Test Day

The End of The Getting Ready Process: Test Day

Oct. 1, 2011 6:40 am -- Morning of SAT #5

(I should be "reviewing" -- instead I'm making blog posts and videos. Yikes.)

Lots of great words of wisdom in my email this morning, but only enough time to share this one quote, sent by Stacey Howe-Lott (aka the biggest score improver / also a mom):

"The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win. Everyone wants to win, but not everyone wants to prepare to win. Preparing to win is where the determination that you will win, is made. Once the game or test or project is underway, it is too late to prepare to win. The actual game, test or project is just the end of a long process of getting ready, in which the outcome was really determined. So if you want to win, you must want to prepare to win. Once you prepare to win, winning is almost anti climatic."

-- Edward W. Smith

Good luck to everyone who's taking the SAT today.....and Akil -- See You There!

Illustrations by Jennifer Orkin Lewis

16 Comments | posted October 1st, 2011

http://costofcollege.wordpress.com/ Grace

Great words! Good luck!
- http://www.perfectscoreproject.com Debbie Stier
  
  Thank you Grace. I had such a blast. I know...that sounds insane. But I think it's fun. I do not know why....it's like a game for me. Need to call Catherine now and hear what she thought.
Elise

I woke my daughter up today at 6:15 am and she was gone off to the SAT by 6:45. It is her second time taking it and she really did not want to take it again. She did well enough the first time (1900) to be able to get into her dream college (the Wilkes Barre Scranton campus of Penn State). I insisted that she needed to take it again and she quickly agreed...she didn't WANT to take it again but she KNEW she would take it again. She only prepared a little bit last night...I think most of her friends don't prepare much either...that would be an interesting question to ask them all. I think most of her friends spend hours on their homework so the thought of extra SAT prep is probably overwhelming.
- http://www.perfectscoreproject.com Debbie Stier
  
  I would love to know that -- and had they did without studying -- and if the schoolwork they learn is actually the same stuff that they're being tested on.
  
  I guess my point is, I don't remember being taught grammar. Ever! And I don't think I read books in hs that were of the level needed to do well on this test.
http://www.wegrowmedia.com Dan Blank

GOOD LUCK TODAY!!!!!!
Guest

Good Luck, I hope you getter a higher score. I read somewhere that's it's never a good idea to review the day before and or two days before the test
- http://www.perfectscoreproject.com Debbie Stier
  
  Well that's good, because I DIDN'T! And if I did better, we can add that to the reasons why.
  
  I took the test so differently than I usually do: I was all gut yesterday. Usually I pine, I agonize, I peseverate (sp?). This time I took it like a MAN!
  - Guest
    
    ok :) Perseverate =repeat or prolong an action, thought, or utterance after the stimulus that prompted it has ceased. ha ha that's funny, does that mean that you took the exam seeing it as it was and not getting nervous/scared that you weren't going to be able to answer the questions?
    I hope that i have your courage / patience come December the 3rd.
    Did the exam take the usual 3hr 40 mins. or less? I remember that the last time i took it we finished at about 1:30 p.m. I have another question: Have you started studying for the next SAT yet? and if so what book will you be using??
    ps. I can't imagine that you'd be studying today,after taking the exam; because it's mentally and physically draining.
    - http://www.perfectscoreproject.com Debbie Stier
      
      It took the full time, for sure In fact longer than the usual because I took it in the Bronx and we had to single file through the metal detectors. I don't think it ever takes less ;) That was my 5th SAT in 2011 and the earliest I've gotten out of any of them is 1:15 pm.
      
      I wasn't nervous. For some reason on test day, I summon my very best self and don't get nervous. I was much more aggressive yesterday than I normally am though. NO idea if that strategy will work though. We shall see.
      
      I didn't plan it beforehand. It just happened!
      
      Haven't started studying yet for next SAT. I try to use all College Board Material and Erica Meltzer's Ultimate SAT Grammar Guide and PWNtheSAT 's Math Beta book.
      
      I'll probably spend a lot of my time writing questions. I find that to be the most effective way to learn. But I'm meeting with PWN on Tuesday to get the plan in order.
      
      I've written a bunch of posts about writing your own questions as a method of learning. I'm sure no one listens to me -- but trust me, IT WORKS. Here's a recent post about "the method." http://perfectscoreproject.com/2011/09/inscribed-with-love-and-secret-sauce/
      - Guest
        
        I thought it was strange that you had to go through a metal detector; but then again there is this constant threat of attack against American citizen, so it makes sense. writing your own questions makes a lot sense, though i wouldn't know how to start so at the moment i'm just answering my blue book and revising some of the math sections I took from the previous exams on the Study Guide. I'm thinking of getting a Math book, but i don't think it would be a good idea because i don't like to study for the math section only.( or the Exam for that matter) .
        How many months ago, did you start writing your own math Questions?
        Ps. I saw that post and the exercises look confusing (oy vey :)
      - http://www.perfectscoreproject.com Debbie Stier
        
        I started writing them about a month ago. They are time consuming, but worth it. I pick the type that are hardest for me (say Functions) -- and then I go though the BB and study all of the questions like that -- AND THE ANSWERS (very important part) and then I write my own. But that's how you start!
        
        To me, it's the most effective time spent.
      - Guest
        
        Thanks for the tip, you just gave a me a new idea :D I should have thought about it before.
      - http://www.perfectscoreproject.com Debbie Stier
        
        EXCELLENT!
        
        The other super helpful thing that I did that I've never heard anyone do before, was I told, outloud, section by section, everything I know to @PWNtheSAT What I had wanted to do also was write down NEATLY in a special notebook, everything I know. I didn't have time for that though. Next time I will make time.
      - Guest
        
        kind of like an Oral exam that's smart and very useful. I also , well sort keep a Notebook for the exam( it's a Large Moleskine, but i'm use about a quarter section of the notebook , for it). but it's mainly how i've seen / learned how to solve some problem that's in there.
      - http://www.perfectscoreproject.com Debbie Stier
        
        Yup. I've read in many different brain books about "how we learn" that the more senses you can involve, the better.
        
        I'm the queen of the notebook. My problem is that I have TOO MANY! For this one, I started fresh with a regular old un-fancy notebook. But I didn't get very far. But I will!
      - Guest
        
        and also by re-revising , I've been told that's it's not a good idea to reread and Sat Exam; but i don't think it's true. I read somewhere that the Sat "is just like any other regular test, so maybe it isn't such a bad idea. I trust you will :)