So you wake up the morning of your big test and staring at you is a plate full of runny eggs. Do you eat them? Of course not! Ok, that is a pretty easy call. But what should you eat then? Well, this is really a bigger question because it also involves what you should drink, what you should eat the night before, and what you should pack for the day.
The Night Before the SAT or ACT
Athletic coaches will often tell you to load up on carbs the night before a big game. While you are not running a marathon, you will burn up a surprising amount of energy on test day. The nervousness alone accounts for a big part of that. If you have not sat for the actual test yet, be prepared to be exhausted afterward.
So a bowl of pasta, rice, or another meal with good complex carbs is a smart idea the night before. Just stick with foods you know well. Test day is not the time to experiment with a spicy meal or a super-greasy takeout dinner. You don’t want to wake up with a stomachache.
Hydration Tips for SAT and ACT Test Day
You also want to plan your hydration. Part of the problem here is that you don’t want to drink too much right before the test and then have to go to the bathroom during the first section. A good approach is to drink a lot the day and evening before, so that the next day you are well hydrated. Stop drinking a few hours before bed so you don’t wake up in the middle of the night and then find that you can’t fall back asleep.
On the day of your test, don’t drink a lot too close to when your test starts. And if you drink tea or coffee, avoid drinking those things within an hour or more of when your test starts, because you will very likely have to go to the bathroom during the first section.
What to Eat the Morning of the SAT or ACT
In terms of what to eat in the hours before your test, keep it very simple. You definitely need to eat, so don’t skip breakfast, but if you have a nervous stomach, you do not want to risk having issues at the test.
Personally, when I go in to take the SAT or ACT (yes, I still sit for these tests), I eat nothing more than bread and a little water or juice. I call it the prison diet. Not exciting, but reliable.
If you’re less nervous and know your stomach can handle it, you can add in some protein or fruit. But I would still avoid heavy foods or anything that might backfire. Eggs, for example, are a risk I wouldn’t take.
ACT and SAT Test Day Snacks and What to Bring
Here’s where you can get a little more variety. By the first break, your nerves will have settled a bit, and you may feel more up for eating. Granola bars, fruit, or trail mix work well. Pair with small sips of water, and you’ll thank yourself when you don’t need an unscheduled bathroom break mid-section.
And while you’re packing those snacks, don’t forget the basics: your admission ticket, your ID, and whatever the test requires. For the SAT, that’s your charged device with Bluebook, and for the ACT, it could be pencils, a calculator, or your laptop. The last thing you want is to show up and realize you forgot something simple.
Final Thoughts on SAT and ACT Test Day Prep
Feel free to personalize the above suggestions since only you know yourself, and much of this is, of course, subjective. But how you feed and hydrate yourself will be important factors in your test day performance. If you also take a few minutes the night before to pack what you need, you’ll walk into test day calmer and more prepared, and that can make all the difference.