of it as a big, interesting puzzle. It also helps to be prepared. I normally remain calm in stressful situations if I’m ready for them. This has shown to be true in these timed tests - I wasn’t nervous during the SAT, and I wasn’t nervous during yesterday’s ACT until I hit a bunch of questions in the science question that were hard to understand. A that point, it didn’t matter if I was nervous or not, I didn’t know how to find the answer.</p>
<p>lol test scores dont matter so i wouldnt be concerned. i got in to harvard and yale without having good stat.</p>
<p>^This guy! Funny guy!</p>