It is no secret that taking a test can be stressful. Even if you are certain that you know all the material, once the test is put in front of you, your mind seems to go blank. Some people even accredit themselves as being poor test takers because of the stress that consumes them. With the expectations of doing well on tests in the forefront of parents’ minds who are preparing to send their children off to college, more people have called upon the help of tutors.
As the owner and director of the Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services in San Antonio, Farhan Hussain says that you can do a number of things in the weeks, days and hours before a test to increase your success and improve your score. Some strategies have to do with the material that will appear on the test, while others have nothing to do with the actual test at all.
Studying tips:
- Complete your homework on time. Most content on tests written by teachers will have been talked about in class and has likely appeared on assignments. If you consistently do your homework, you will have already had some additional practice.
- Manage your time accordingly so that as the test date approaches, you set aside specific times in your day to focus solely on studying.
- Take note of what your teacher is saying during lessons. Make a separate page of notes, or put marks next to things that you didn’t understand. Then, after class is over, approach your teacher about the areas that were unclear to you. Or ask your tutor about them.
- If your teacher or school offers study sessions or in class reviews, attend them and be an active participant.
- Ask your teacher to specify what you can expect to be on the test.
- Don’t cram the night before; you will be too stressed to retain any information.
- Make a quick study guide — about a page long — of the most important information and formulas. Then carry the sheet with you so that you can look over it in between classes, on the bus to school, or whenever you have a spare minute.
Extra Tips:
- Get sleep. Don’t stay up all night studying because you will be too groggy to focus come test time.
- Make sure you eat before test to help keep you alert. But avoid heavy or sugary foods as they tend to make you feel sluggish.
- Make sure you set an alarm on the day of your test; set two if you feel the need. You don’t want to be rushing to get ready.
- Try to show up to the test at least five minutes before it starts. This will give you the chance to get settled and quickly look over any notes.
- During test time, focus on the task at hand. Don’t worry about how quickly others are finishing.
- When you get the test, quickly look over the number of problem. Be mindful of any essays so that you can divide your time accordingly.
