Test taking strategies

Praise yourself for doing your best

After you are finished with your test try not to think about it for awhile praise yourself for getting through the test and putting forth your best effort.

Give yourself plenty of time to stydy

Don't wait to the last minute to study for an important exam set up a time-table for studying and organize your study time

Read through the entire test

Take a quick skim through the entire test this can help you budget your time. Figure out what questions to start with and boot your confidence by allowing you to recognize answers that you know

Take a brain break

Taking a brain break between sections on a test can help to refocus your thinking and improve concentration. Brain breaks can include simply stretching your arms and legs

Focus on the stuff you know

When you come across a question that is difficult. Skip it and move on to the next question If you get stuck don't stay stuck move on to an easier question

Write neatly

When you write neatly your handwriting is more legible, Making it easier for the teacher to read. This can eliminate your teacher deducting points for an incorrect answer

Keep your eyes on your own paper

When your eyes wander it can appear as though you are cheating

Have materials ready.

You don't want to use precious test time locating materials needed for the test. Make sure that materials are so that you are not feeling stressed and can make the most of your test time

have a positive attitude

Attitude is everything make sure to avoid discussing with others all of the negative things about the test use positive self talk to remind yourself that you were prepared to do your best

Double check your work

Before turning in your test, double check to make sure you didn't forget to answer any questions or made any careless mistakes

Answer all questions

By answering all of the questions you are the likelihood of a better grade. Your guesses may be correct. You do not want to answer all of the questions if you Andy penalized for wrong answers.

Do the easy questions first

By answering the easier questions first you will have more confidence to get through the rest of the test

Use a 50/50 strategy

By eliminating two answers that are not correct can help increase the probability that you will get the answer correct by half.

Don't worry if others finish before you

Don't compare yourself to others. If someone finishes before you that is okay.. Everyone has their own pace when it come to taking tests. Focus on you, not others.

Skip what you don't know and come back to it later

Don't spend too much Time on the questions you don't know. Skip the question make sure to mark it with a check or a dot and then come back to it later.

Avoid rushing through the test

Don't try to be the first one to finish the test. It isn't a race Rushing can result in careless mistakes. Make sure you understand what is being asked think clearly about your answer and read all of the answer before deciding which one is best

Eat a healthy breakfast

Eating a healthy breakfast can improve your mood and readiness for academic work a healthy breakfast can also improve your memory and performance on a test

show up on time

Get the test off to the best possible start by arriving on time arriving too early could give you time to sit there and worry about things. Arriving late might make you feel rushed and nervous.

Accept a little bit of stress

Having a little bit of stress before your test can actually help you do better on the test. Don't let your stress take over you mind. Accept it by telling yourself. It's okay to feel stressed. I will do my best.

Ask the teacher to clarify if you don't understand

If you don't understand the meaning of a question do not hesitate to ask the teacher to clarify. Guessing what a question means can result in an incorrect answer

Use all of your time

If you finish your test early make sure to go back over your answers to the questions especially the ones that were more difficult. You may have found that you made some careless mistakes. This extra time will allow you to correct those mistakes so that you can get a better grade.

show what you know

If you get stuck on how to work out a problem or answer a question show what you do know. While you may not answer a question correctly you may earn partial credit

pace yourself

If your test is timed look up every once in a while at the clock to make sure you aren't running out of time

Eliminate wrong answers

Immediately illuminating the wrong answer will help narrow down your choices, making it easier to choose the correct answer.

ignore distractions

Keep your eyes on your paper and avoid look at students around you. This will not only keep you focused but avoid having your teacher thinking that you are cheating.

stay focused and relaxed

Keep your mind on the test but don't tense up if you find yourself getting too anxious take a few deep slow breaths

Look for key words in the question

Look for key words that trigger your memory or help you narrow down the answer.

Read the entire question carefully

Make sure that you read the question carefully so that you know exactly what is being asked.

Read the directions carefully

Make sure you take a few moments to read the directions before starting the test. Make sure you understand exactly what you are supposed to do so that you don't make mistakes

Who is the best teacher?

Mrs. Richardson

Have a snack

Not only do snacks keep your stomach from grumbling during a test, but healthy snacks can help you concentrate and stay focused

Use scratch paper

Scratch paper can help you to work out problems that are difficult to work out in your head

sit comfortably

Sit in a relaxed way when taking your test. Don't hunch over or stiffen up. Do a few light stretches of your arms and legs to keep yourself comfortable and alert

Make thoughtful guessses

Use information that you know to make a thoughtful guess. You may be able to eliminate 1 or 2 answers, making it easier to come up with the correct answer