How to Help Your Child Reduce Stress or Anxiety Before the SAT or ACT

In this blog, we will break down exactly how you can help your child reduce stress or anxiety before the SAT or ACT. Picture this: your child is sitting at the kitchen table, staring at a practice SAT or ACT question. Their pencil is gripped like a weapon, their brows are furrowed, and the anxiety is practically steaming off their head. Sound familiar? Standardized tests can be stressful—there’s no sugarcoating it, but that doesn’t mean your child has to suffer through sleepless nights, sweaty palms, and a racing heartbeat every time they think about Test Day. With the right strategies, you can help them tackle the SAT or ACT with confidence and even ease.

Start Preparation Early—Like, Yesterday

Nothing breeds stress like cramming. If your child tries to shove months of math, reading, and grammar rules into their head a week before the test, anxiety is inevitable. Instead, help them start early.

1. Create a Study Plan: Work with them to set up a structured preparation schedule that spreads test prep over at least 4 months and leads up to Test Day. Aim for consistency—short sessions 5 days a week are much more effective than long sessions that are only occasional. Also, a relaxed but realistic schedule is far better than one that’s intense but unmanageable.
2. Track Progress: Seeing improvements over time builds confidence. Encourage your child to note their scores and celebrate even small victories.
3. Know How to Use Practice Tests: There’s no better way to simulate Test Day than with practice tests, but knowing how and and when to use them in order to maximize their value is key. Call us at (844) 672-PREP to find out.

Have Your Child Know the Test Inside-Out, Upside-Down, and Backwards to Reduce ACT and SAT Test Anxiety

Have you ever shown up to court feeling anxious, not really knowing what’s happening, while attorneys there were completely relaxed? They’re professionals who understand exactly what’s happening because they do it every day—that’s how your child should take a standardized test. If they prepare until they know the test inside-out, upside-down, and backwards, the test becomes transparent, like a game they’ve already played a thousand times, and anxiety dissipates naturally.

Have Your Child Learn Professional Test-Taking Methods

We’re not referring to the tips and tricks that your Uncle Louie used to show—we’re talking about an overall, professional approach to the SAT or ACT. Anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or overwhelmed, but professional methods keep your child so focused on one step after another that there’s no opportunity for them to stress throughout the test. Also, instead of having to brute-force their way through every question, your child can work smart, not hard, and glide to a high score.

Control the Environment Before Test Day

Knowing how to adjust sleep cycles, what your child should eat and not eat, when to conclude preparation, etc. as Test Day approaches can make a huge difference on the SAT or ACT. The days and week before, certain preparations should be done, so contact The Best Test Prep to find out the details.

Keep Perspective

It’s easy for students to feel like the SAT or ACT is a life-or-death situation. While it’s important, it’s not the sole determinant of their future success.

Remind them that:

1. Colleges consider many factors – GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations all play roles in admissions.
2. They can retake the test – One score is not necessarily the end result. Many students improve significantly on a second attempt.

As a parent, your job is to be the calm in their storm. Keep the pressure low, encourage their best effort, and celebrate progress, not just perfection.

Need Help Reducing Your Child’s Stress or Anxiety Before the SAT? Preparation is Key!

The SAT and ACT are challenging, but with the right mindset and preparation, your child can walk into Test Day feeling strong, confident, and ready to dominate. Anxiety thrives on uncertainty—so remove as much uncertainty as possible.

Remember, most students have the potential to ace the test, your child included. Want expert help? Our top instructors don’t just teach the SAT and ACT—they turn students into professional test-takers. Call us today at (844) 672-PREP and let’s get your child ready to conquer their test.