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Dear Tutor: “SAT’s are coming up in December. Although my son is a good student and studies hard, sometimes he just freezes up during important tests. There is a lot riding on this SAT test. How can I help him deal with the pressure?”

Answer: While it is true that the SAT probably has more bearing on your son's future than any other single test he has taken to date, nonetheless, effective stress management strategies are available and can significantly reduce the pressure he feels and, in turn, help him to perform at his peak.

• Probably the most important aspect of stress reduction is preparation. Your child can benefit from knowing exactly what to expect. He should complete several practice tests under conditions identical to those of the actual administration to include having the same calculator he will use on the SAT and doing the tests in an environment where there are some (but not too many) distractions such as a public library.
  
• In practice as on the exam, students often benefit from focusing exclusively on the question before them and doing their best to avoid thinking 'big picture' thoughts such as the consequences of the SAT. What we are seeking to foster is an environment where students do the best they can for the time period of the exam one question at a time.

• Preparation also entails familiarity with question tyes and strategies as well as an ability to accept that for all but the very best test takers (less than 1 percent), there will be some questions which will be unanswerable. In preparation, students should seek to develop reflex approaches to questions based on the type of question they are facing. In this way, they may avoid wasting time getting their bearings on a given question, and be gainfully engaged in the question within seconds of seeing it even if they are uncertain as to what the precise path to the answer will ultimately be.

• Successful test takers will understand that they needn't answer all questions correctly to receive an outstanding score and will be prepared to answer selectively those questions which they stand the best chances of answering correctly. Stress reduction involves an acceptance of an approach which recognizes that some questions should be skipped or receive only minimal attention.  

• Stress reduction is also facilitated by getting rigorous exercise or engaging in some strenuous activity on the day prior to the administration and getting a good night's sleep.

Meet this month’s guest tutor columnist Chris D.

Dear Tutor: “I am a junior in high school with a 3.4 average. I'll be taking my S.A.T. exam next month. I've been studying really hard, but I'm still worried. What happens if I don't do well on the test… Am I doomed?”

Answer: You can relax and take a deep breath because you are definitely not doomed. First of all, it was a great idea to sign up for the March SAT of your junior year. This should take some of the pressure off of this test since you will have an opportunity to retake the SAT either later this spring or in the fall of your senior year (or both) if you want to improve your score. Also, you said that you have been studying really hard, which is terrific. Continually practicing the strategies that your tutor has taught you, working on managing your time and learning new vocabulary words will undoubtedly ensure that you do your best come test day.

Finally, SAT scores are not the only things that count on a college application. A strong grade point average, persuasive essays and interesting extracurricular activities are also important to colleges. Remember, schools are interested in the whole applicant, not just one part of the application.

Good luck!
Alissa

Click here to meet this month's guest tutor columnist Alissa.

For more information on the S.A.T. exam, visit www.collegeboard.com

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