You’re More Than A Score: How to Keep the SAT and ACT in Perspective

As students, standardized tests can be overwhelming and difficult to manage. The SAT is no exception; it requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and time to prepare. But it's important to remember that while doing your best on the SAT is important, it shouldn't come at the expense of your mental health. There are several strategies that you can use to stay focused, be prepared, and keep your mental health in check while taking the SAT.

• This isn’t a school test, and the majority of students will score somewhere in the middle of the SAT or ACT score ranges. Scores that can feel low are often perfectly normal, and there are likely thousands of other people right there with you with that same score.

• Progress on these tests isn’t linear, and it can be slow. Nothing is wrong with you if your performance varies. Every test is a little bit different than the last, and every time you test you’re a bit different than you were on the last test - more tired or more energized, more stressed or more relaxed. As long as you’re making progress overall, you’re on track.

• This score does not define you. Top scores are rare, but success in life isn’t. Which means that there are a lot of successful people with amazing college experiences and thriving careers with perfectly mediocre SAT or ACTs. If testing isn’t your strength, don’t worry. It’ll be over before you know it and you’ll be on to bigger and better things!