Testday Checklist
Yikes!
The big day. Well, calm down. You're well-prepared, you're well-rested, and you're
ready to rock. Here's a checklist to help you make sure you bring everything you
need and maybe also give you a chuckle.
What you absolutely NEED on test day:
- Your admission ticket. You print this out from the College Board
website.
- At least two sharpened No. 2 pencils. Say one breaks. No sweat,
you brought two.
- An eraser. Say you bubbled the wrong row! Calm down, you have an
eraser and you know how to use it.
- Photo identification. This includes:
- - Driver's license
- - State-issued ID
- - Valid Passport
- - School ID card
- - Student ID form (that your school can prepare)
- An acceptable calculator with fresh batteries.
- - Graphing, scientific, and four-function calculators are okay.
- - Laptops, handheld computers, and cell phone calculators are NOT okay.
- - Common sense: if you can think of 4 different ways to cheat with it, it probably
not allowed.
What we RECOMMEND you also bring::
- A stopwatch that does not make noise. Because you don't want to
give the jumpy boy seated next to you a heart attack.
- Extra batteries for your calculator. Because sometimes batteries
die when you need them the most.
- Drinks and snacks. Because you can eat these during breaks to keep
your energy high and your spirits higher.
- A bag or backpack to carry all this stuff. Because you only have
two hands.
What you should LEAVE at home:
- > Cell phone, pager, iPod, MP3 players, BlackBerry, or any other
digital or electronic equipment. Because you don't want to look like you're cheating.
- > Scratch paper. Because you can use your test booklet.
- > Notes, books, or dictionaries. Because you shouldn't cheat.
- > Compass, protractor, or ruler. Because they said so.
- > Highlighter or colored pencils. Because #2 is the only number
they allow.
- > Portable listening or recording device. Because they said so.
- > Camera or other photographic equipment. Because you aren't looking
your best.
- > Watch with an audible alarm. Because students get frightened
by noise.
The DAY BEFORE:
- > Give yourself a break. Take it easy and relax. Do something fun!
A lot of test-taking is about getting in the right mindset. So get in the mood to
succeed!
- > To avoid unnecessary stress, gather up everything you're going to need
for the next morning. You don't want to be frantically searching for something
just before you rush out the door.
- > Make absolutely sure you know how to get to your test center and how long
it'll take you to get there. You don't want to take a wrong turn and show
up late! You will either miss the test or show up in the nick of time, already stressed
out.
- > Get some rest. Getting a good night's sleep the night before
the test will help you MUCH more than any last-minute cramming you might be tempted
to do.
- > Set two alarms. One of these alarms can be your mother, if you
trust her. Just kidding. But you know how sometimes alarms just don't go off? Make
sure you have two.
The DAY OF:
- > Eat breakfast (if you normally do). Follow your normal schedule.
Don't force yourself to eat if you never eat breakfast. But if you do, make sure
you do get some good carbs in you. It's a long test.
- > Bring snacks to eat during the breaks. A healthy snack will go
a long way toward keeping you focused throughout the entire test. Snacks high in
carbs are great for quick energy.
- > Get there early. Consider traffic, weather conditions, flat tires,
and anything else that could slow you down.
- > Leave your cell phone at home. You'll survive without it for
a few hours … we promise. If you are seen using a cell phone or any other prohibited
electronic device while in the test center or if the device makes noise or vibrates,
you may be dismissed immediately and your scores may be canceled.