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I get why you want to cram.
Many of the Juniors and Seniors among you will be taking the SAT in just a few weeks—and for some of you 11th graders, the late-August sitting will be your very first attempt. Others among you are counting down the remaining month and a half before the next ACT.
As a test prep tutor with over a decade of experience, I’ve seen hundreds of students go through this stage of the process—and I know the stakes are high. I know you can sometimes feel the stress running through your body. In other words, the pressure is starting to build up…kinda like when you’re cooking up some linguini and you see those tiny bubbles start to collect on the inside of the pot—right before they go ballistic on you and the pot boils over. Yikes! Hope it didn’t scald your hand!
But I’m here to tell you that this boil-boil-toil-and-trouble system for studying for the DSAT or ACT doesn’t need to apply to you.
You see, the reaction process—among students who don’t know better—often looks like this:
Step 1—tiny bubbles: Huh, my homework load is pretty easy right now. I also don’t have many school exams coming down the pike yet, and my SAT feels like it’s centuries away. Mayb I’ll chill for now and skip that problem set my standardized testing tutor gave me on isosceles triangles. I can always come back to it later, when I really need to know it.
Step 2—boiling water spilling all over your stove: Agh, the test is just SIX DAYS AWAY! There’s so much I still need to learn! Well…I guess I’ll just have to CRAM!
Now tell me: can you guess why this plan is probably not a recipe for success (or for very good linguini)?
Never fear. I’ve got a MUCH better strategy for how to use your precious time the week before the Big Test.
1) Can you cram for standardized tests?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but these are the facts, from your local test prep professional: one week before a test, you basically know what you’re going to know come test day….and likely won’t retain much new information you introduce in this final stretch.
That’s because research has shown that it takes SIX repetitions of learning/practicing new content—whether that content is a rule, a formula, or a fact—before your brain really retains it. That means that seven days is not enough time to commit a significant amount of brand-new information to memory. (Also, please don’t go bananas and take six practice tests the week before the test. That won’t help, either—you’ll just wear yourself out!)
2) How to use the last week before the SAT or ACT instead
In lieu of introducing completely new stuff in the seven days before the test, it’ll pay off way more to cement your recall of old content you’ve already learned once—but occasionally struggle with implementing.
What I’m referring to here is the content that you sort of know. As in, you’ve definitely reviewed that fact, or genre of question, before—and practiced it before. However, you sometimes flub it when you take relevant problem sets or practice tests. Your brain has seen this information 3-4 times already, and so would only need a little refresh to really get it, deep down—and grab those crucial extra points come test day.
You might be wondering what the most efficient way to do this is. Well, fortunately I wrote a whole article on just that—my trademark, extremely effective “Things to Remember” List hack! Check out that blog post: it’s designed specifically to help you improve in areas where you have some of the content down pat, but still have some weak spots.
3) Right before the ACT & SAT: invest in staying calm.
So in the next week you’ll be collecting and committing to understanding those half-known facts and formulas. But I’d also like you to commit to taking care of yourself! Though I happen to separately be a big proponent of self-care as a broader principle for a healthy life, step 3 right here is no woo-woo mantra: observing these principles in the week before your test will have a very real effect on your brain, body—and score.
That means:
Stable, ample sleep (7-8 hours!) every night.
Eating regularly and nutritiously.
Getting your homework and school projects done Monday or Tuesday so you don’t have to pull any all-nighters later in the week (which could throw your biorhythms off when it comes to Saturday/test day).
No staying up late on Friday, whether it’s to hang with friends or to binge-watch The Bachelor.
Packing your backpack the night before the test with the seven items you should bring with you to the ACT (or the nine to eleven items you should bring with you to the DSAT).
Using your “Things to Remember” List as your study guide to drill every night this week.
This steady prep routine will help keep you focused and calm.
(By the way, I’ve got tons more advice for how to manage week-of and day-of nerves in my online Testing Confidence Course! If you find yourself getting nervous before school and standardized tests, this class is for you.)
4) How to use a school break for the SAT or ACT.
Take a look at your upcoming school year calendar. Where have you got a long weekend or a whole week off from school? Labor Day, President’s Day, etc.? Just bookmark whatever the stretch is as future ACT/DSAT study time. If you're really hellbent on “cramming” new content, try it out during your break (in preparation for your next standardized test) and see how much you can learn! After all, it won’t really be “cramming,” as you’ll have lots of time after to revisit anything you study.
Conclusion + Next steps
This post has been a lesson in how to pause, take a breath, and think realistically about how to use your remaining time well. You pretty much know what you know at this point, and there's no point in deluding yourself that you’ll make huge leaps and bounds in the next seven days before the test. Instead, take some expert advice (that would be mine!) and commit to the moves that can actually help your score right now.
Eager to avoid more studying crunches in the future? I can work with you to develop a custom, big-picture study plan for your next SAT or ACT. Let me deal with the hassle and mental load of making sure you have enough time to learn what’s necessary to hit your target score—but not so much time that you peak too early. Reach out here.
