It can be stressful keeping up with classes and getting yourself prepared for the ACT. This time can especially taxing for the upperclassmen. It’s anxiety inducing thinking about that part of the college admissions puzzle, but it doesn’t have to be.

“I like to be prepared,” Brelyn Gregory, a junior, says. “What I think helps me be more calm is practising and being prepared for the ACT. If I know what to expect then I’m not as worried.”

There are other ways you can overcome your ACT anxiety. Some, such as Cheyanne Millington, a JAHS junior, says that resting and eating well help her. “A good night’s sleep helps me not to stress,” she says, “And I think breakfast before a big test helps me stay awake and aware, along with drinking lots of water.”

Some other ways to reduce anxiety, according to a study done at the University of Toronto:

• Exercise – Regular aerobic exercise, and exercising on exam day, can release tension.
• Make sure to talk to your teacher – Asking your teacher the best way to prepare for the ACT could give you some insight on what to be prepared for.
• Get a head start: It’s much better to study a little bit over time than cramming your studying all at once.
• Confidence: It’s important to have a positive attitude going in. Studies shown have that when in a positive mood, your visual cortex absorbs more information. If you believe that you’re destined to fail the ACT because you’re “just not a good test-taker,” you might actually perform worse than if you had a positive mindset.

Following these tips, among others, is sure to relax you more on test day, and a more relaxed mind is a more clear and focused mind.

The ACT at Jonathan Alder is February 20th at 7:30 AM for all juniors.

UPDATE – Due to a recent snow day, the ACT has been moved to March 12th at 7:30 AM