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How important is the exam? What if I don’t do well? Does my future depend on my score? Approximately 2.2 million students took the SAT in the last year, and these questions were most likely asked by each and every student. The majority of students are, at least at some level, intimidated by the exam and anxious of the repercussions of a poor score.  In many ways the test has developed into a construct that many view as all-important.   Unfortunately the SAT is often viewed as a deal maker or breaker, instead of being viewed as a test that measures a fairly limited set of values.  And because of this viewpoint, many approach the preparation process with a large amount of anxiety; they are perceiving their scores as a measure of their worth, their intelligence and their only chance to get into the school of their choice.  

It is certainly understandable that students experience anxiety and fear with regard to the SAT; in many schools and in many families the SAT is viewed as the most important event of their high school years. Everything seems to hang in the balance of a high SAT score. That can certainly make a student a bit uneasy.  

Here’s our suggestion. Use the SAT preparation process as an opportunity to hone your skills in the areas the test measures, and learn the strategies that help you effectively approach a potentially challenging task.  Ask the following questions:  

What skills do I need to develop to do my best?

What tools can I use? 

What strategies can I implement?

What characteristics would I need to develop to become a person who effectively handles challenges? 

View the exam as an opportunity to embrace an approach and develop a skill set that helps you meet future demands. The SAT is a once in a life time event.  It is certainly not the only challenging experience you will ever face. So keep your focus on what you can do, and then apply yourself to the best of your ability. And then the SAT preparation process can become an empowering process, a means to an end, and be of some assistance in helping you develop those traits that help you succeed in all areas of life.  

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