At Oxford Tutoring, we believe in not only preparing our students for the test as far as content and strategy goes, but also in helping them overcome their fear by giving them the confidence to tackle the ACT and the SAT. Here are some Oxford Tutoring recommended steps to overcome ACT and SAT test anxiety.

1. How to Overcome
ACT and SAT Test Anxiety

2. The ACT and SAT tests
Are difficult tests.
There is no doubt about it.

3. “Because these tests are designed
to predict how well students will
do in college, mountains of
pressure are associated with the
ACT and SAT.
“

4. Even extremely bright students
Are often frozen in
fear when facing
theses giants.

5. Test anxiety
Is a very real struggle for many students.

6. At Oxford Tutoring
We believe in not only preparing students with content and strategy, but also in helping
them overcome their fear by giving them confidence to tackle the ACT and SAT.

7. Here are some recommended steps to overcome ACT and SAT test anxiety.

8. Here are some recommended steps to overcome ACT and SAT test anxiety.
Breathe

9. Breathing is something we
Do without thinking.
It may seem simple.

10. That’s not the type of breathing
we are referring to.
We are talking about deep breathing.

11. ““The parasympathetic nervous
system is what control our fight
or flight response. Deep
breathing triggers our
parasympathetic nervous
system, neutralizes stress and
elicits a calming feeling.”
Denise Scarbro
“

12. The technique we recommend is something we call the 5-2-5
5
Breathe in deeply through
your nose for five
seconds.
2
Hold your breath for two
seconds.
5
Then, exhale through
your mouth for five
seconds.

13. At the start
of your SAT or ACT test
When you are
feeling overwhelmed
While you are
practicing
Use the 5-2-5

14. Practice

15. Practice
Another basic, but often overlook concept is

16. These tests are both almost 4
hours long.
It is difficult for your brain to focus for that length of
time.

17. “Just like in a basketball game,
coaches cannot expect players to
be able to run for more than an
hour without preparing them for
it. So players practice to build up
their stamina.
“

18. It is the same for the ACT and SAT. You can do it you just need to practice.
Take practice tests
That way you get used to
taking the four hour test.
Get private tutoring
ACT and SAT private
tutoring can help give you
the strategies to practice
well.
Sign up for a course
Our ACT and SAT courses
holistically prepare
students to practice with
confidence.

19. Practice
In a setting similar to the ACT and SAT tests.
Practice
Timing yourself to get used to the pace.
Practice
Strategies you’ve learned through tutoring.

20. Prepare

21. Ahead of time.
Prepare

22. Nothing will cause panic quite
like feeling unprepared.
If you have not put the time and effort into getting
ready for the test, then fear is a completely expected
reaction.

23. “Practice, but make sure to give
yourself enough time so that the
practice will be a benefit to you.
“

24. Practicing the night before
Is not going to
give you the
confidence you
need to take the
test.

25. Prepare
That way you can walk into the room on test day and know exactly what type of animal
you are facing and how to take it down.

26. Give yourself
some grace

27. You are doing college -level
work.
This is a hard test.

28. Most high school do not have the
time to prepare you
With the type of knowledge you will need to have to
take the ACT and the SAT.

29. “Do yourself a favor, don’t expect
perfection right off the bat. The
ACT and the SAT are like a
marathon, not a sprint.
“

30. Consistent
practice
A lot of
time
Hard
work
It takes

31. Show yourself some grace.
You will not get
there overnight,
but if you
understand that it
will take time and
are willing to put
in the hours, you
will get there.

32. Take the test
with confidence!

33. You’ve
prepared
You’ve
Put in the time
You’ve
practiced

34. You even have your
Breathing technique.

35. “Now take the test with
confidence! You have got this.
You are ready. Believe that. We
are rooting for you!
“

36. Oxford Tutoring
Need practice
tests, private
tutoring, or
courses to get
ready for the ACT
or SAT?
Call Oxford
Tutoring!
(949) 681-0388

37. Credits
Special thanks to all the people who made and
released these awesome resources for free:
▪ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival
▪ Photographs by Unsplash
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