1. Students should be well rested and eat healthy breakfasts on exam days. Research clearly indicates that students who have received a good night’s rest and have eaten breakfast do much better on formal exams.

2. Students must leave their cell phones at home or store them in their locker during exams. State exams, like the ACT or SAT, expressly forbid students the use and/or possession of cell phones during testing.

3. Students may not talk or consult fellow students during testing. They also may not discuss the exams/questions with students who have not yet taken the same exams.

4. Emphasize to students that the exams are not timed. They will be given as much time as they need to complete the exam(s).

5. Approved calculators and formula sheets are allowed for specific exams and students will be notified of this in advance of the exam(s). Not all calculators, such as those on a cell phone and/or tablet, are allowed, so parents and students should consult with teachers on which devices are approved for use.

6. Students and parents are encouraged to utilize the practice guides to help students prepare for the exam(s). While the state exams cover content a student is expected to have covered for the entire year, the guides help alleviate test anxiety by giving students more insight into how the exams are structured and the types of questions that are asked. Teachers may also make other resource materials available to parents and students.