Standardlized Testing Stress Advice

Applying to College
1

<p>I really need advice on how to not stress for standardlized tests. I need it badly, because the standardlized tests I am stressed about are not SATs/ACTs/SATIIs/APs, but rather the New York State Regents exams, which are like a series of tests I need to take in order to graduate high schoool. Unfortunately, for me, NYS Regents exams have to important. I can’t just pass and be happy about it, because they count as a final exam. Also, since my school does a GPA out of 100, I slack off before it’s too obvious. </p>

<p>Recently, I retook my first set of Regents exam, and only improved by two points out of a 100 scale (Original grades were 86). Apparently, that is making me unhappy, because my school tells me that these exams are “important” for college. I mean I can’t get into a great college or get admitted into honors programs at good colleges with a two 86%s on state exams. But in my heart, I know that these exams don’t matter much, because I did score in “mastery” level both times.</p>

<p>How do I get out of this stress? I have never been in this situation before and with 8 more Regents exams to go before 12th Grade, I don’t want to dig myself more into a hole of “unnecessary” stress.</p>

2

<p>Should your grades be important to you? Absolutely. But by stressing about the percentage grade rather than your knowledge of the material, you set yourself up for failure. You’ll find yourself calculating and recalculating to figure out every possible outcome for your GPA–if I get an 86% on this exam, I can get X in the class and still get an A; if I get Y in the class, I need Z on the exam to impress colleges. </p>

<p>That’s not important, and it’s soul sucking. </p>

<p>Spend your year focused on learning the material in your courses. Take good notes and study regularly. Make sure you keep up with the material and understand it entirely. The second you realize there’s a gap in your knowledge, go talk to a teacher or a peer and fill that hole. Make flashcards, color code, reference the book–whatever it takes for you to learn the material, do it. Do it regularly throughout the year (not just before tests), and after a week or so of review at the end of the year, you should be ready to succeed on any state exam that comes your way.</p>