Whether you’re taking the ACT, SAT, or SAT Subject Tests, make sure you have the following items ready to go 48 hours before the test:

1. Your printed test registration ticket/confirmation
2. Your photo ID
3. Sharpened #2 pencils with non-smudgy erasers
4. Your fully-functioning, test-approved calculator (SAT calculator rules, ACT calculator rules)
5. A light jacket or sweatshirt for Houston’s mercurial indoor temperatures

You might also want to bring:

• Bottled water and a small snack for your break
• An extra eraser
• A watch – make sure all alarms and beeps are off
• A CD player with headphones if you are taking an SAT Subject language test with listening
• An earpiece that connects to your tutor…sorry, that one’s not actually allowed.

And if you’re feeling stressed, you might want to check out these tips.

Unless otherwise instructed by the test center, you should not bring:

• pens
• pencils that do not have #2 lead
• paper – everything you need will be provided, including scratch paper for planning and working problems and paper on which to write your essays
• your laptop
• your adorable puppy/kitten/hamster as a “service animal” (only qualified service animals, guys, no scamming allowed)
• a pillow to sleep on and/or shout into
• cheat sheets
• sneaky programs on your calculator for vocabulary, math formulas, or anything else – it’s NOT worth getting caught, and the proctor WILL see you
• anything that makes noise – cell phones (those need to stay home or in the car anyway – read here and here if you don’t believe me), Furbies, iPods, chainsaws….