How Do I Stay Calm During the ACT?

If you’re like most students, you’ve had some anxiety or nervousness about taking the ACT. That’s understandable, but it shouldn’t keep you from doing your best.

The night before the test is the perfect time to focus on relaxing and getting rest. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your sleep:

Take a Deep Breath

We all know how important it is to breathe properly and regularly, especially when we are stressed. Breathing deeply can help to calm your body, mind, and emotions.

The American Institute of Stress recommends practicing deep breathing exercises 3 to 4 times a day for about 5 minutes. It is also beneficial to practice this exercise at night before going to bed and during the morning while you are getting ready for work or school.

This type of breathing also has many other benefits, including reducing tension, improving digestion, and lowering blood pressure.

But, there are some risks associated with this type of breathing. If you are prone to light-headedness or are suffering from other health issues, talk to your healthcare team before starting any new breathing techniques.

Before practicing any deep breathing technique, take a few seconds to rate your anxiety on a scale of 1 to 10. Try to be kind to yourself and realize that it may take some time for you to feel the effects of these techniques.

Visualize Yourself Answering the Questions

One of the best ways to keep your cool during an ACT or SAT is to visualize your way through each section. This is not only a time saver, but it also allows you to focus your attention on the task at hand, instead of mulling over your test scores and who you’ll see next. The key to visualizing your way through each section is to make sure you are paying attention to the fine print on your test sheets. The ACT or SAT has some pretty strict rules about what is and is not permitted on the tests, so you have to be prepared to be honest.

Take a Snack

When you take a snack, you want to choose something that will keep you full without causing an energy crash or making you crave more food. You don’t want to eat sugar or simple carbs, which can cause you to feel tired and less focused.

Protein and healthy fats are key to feeling full, avoiding hunger pangs, and powering through the ACT. These brain food snacks are also easy to pack and transport.

Yogurt: It’s easy to keep in your bag and it’s packed with nutrients that will boost your energy level. This is especially true of yogurt that’s high in magnesium, which can help release energy in your body.

Jerky: This is another tasty, portable snack that’s high in protein and healthy fats. There are lots of different varieties of jerky to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that tastes good and is easy to carry with you on test day.

Water is a must on test day, so be sure to bring a bottle of water with you. Don’t gulp it all at once; rather, consume it at most one portion (half of the bottle) during each break.

Take a Break

While it may not feel like you have time to take a break during an act, research shows that taking breaks can boost productivity and increase your mental resources. Taking micro-breaks, lunchtime breaks, and longer breaks can all be beneficial to your well-being and performance.

For example, a recent study found that people who took regular breaks from their work improved their creativity levels by 80%. You can also use the power of social pressure to make yourself take breaks: agree with your friends or classmates to commit to a specific break time, and set an alarm on your phone to remind you!

The ACT is an intense test, so it’s important to be aware of when your breaks are. Typically, the test is divided into sections, and each section has its own designated break.