10 tips to make those tough tests you take, just a little bit easier.
Come Prepared, and Arrive Early for Tests
Bring all the permissible materials you might want. These could be pencils, pens, a calculator, a dictionary, and a watch. This will help you focus on the task at hand.
Stay Confident and Relaxed
Remind yourself that you are well-prepared and are going to do well. Do not let yourself become anxious. If you feel anxious before or during a test, take slow, deep breaths to relax. Don't talk to the other students before you take the test; anxiety is contagious.
Be Alert, but Comfortable
Use the bathroom before you find your seat. Choose a good spot to take the test. Make sure you have enough room to work. Maintain an upright posture in your seat.
Preview the Test (If it is not Timed)
Spend 10% of your test time reading through the test cautiously, marking key terms and deciding how to budget your time. Plan to do the easy questions first and the most difficult questions last. As you read the questions, jot down brief notes indicating ideas you can use later in your answers.
Answer the Test Questions in a Strategic Order
Begin by answering the easy questions you know, then those with the highest point value. The last questions you should answer are: the most difficult, take the greatest amount of time writing, or have the least point value.
When taking a Multiple Choice Test, know when to Guess
First eliminate answers you know are wrong. Always guess when there is no penalty for guessing or you can eliminate options. Don't guess if you are penalized for guessing. Since your first choice is usually right, don't change your answers unless you are positive of the correction.
When taking Essay Tests, Think Before you Write
Create a brief outline for your essay by jotting down a few words to indicate ideas you want to discuss. Then number the items in your list to indicate the order you will discuss them in.
When Taking an Essay Test, Get right To the Point
State your main point in the first sentence. Use your first paragraph to provide an overview of your essay. Use the rest of the essay to discuss these points in more detail. Back up your points with specific information, examples, or quotations from your readings and notes.
Reserve 10% of your Test Time for Review
Review your test; resist the urge to leave as soon as you have completed all the items. Make sure you have answered all the questions. Proofread your writing for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Check your math answers for careless mistakes, such as misplaced decimals. Match your actual answers for math problems against your preliminary estimates.
Analyze your Test Results
Each test can further prepare you for the next test. Decide which strategies worked best for you. Identify those that didn't work well and replace them. Use your past tests to review when studying for final exams.
