For college-bound students, the SAT is one of the many parts of college application to their dream schools. For those applying to competitive programs, these schools are of the utmost importance. With the December SAT and ACT exams approaching in just a few days, here are the best ways to cram for the SATs arranged from the most amount of time to the least amount of time.

1. Got 4 or more hours to spare? Take a practice test.

While taking a practice test can seem boring, they help you get comfortable with the test and it helps you gage where your skills are so you know what to improve. Take the SAT practice test linked here or the ACT practice test here. When testing, recreate the test environment by finding a quiet room and setting a timer. This is the best way to emulate the test and get comfortable with the test so that you aren’t freaked out when you get to the test.

Once you finish taking the test, grade it to understand where you are at and set your target score. From there, you can assess your weaknesses and that way you 

2. Maybe a few hours to spare? Take sections of the practice test.

If you know you struggle with math, you can just take the math part of the test or just the verbal portion. This will help you refine the skills you need the most help.

Find SAT practice problems for math here and find the reading section here.

Here are ACT practice problems for english, math, reading and science.

Use these to strengthen your weaknesses until your weaknesses become your strengths.

3. Test tomorrow? Don’t freak out.

Treat this like game day. You’ve been practicing for this game and you’re ready. Get prepared for the game with this checklist of everything you need to bring to the SAT with you and this checklist for the ACT, so you aren’t stressed on the day of the test. Take time to breathe and calm down using a simple breathing exercise. 

Above all, stay calm and believe in yourself. 

TL;DR: Get comfortable with the test! Looking at questions and get familiar with the format of the test. Keep working until your weaknesses become your strengths.