Imagine if your students approached the SAT or ACT the way they approach their favorite video game. Picture them as Super Mario: every time they fall into a pit, it’s not a failure—it’s an opportunity to learn, adjust their strategy, and jump back in with more power. This is the essence of a Game Mindset: trying, failing, learning, and trying again. Just as Mark Rober’s experiment showed, removing the fear of failure leads to greater success. By helping students adopt this perspective, we transform test prep from a stressful experience into a series of levels they can master.
Learning from Mark Rober’s Experiment
Mark Rober’s famous experiment tested two groups of students on a coding challenge. One group was penalized for every mistake, while the other could try as many times as they wanted without losing points. The results? The group without penalties kept going, learned from each mistake, and ultimately performed better. This experiment highlights a key principle for TRIO educators: when students aren’t afraid of making mistakes, they take more risks, engage more in the learning process, and improve over time—exactly what we want for their SAT/ACT prep.
The Super Mario Effect
In Super Mario, players don’t dwell on every fall; they focus on the mission—rescuing the princess. That’s the Super Mario Effect: focusing on the end goal rather than the mistakes along the way. When we teach students to apply this mindset to test prep, every incorrect answer becomes a clue for what to practice next, and every improvement is a power-up that moves them closer to their goal.
The SAT as a Game
The SAT isn’t just a test—it’s a game with its own set of rules:
Earn Points: Every question is an opportunity to score.
Master Techniques: Teach students how to use strategies like math tricks, score zone reading, and error identification to maximize efficiency.
Practice Makes Perfect: Just like in sports or gaming, regular practice reduces stress on "Game Day" and leads to higher scores.
Validation, Motivation, and Celebration: The Three Pillars
To truly help students embrace the Game Mindset, we need to integrate these three essential elements into test prep sessions:
Validation: Recognize every effort. Instead of just focusing on right or wrong answers, validate students for showing up, trying, and engaging in the process. Encourage participation by reinforcing that every attempt is a step toward improvement.
Motivation: Connect test prep to their real-world goals. Students often disengage when they don’t see the bigger picture. Help them understand how the SAT/ACT can unlock scholarships, expand their college options, and open doors to financial freedom.
Celebration: Make test prep rewarding! Whether it’s acknowledging small wins, giving out raffle tickets for participation, or celebrating improvements on practice tests, create an environment where progress is exciting. When students enjoy the process, they stay engaged and push themselves further.
Scholarship Mindset: Turning Scores into Opportunities
As TRIO staff, you know that many students face financial barriers to college. That’s why it’s crucial to frame the SAT/ACT as an opportunity, not just an exam. Their hard work in high school comes down to a couple of key numbers: GPA and test scores. But that score isn’t just a number—it’s their ticket to scholarships and financial freedom.
A higher score means:
More scholarship opportunities.
More colleges willing to offer financial aid.
A chance to reduce or eliminate student debt.
By shifting students’ perspectives, we help them see the SAT/ACT not as an obstacle, but as a tool that works in their favor.
Final Thoughts
By combining the Super Mario Effect with the lessons from Mark Rober’s experiment—and embedding validation, motivation, and celebration into our approach—we can transform how students view the SAT/ACT. Instead of seeing it as a high-stakes test, they’ll see it as a challenge they can win.
Let’s help our students level up. With the right mindset, they can embrace mistakes, keep trying, and ultimately reach their next stage of success.
Game on!
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