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No matter if you have been studying for the SAT for several months or if you haven’t studied at all, you may be wondering what to do the day before your SAT. Is it good to study the day before the SAT? Should you cram every imaginable formula, or should you sleep, eat, and just chill? Or something in between?
In this article, we’ll answer the question as to whether it’s a good idea to study the day before the SAT. In addition, we’ll look at some test-day tips for doing your absolute best.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- If You Haven’t Prepared at All for the SAT
- If You Have Been Studying for the SAT
- SAT Test-Day Tips
- Tip #1: Hydrate
- Tip #2: Eat a Healthy Breakfast
- Tip #3: Don’t Study on Test Day
- Tip #4: Listen to Your Favorite Music
- Tip #5: Visualize Your Success
- Tip #6: Prepare for Some Ups and Downs
- Tip #7: Know What to Bring on Test Day
- Tip #8: Use Good Time Management During the Exam
- Tip #9: Concentrate on Each Question as You Encounter It
- Tip #10: Use Your Break Time Wisely
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s Next?
Let’s first consider the case that you have not studied at all for the SAT.
If You Haven’t Prepared at All for the SAT
If your SAT is tomorrow and you’re planning to rely on your native intelligence to earn a great score, you may wonder how to study for the SAT in one day. While you may not have used the best judgment in your decision not to study at all for your exam, you actually have little to lose by doing a last-minute SAT cram session.
What Are the Pros and Cons of SAT Cramming?
Cramming is an activity whereby a student tries to absorb as much information as possible in a short time. Experts do not recommend cramming for learning a subject deeply and with great retention. (Would you want to have your appendix removed by a doctor who crammed to perform an appendectomy?) However, if you have just one day to prepare for the SAT, cramming is, generally speaking, better than nothing.
Let’s consider the pros of cramming. First, in a pinch, cramming is time-efficient. You can review a lot of material in a short time. This approach can work if you have previously learned the material and just want to freshen up your knowledge. Second, if you feel confident with most SAT material already and just need to learn one or two new concepts, cramming can come in handy. Third, cramming can be effective for reviewing the huge number of formulas that you need for the math section.
The cons of cramming generally cancel out the pros. The first disadvantage to cramming is that your retention rate is very low. In fact, you might not even retain what you crammed long enough to use on the SAT. That quadratic formula that you put into short-term memory last night might have disappeared into the deep recesses of your mind by test time.
Second, keeping track of all the material that you crammed can lead to additional stress. The SAT test itself is stressful; now you have assembled this last-minute information in your short-term memory. Consequently, cramming can result in everything getting jumbled, resulting in a mid-exam panic attack, where your performance collapses.
KEY FACT:
The pros and cons of cramming generally cancel out.
Let’s discuss how to cram the day before your SAT should you choose to do so.
If You Choose to Cram the Day Before Your SAT
Even if you haven’t previously studied for the SAT, you still shouldn’t spend the entire day before the test in intense study mode. If you want to cram for the SAT, spend some time reviewing some basic grammar rules and math formulas and procedures. Trying to learn reading comprehension in one day is a fruitless pursuit. So, go for the low-hanging fruit.
For your verbal studying, you might review basic subject-verb agreement rules and punctuation rules. For your math studying, first, take a good look at the SAT reference sheet, which you may use during the exam. Since you don’t have to memorize these formulas, you can concentrate on reviewing or memorizing other math formulas and procedures. Since the greatest percentage of problems on the SAT math section involves lines and linear functions, spend the bulk of your time reviewing your old friend y = mx + b. In addition, spend a bit of time reviewing quadratic functions, including FOILing, factoring, and properties of parabolas.
TTP PRO TIP:
Be selective in what you study. Choose low-hanging fruit, such as basic grammar and punctuation rules for verbal, and linear functions and basic formulas for math.
Let’s now discuss what to do if you choose not to cram.
If You Choose Not to Cram the Day Before Your SAT
If you choose not to cram the day prior to the test, then do low-stress activities, which are described in the next section. The key is to eat healthy, hydrate properly, and do safe, relaxing activities such as light exercise, going out with friends, watching television, or playing video games.
There is one activity that you must do prior to test day. If you are using your own device for the SAT, and have yet to download the Bluebook app from the ETS website, do it today.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you are using your own device for the SAT, be sure to download the Bluebook app before test day.
Next, let’s discuss what to do if you have been studying for the SAT.
If You Have Been Studying for the SAT
If you have spent time over the past few months reviewing the math and verbal topics covered on the SAT, you are probably well-prepared for the exam. You have reviewed verbal topics, such as reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation, and usage. You’ve practiced problems from the 21 math topics that are tested on the SAT. You’ve taken some SAT practice tests, and your score on these practice tests is close to, or even better than, your target score. Congratulations! You have done everything right … so far.
Don’t Sabotage Yourself the Day Before the Test!
