For every junior the prospect of standardized test scores is looming. The second semester brings a flurry of SATs, ACTs, and the potential for scholarships, and the stakes have never been higher. These test scores can determine the course of your education and the cost. With the enormous pressure to succeed on these tests, especially with the first administration of the newly reformed SAT having just occurred, it is understandable and even beneficial to be a little stressed out and study extensively. But every year, there are always some students who take it one step too far and end up sacrificing their health and their test score. These tips will hopefully prevent you from becoming one of those students when taking the SAT in the near future.

1. Prepare ahead of time

There is a litany of items that you absolutely can’t forget for the SAT- pencils and pens, identification, water and food, a calculator. If you’re trying to whip up all these things the morning of the test, something will go wrong, whether it’s finding a lost item or forgetting something important. Set out all your stuff the night before and have it ready to go for tomorrow morning. Doing this will mean less stress and distractions to keep you from making it to the test on time.

       2. Don’t cram the night before

I know it’s VERY tempting to start cramming and studying everything for hours the few days leading up to the test. Resist the urge. An effective study plan is starting 2 weeks in advance and only studying 30-60 minutes a night. It’s okay to study a little bit more right before the test, but trying to learn everything in one night, it will hurt you more than help you. Even if you find that it’s only a couple days until the test and you haven’t studied, DON’T CRAM. Doing so will only stress you out even more as you confront the massive SAT prep guides and long list of practice tests provided to you. When studying, prioritize your weak spots to get the most out of the time you have. Stressing out over what you don’t know or feel you aren’t prepared for is more detrimental than beneficial.

       3. Find ways to decrease stress

Stress is your absolute worst enemy. In small doses, it can motivate you to action, but in large doses, which the SAT usually evokes, it can cripple you. If you find yourself hyperventilating when the SAT crosses your mind yet again, find comfort in a favorite food or activity to get yourself to relax. Some people enjoy physical activity, such as running or yoga, while others may lean towards artistic expression, such as drawing or writing. Maybe a jolt of coffee from Starbucks is what you need to keep you going. At any rate, do something that takes your mind off of the looming SAT, even if just for a few seconds.

       4. Get sleep and eat right

People think that eating right and sleeping enough takes away from precious time studying right before the test, so putting off those needs is essential to success. Don’t fall into that trap. Thinking that you can postpone health now and make up for it later is a bad idea. The few days before the test is when you need to be taking care of yourself the most. Massive studying can only help you if you are physically and mentally fresh enough to retain it.

       5. Recenter your perspective

Your counselors and parents and friends and teachers all tell you how important the test is and college applications make it seems as if scores can mean life or death. They’re wrong. Scores are important, but they are not a once and for all desperate chance that will determine the course of your future. Studies have even shown that SAT testing only has a moderate accuracy in predicting future college performance. There are several other ways to impress colleges- extracurriculars, grades, other forms of testing such as the ACT, clubs, etc. And don’t forget that you can always take the test again, and you will feel more calm and prepared each time you do.

       6. Don’t overthink it

Trying to hard to do everything right, whether it be studying from exactly the right materials, knowing every single bit of information that could possibly be on the test, or even trying to find time to relax, you need to stop stressing over the details in order to perform to the best of your ability on test day. The test will probably never align perfectly and easily with your wildest dreams, but by just taking a second to breathe, you might be surprised with the results.