<ul>
<li>Tense but hyper aware</li>
<li>Nonchalent, taking your time, pretending the test doesn’t even matter</li>
</ul>
<p>I find that the best way is to take the test as little seriously as possible. I scored better on the PSAT than any of my SATs so far, reason being, I literally did not give the tiniest of craps. And to also come in with the idea that you must not miss a single problem. If I think “Okay, I just have to miss no more than 3” then I find I miss a lot more than 3. Whereas when I go for 100%, I’ll miss about 2. </p>
<p>While I am not sure how much “mindset” matters, I admit to thinking about it a lot over the years. Here’s what I currently tell my students to aim for: </p>
<p>slow, calm, aware, in the moment </p>
<p>Nothing else matters but the problem you are addressing right now! That’s all you can control and all you need to think about. No point worrying about the curve, college admissions, how many you can afford to miss, what section is experimental – all that just distracts.</p>
<p>So of the two examples of mindsets you proposed, I have mixed and matched: yes to hyperaware, no to tense, yes to taking your time, big NO to nonchalance.</p>
<p>I will say this: none of my students have reported that they achieved their personal best by rushing or stressing. That dream day, where everything breaks the right way, has a way of sneaking up on you while you just stay in the moment, dealing with one question at a time. </p>
<p>I would encourage you to read my thread on critical reading. Much of what I say about the mindset is applicable to the entire SAT, and it is a mindset (though hardly the only one) which I find is particularly effective.</p>
<p>The mindset you might have playing Jeopardy … concentrated, focused, paying attention to details, and transforming the test into a game against the test writers. </p>
<p>Hey, here’s a story for ya. I crammed for two weeks studying for the SAT and got a 1950. I didn’t prepare again before my next SAT and got a 2140. I think I played basketball with my friends the night before I took the 2140. Got a good night’s sleep. I was relaxed.</p>
<p>Different from person to person though. I think.</p>
<p>Honestly, I feel like the game mentality that xiggi advocates for only is applicable to math. I feel like for writing, it’s just like make sure you know your stuff, and CR just go as literal as possible. Math is definitely something that is a game though. The lvl 5 questions always have a hidden pattern that with a little bit of creativity and diligence will get you a nice and quick solution. </p>