Get Loose!

johnwmiller1980
Jun 12
2 min read

Before the SAT or ACT

Imagine an athlete walking straight onto the field for the biggest game of their life—without warming up. No stretching, no drills, no mental prep. Sounds ridiculous, right?

Now imagine a student walking into the SAT or ACT—one of the highest-stakes tests of their academic career—without warming up their brain first. It’s the same scenario, and yet too many students show up cold on test day, expecting to hit full speed by question 1.

Don’t Let the First Test Question Be the First One You Solve That Day

The SAT and ACT are not just tests of knowledge. They’re endurance challenges. These exams measure how well you can sustain accuracy, speed, and focus over several intense hours. Just like an athlete’s body needs to be activated before performance, your brain needs a signal: Game on.

The Warm-Up Routine: Simple, Effective, Essential

Here’s what every student should do before walking into the test center:

Bring a short practice set or even just a few math and reading problems—if it's the ACT, English questions make since because that's the first section you'll be seeing
Sit in your car or in the waiting area and work through 3–10 problems to activate your focus.
If possible, do a couple timed questions—get your brain used to working under pressure before it counts.

The goal isn’t to learn something new—it’s to shift your brain from passive mode to performance mode.

This Is Mental Conditioning—Treat It Like a Sport

No elite athlete skips their warm-up. Whether it’s a tennis player hitting balls before the first serve, a basketball player shooting free throws before tip-off, or a runner doing drills before the starting gun, warming up is non-negotiable.

Taking the SAT or ACT is no different. It’s a high-pressure, high-stakes event that demands endurance, rhythm, and poise. You don’t want your first five test questions to be where your brain is still booting up.

Warm up, and you’ll be ready from the very first page.

Want More Tips Like This?

For more expert test-taking strategies, insider tips, and one-on-one coaching to boost your SAT or ACT score, book a tutoring session with me today. Whether you're just starting prep or aiming to shave off those last few mistakes, I’ll help you build a custom plan to succeed.

→ Book a session now

(Or drop me a message with your test date—I’ll help you create a prep timeline that works.)