College Students Share Their Best SAT, ACT Test Strategies

November is a tricky time of year, as many high school students are not only scrambling to prepare for final exams but are also faced with the final testing sessions of the year for the SAT and ACT.

The pressure is on when it comes to impressing colleges and universities with both stellar test scores and strong GPAs. So how can students ensure this pressure doesn't get the best of them?

Excelling on the SAT or ACT requires a different approach than other exams, in part because of the nuances of the standardized test environment and format. Two former high school students shared their reflect ions via email on specific SAT and ACT strategies they found most valuable.

[Learn how to choose between taking the ACT and SAT.]

Don't Drastically Change Your Routine

Test day for the SAT and ACT is no ordinary day, so don't make things more complicated than necessary. Remember, you're going to a new test site with unfamiliar surroundings and a new type of exam -- your testing habits for high school exams may not serve you as well in this case, so stick with as much of your comfortable, familiar daily routine as possible to minimize fallout.

"The most important aspect of easing your mind on the test day is to complete your daily routine as you normally would any day," said Jacob Honigman, junior at Washington University in St. Louis. "I have many friends who thought that drinking coffee beforehand would help them stay focused, but it only served to make them more jittery during the exam ... distracting them."

Of course, some aspects of test day prevent you from treating it as a totally normal day, which is why it can help to simulate the SAT or ACT test day experience beforehand so you know exactly what you're getting into. Olivia Blanchard, freshman at Harvard University, said she went through specific procedures for her full-length practice exams in preparation for her SAT test day, and when that test day came, she was able to repeat those same habits, ultimately making herself more calm and comfortable.

"I am a firm believer that habit and repetition form the crux of success when it comes to standardized testing," Blanchard said. "I set out my comfortable clothing ahead of time and packed my bag the night before with all of my pencils, snacks, calculator ... So on the morning of my SAT, I knew that I didn't have to think about anything besides the test itself. After listening to my usual psych songs and eating a good breakfast, I was ready to go."

[Read about ways to reduce anxiety on test day.]

Know Standardized Test Strategies

While the main concern on students' minds for typical tests may be remembering certain material that will be covered, standardized exams require them to think about specific test-taking strategies, rules and approaches that aren't always relevant for other exams. That said, if students go to take the SAT or ACT and have only studied content for a few days, as they would for any other exam, they may be at a disadvantage.

"These are tests where you cannot cram the night before, shoving the material into your short-term memory," said Blanchard. "It takes weeks, months, or even years to adapt to the strategic test-taking skills required for questions that assess a very specific skill set."

Honigman, the Washington University in St. Louis student, added that you must take even the ordinary test-taking strategies, like time management, and tailor them specifically to the SAT and ACT.

"I can't stress enough how important it is not to stall on any one question," he said. "This could also be seen as completing sections that make more sense to the test-taker before others. For example, if there's a chart on the science section of the ACT and you know that you're not good at reading charts, skip that section and come back at the end of the testing period."

[Learn how to leverage your learning style for better test results.]

Understand the Stakes, But Don't Fret

As previously mentioned, the pressure to excel on the SAT or ACT can be high -- but students must find a healthy balance between understanding the test's importance and ensuring they don't push themselves too hard. While attaining great test scores is certainly a goal worth going after, pressuring yourself to an unhealthy point is unlikely to help you get there.

Blanchard noted the reassurance of being able to retake the test another time. "It is not the be - all, end - all," she said. "You can take the test multiple times, and most people do. Just try your best and don't let the test environment or any small missteps get the better of you."

This is another time when being prepared comes into play. Honigman advised arriving to the test site early to help alleviate any extra stress.

"Nothing stresses someone out more than being late," he said. "Additionally, if you're not there at the correct time, you might not be able to take the test. Leave your day wide open, show up early and put yourself in the best position you can to do well on the exam."

Cathryn Sloane is a marketing manager for Varsity Tutors. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Iowa.