Don’t blow it on the final day before the exam! You’ve done so well all these months. You don’t want to fumble on the 1-yard line when you’re close to getting that touchdown.
One of the best SAT study tips possible is this: on the day before your exam, the best preparation is no preparation. In other words, don’t do any SAT studying at all the day before your exam.
If you’ve been conscientious about following a solid SAT study plan, you’re good to go. You can add precious little to your knowledge and skills the day before the exam. Many people believe that studying is the best thing to do the day before the SAT, but they are generally wrong. The best thing to do is to relax. After all, if you were running a marathon tomorrow, would you run 26.2 miles today? Of course not! The best thing that you can do on the day before your SAT is to relax and conserve your energy. Take care of your mental and physical health so you’re refreshed and ready to ace the exam.
Think of the day before your SAT as your self-care day. Instead of studying, do some things that are energizing and increase your sense of well-being. Start with a healthy breakfast. Go for a walk, watch a good movie, or go shopping with friends. Binge-watch a series. Play with your pets or siblings. Read a book! Relax in the knowledge that you are ready for anything that they can throw at you.
TTP PRO TIP:
Instead of studying the day before your exam, do relaxing, stress-free activities such as watching a movie, light exercise, or reading.
What if you’re uncomfortable not studying the day before your SAT? Let’s discuss.
What if Not Studying the Day Before the Test Makes Me Nervous?
If your brain screams out in a panic that you’re not studying the day before your SAT, we’ll capitulate slightly: okay, you may do some light studying for your SAT last-minute prep.
Just make sure that any studying you do does not make you tired. A mistake that we’ve seen people make over the years is to study so much on the day before the SAT that they go into the test tired. And being tired does not bode well for getting a great score.
The bottom line is this: It’s important that you take care of your mind and body in anticipation of test day.
If you insist on studying, here are some ideas for what to study before your SAT:
- review your notes for an hour or two
- review math formulas that you need to memorize and review the SAT reference sheet
- review a few grammar rules you’ve had trouble with
- solve a few math or verbal questions (not 300 questions)
- review your test-day SAT strategy for timing
TTP PRO TIP:
If you absolutely must study the day before your SAT, keep it light.
Let’s now turn our attention to test day itself.
SAT Test-Day Tips
Whether you’ve studied for the SAT for six months or one day, here are some tips to make sure you go into the exam ready for the fight.
Tip #1: Hydrate
You perform best when you are properly hydrated. Always be sure to drink enough water and other healthy fluids. On test day, drink as much water as you can comfortably tolerate. Remember, the SAT is nearly 2 ½ hours long, and you get only one 10-minute break.
Tip #2: Eat a Healthy Breakfast
Don’t go into the test with an empty stomach. You don’t want to experience a growling stomach in the middle of the SAT! Have a good but not over-filling breakfast and perhaps a small snack just prior to the exam.
TTP PRO TIP:
Eat a healthy breakfast and be well-hydrated on test day.
Tip #3: Don’t Study on Test Day
Just as your best strategy for the day before your test is not studying, the same goes for test day. As we’ve discussed, you want to go into your test fresh and energized. If you have the jitters, maybe flip through a few flashcards. Or practice deep breathing. Play a game on your phone. Do something relaxing.
TTP PRO TIP:
There is little benefit to waking up on the morning of your SAT and studying.
Tip #4: Listen to Your Favorite Music
This is a big day — it’s your Super Bowl, your World Cup, your Olympic gold-medal match. Excitement is the name of the game! Have the mindset that you will do your best. There is no better way to get energy than by listening to some of your favorite music. Whether it’s hip hop, country, classical, jazz, or heavy metal, your music will energize your mind for a great SAT performance.
Whatever your taste, from Miguel to Mozart, find a way to pump up to take the test.
TTP PRO TIP:
Use your favorite music to get “in the zone” for the SAT.
Tip #5: Visualize Your Success
Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, would mentally practice shooting hoops. He’d visualize the ball, the net, the distance to the hoop, and everything that goes into making the shot. Then, he’d visualize making shot after shot.
Notably, our brains respond extremely well to visualization. So, in the days leading up to your SAT, and just before taking the test, spend some time visualizing your success. Imagine seeing question after question on the computer screen, and knowing exactly how to answer each one. Imagine feeling the smile on your face, the easy breathing, as you progress through the exam almost effortlessly.
TTP PRO TIP:
Visualization is a powerful tool for SAT success.
Tip #6: Prepare for Some Ups and Downs
The SAT is not a bed of roses. If it were, it would be of little value for its intended purpose. Thus, you can expect some ups and downs during the exam.
To quote Mary Schmich from the Chicago Tribune, “Sometimes you’re ahead. Sometimes you’re behind. The race is long …” It’s important to prepare yourself mentally for some rough patches.
