#15: Get it together. Pack up the day before so you don’t have to scramble around in the morning. Get your admission ticket, ID, nonbeeping timepiece, water, nonsugar energy snack, and sharpened No. 2 pencils all ready to go.

#14: Wind down. Runners don’t run a full marathon the day before they run the real marathon; they rest up for the big day. Avoid cramming the day before the test. Read a book, watch a movie, hang out with friends, whatever relaxes you—but make it an early night. And speaking of which . . .

#13: Get enough sleep. Don’t get into bed at 7:00 just to stare at the ceiling, but do get to bed early enough to ensure enough sleep to be alert and energetic for test day.

#12: Set two alarms. You don’t want to miss the test because your alarm was set for p.m. instead of a.m.—stranger things have happened. Also, one of your alarms should be battery operated, just in case something crazy like a power outage occurs during the night. Unlikely, sure, but peace of mind will help you sleep better. Of course, if you take an afternoon test, waking up on time shouldn’t be an issue.