Preparation is vital for success on the 3.5 hour SAT coming up on January 26th and on March 9th.  Here are some tips:

1. Get at least *two* nights’ sleep for as many hours that is typical for you to feel well-rested. If you try to go to bed *too* early, you make wake up too early. But make sure you don’t stay up late. This will be more helpful to you on this challenge to your mental endurance than cramming will be.

2. Eat breakfast, and don’t stray from your usual menu. This isn’t the day to have a big stack of pancakes when you’ve been eating cereal and juice everyday. Even though the test is a few hours, eating extra food in the morning will make you sleepy. Cereal, fruit, toast, and yogurt are all good choices. Then…

3. Bring a snack. Nuts, granola bars, a banana, some water… these are light foods that will keep your body happy.

4. Dress in layers so that you can cool down or warm up if necessary.

5. Make sure you have your calculator, (with extra batteries) and sharpened pencils.

6. Get your body’s circulation going through exercise or active yoga. Just 20 minutes should work to bring you out of sleep mode. During the test, don’t slouch over and lean your head on your hand; your brain will start switching to sleep mode again.

7. Keep a positive attitude! Don’t take the role of “victim” in this situation. You need to get into “attack” mode and draw up all the techniques and resources that have prepared you.