SATs are an important part of KS2 education, and for a lot of students the pressure to succeed can be overwhelming, especially when it feels like you have a lot to lose when you fail. As long as you are properly prepared and ensure that you set yourself enough time to study, you should be able to go into the tests with confidence knowing that you have done your best. To help you get there, we’ve come up with a few easy tips to make preparation a lot easier:
Set a schedule
Maximise your chance for success by making sure that you set yourself enough time to study each day. Some prefer to study each required topic in frequent ten minutes bursts, whereas others prefer to have longer study sessions with a hard focus on one subject at a time. If you aren’t sure, talk to your teachers and see what they would recommend for you.
Be prepared
Before you get ready to sit down and start studying, make sure that you have everything that you need readily available to help you. There are many different study aids that are available, whether they are textbooks, official guides, or even apps you can get on your phone. You can also make notes, create flashcards or use repetitive songs or phrases. Find out what method of revision works for you before you study in order to maximise your chance of success.
Ask for help
Never be too afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. It’s never a bad thing to raise your hand. If you don’t know, ask. Your teachers are going through the entire SAT process with you, so they will be on hand to offer advice on making revision notes, setting schedules, finding the right resources- everything you need to know. Alternatively, why not talk to friends? They’re experiencing the exact same pressures as you, and having a shoulder to cry on might help relieve stress.
Don’t worry!
Rather than panic yourself into a frenzy thinking about what will happen if you fail, try and focus on the things you can achieve if you succeed. Negative thoughts never help in stressful situations, so take a step back and re-evaluate your situation. If you don’t feel like you are prepared, or you find yourself struggling, try to think about what it is that isn’t working for you and mix it up a little. And seriously, don’t worry. There will always be help available to you if you get stuck or you need some advice.