Let’s talk about that frustrating moment when you open your test booklet, and your mind suddenly goes blank. If you navigate life with ADHD, dyslexia, or any other learning differences, you likely know this feeling well. You studied, you prepared, you put in the work, and yet test anxiety still finds a way to get between you and your best performance.

With the right routine built around how you actually learn, your score can finally reflect your real ability. Here are five strategies to make that happen.

Understanding the Differences Between the SAT and ACT

Before diving into strategies, it helps to know which test you are actually preparing for. Many students assume they need to take both, but that is rarely the case. The SAT and ACT have different formats, and one may better suit how you think and process information than the other.

Who the SAT Tends to Suit

• Students who prefer more time per question
• Learners with a strong algebra and problem-solving focus
• Students who do better in a digital testing format
• Those who work more carefully through fewer, longer sections

Who the ACT Tends to Suit

• Fast readers who are comfortable with a quicker overall pace
• Students who can handle a science reasoning section alongside the core subjects
• Learners who prefer more straightforward, direct questions
• Those who perform better when the test moves at a higher pace

If you are unsure which test fits you better, taking a short diagnostic for each is the fastest way to find out. A good tutor can also help you read the results and make the call with confidence.

1. Apply for SAT and ACT Testing Accommodations Before Your Test Date

This is one of the most powerful moves you can make before the big test day. Securing the right SAT accommodations or ACT accommodations will level the playing field and gives your preparation a real chance to shine.

Common accommodations available through the College Board and ACT:

• Extended time (50% or 100%)
• Scheduled extra breaks
• Separate or small-group testing rooms
• Large-print booklets or text-to-speech tools

You may have heard that using accommodations can hurt your chances of admission. That myth is worth clearing up right away. Since 2003, neither the College Board nor ACT flags scores from non-standard testing. Colleges have no way of knowing who used extended time.

Your school’s IEP or 504 plan is a solid starting point, but you will still need a separate application through the College Board’s SSD portal or ACT’s accommodations system. Both require a current psychoeducational evaluation (within 3 years for ACT, within 5 for College Board).

Start early. Applications are due roughly seven weeks before your test date. Aim to begin the process the summer before junior year. If your first request gets denied, you can appeal with additional documentation, so keep that option in your back pocket.

2. Build a Pre-Test Routine That Reduces Baseline Anxiety

Your anxiety spikes when things feel unpredictable. A locked-in pre-test routine can eliminate a surprising number of variables before the test even begins, and that alone makes a real difference in how you walk through the door on test day.

Key elements of a strong test-day routine:

• Consistent sleep for the two weeks leading up to the test (essential for working memory and emotional regulation)
• A 20-minute walk the morning of the test (shown to have a measurable effect on cortisol levels)
• A real breakfast (blood sugar swings compound attention difficulties)
• A visit to the testing site in advance so the environment feels familiar
• Packing everything the night before: ID, pencils, calculator, snacks for breaks

3. Use Rehearsal Testing to Defuse the Anxiety Response

Here is something worth understanding about SAT and ACT anxiety: a big part of it is a novelty response. Your brain treats unfamiliar high-stakes situations as threats. The fix is surprisingly straightforward. Repeated exposure under realistic conditions trains your nervous system to treat the real test as familiar territory rather than uncharted ground.

Rehearsal testing works best when your practice conditions closely mirror the real thing:

• Same time of day
• Same physical environment (desk, quiet room)
• Same approved materials
• Phone out of reach during timed sections

If you have approved extended time accommodations or scheduled breaks, always practice under those exact parameters. An accommodation that feels foreign on test day loses much of its power, so build it into your rehearsals from the start.

4. Master In-the-Moment Regulation Techniques for Test Day

Even with excellent preparation, you may hit an anxiety spike mid-test. The key is having a collection of tools ready so you can quickly regulate, without losing time or momentum:

The brain dump: At the start of each section, use your scratch paper to offload anything taking up mental space: formulas, reminders, key strategies. This clears the cognitive clutter that can spiral into anxiety.

Controlled breathing: Box breathing (4 counts in, hold 4, out 4, hold 4) can interrupt a cortisol spike in under 60 seconds. This is a quiet, invisible, and highly effective technique when you have practiced it beforehand.

Strategic skipping: Flag a hard question and move forward rather than getting stuck. Two or three minutes lost on a single problem compounds across an entire section, so keep your momentum going.

If you have dyslexia: Try reading the answer choices before working through the full passage. This anchors your comprehension and reduces exhausting re-reading loops.

Positive self-talk scripts: Short, specific phrases rehearsed in advance outperform vague affirmations every time. Scripts like “I prepared for this. I know how to work through hard questions,” give your brain a productive anchor during a moment of panic.

5. Choose Test Prep That Is Actually Designed for How You Learn

Generic SAT prep and ACT prep programs are built with neurotypical learners as the default. Your differences in processing speed, attention regulation needs, and reading fluency tend to be overlooked. For students with ADHD or dyslexia, that mismatch can reinforce a false story: that standardized tests are beyond your reach. They are absolutely within your reach, and the right preparation makes all the difference.

What differentiated test prep realistically looks like:

• Adjusted pacing with focus periods and structured breaks built in
• Multisensory approaches matched to your processing strengths
• Practice targeting your specific weak points rather than a one-size-fits-all checklist
• Feedback focused on your strategy use, going beyond just right versus wrong answers

One-on-one tutoring adds another dimension. A skilled tutor can pinpoint your specific anxiety triggers, whether that is time pressure, reading-heavy sections, or transitions between math types, and address them head-on. Repeated low-stakes success during prep rebuilds the confidence that past testing struggles have chipped away. That rebuilt confidence is what closes the gap between what you know and what you actually score.

Find Test Prep Support That Fits Your Learning Style

You have put in the work. You know the material. All that stands between you and a score that reflects your true ability is having the right tools in your corner. Test anxiety and learning differences are real challenges, and they are also completely manageable with the right preparation behind you.

If you are preparing for the SAT or ACT and want a tutor who genuinely understands differentiated learning, Test Prep Score’s tutors are matched to your specific needs. Explore our resources on SAT prep, ACT prep, and testing accommodations to take the next step.