Don’t get overly excited when you read a question and know exactly how to answer it. Similarly, and more importantly, don’t get bummed out if you encounter a question that reads like a foreign language. To earn a great score, you’ll need to hang tough when you hit a roadblock. Instead of getting rattled, keep level and stay focused. Maintain your cool.
TTP PRO TIP:
Prepare yourself ahead of time not to get rattled if you hit some roadblocks during the test.
Tip #7: Know What to Bring on Test Day
The following are the recommended items to bring on test day, according to ETS, the makers of the SAT. Use this SAT test-day checklist to make sure you bring what you should to the test.
- Your fully-charged laptop, iPad, or school-managed Chromebook. It must already have the SAT’s Bluebook app installed and exam-ready.
- Your admission ticket. (A printed ticket is preferred.)
- Photo ID
- Pens or pencils for scratch work
- College Board username and password
- An acceptable calculator
Optional items include:
- A watch to time your break
- Charger
- Drink or snacks
- Sweater or jacket
- Backup testing device
You may want to gather these items the night before your test so that you don’t have to worry about packing them on test day.
TTP PRO TIP:
Pack required items the night before your SAT so you have one less thing to worry about on test day.
Tip #8: Use Good Time Management During the Exam
Savvy time management is critically important for earning a great SAT score. The key is to not get behind the clock. Be disciplined. If you’ve used good time management techniques during your SAT studying, you’ll already have good time utilization habits.
The Math section allocates 70 minutes to answer 44 questions, which is an average of 1 minute and 35 seconds per question. Also, the Reading and Writing section allocates 64 minutes to answer 54 questions, which is an average of 1 minute and 11 seconds per question. Use these averages as a guideline. On occasion, you might go a bit overtime on a particular question, but realize that later, you will have to spend less time on another question. Thus, you should use this strategy sparingly.
In general, if you have trouble with a question, eliminate any answers you can and then make your best guess from the remaining answer choices. The SAT does not penalize you for incorrect answers, so a blind guess is better than no guess at all.
As you’re progressing through a module, never leave a question unanswered. Take your best guess, mark the question, and move on. You can come back to it if you have time after you’ve answered all the questions in the module.
TTP PRO TIP:
On test day, use good time management.
Tip #9: Concentrate on Each Question as You Encounter It
It is critical to stay “in the moment” while you’re taking the SAT. Concentrate only on the question at hand. Don’t worry about a previous question, and don’t worry about what is to come. Keeping your attention 100% on what you are doing now will keep you from letting your mind wander or, worse, making careless errors.
And don’t wonder about how well you’re doing. Your performance will only suffer if you lose your focus by wondering if your performance will give you a high enough score. You won’t know this until after the test is finished, so don’t let it interfere with your test performance.
Concentrate only on the question at hand.
Tip #10: Use Your Break Time Wisely
You have a 10-minute break during your SAT. You need to give your brain a rest, even if you just sit and close your eyes.
However, you might choose to use the restroom, eat a snack, or drink a beverage. If you leave the testing room, take your ID with you. Leave your scratch paper and calculator on your desk. Don’t power up your phone. Finally, return to the testing room with time to spare so that you can be ready for the start of the next section.
TTP PRO TIP:
Use your 10-minute break time strategically.
Key Takeaways
In this article, we’ve talked about what and how to study on the last day before the SAT.
If you haven’t prepared at all, you might consider cramming. If you choose this option, don’t make it a marathon study session that exhausts you. Instead, spend some time reviewing the easier verbal and math concepts, rules, and formulas. If you choose not to cram, you should do relaxing activities that are not taxing.
If you have been studying for the SAT, you should do little or no studying on the day before your test. Instead, enjoy activities such as light exercise, going out with friends, watching a movie, or playing video games. If you feel you must study, spend time reviewing formulas, doing a few practice problems, and reviewing your SAT timing strategy.
We also provided some SAT test-day tips, as follows:
- Hydrate
- Eat a Healthy Breakfast
- Don’t Study on Test Day
- Listen to Your Favorite Music
- Visualize Your Success
- Prepare for Some Ups and Downs
- Know What to Bring on Test Day
- Use Good Time Management During the Exam
- Concentrate on Each Question as You Encounter It
- Use Your Break Time Wisely
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the most important things to review the day before the SAT?
You don’t want to overstudy the day before the SAT. If you choose to study, whether cramming or reviewing, you should concentrate on the low-hanging fruit. For verbal, review some basic grammar and punctuation rules. For math, review math formulas, look over the SAT reference sheet, and perhaps brush up on the math topics of lines and linear functions.
Should I take a practice test the day before the SAT?
It is foolhardy to take a practice test the day before the SAT. It is an exhaustive activity. Additionally, you won’t have enough time to adequately analyze your performance, so there is no benefit to taking a practice test.
What’s Next?
If you would like to learn more about the best actions to take in the weeks leading up to your SAT, check out this article on last-minute SAT tricks and tips.
