Test Taking Strategies

Most kids in high school get a little stressed out over tests. Even though these tests can be somewhat intimidating, most high schoolers face a rude awakening when they take their first college exam. Not only are college exams more difficult, they are also worth a very significant part of your grade. I looked up a few test taking strategies online that I thought were kind of interesting…

Dump your brain. When you first get your test, write down any information that is difficult to remember such as formulas, dates, keywords, etc. on the back of the test. Then, you can reference it while you’re taking the test without worrying if you’ll remember it correctly.

Skim through the entire test. When you first get your test, skim through the entire test and answer all of the questions that you can answer quickly and easily.

Skip the questions you don’t know. Don’t waste time on questions you’re unsure of. Mark them with question marks and move on.

Double check your work. If you have extra time after you’ve finished the exam, take a few minutes to double check your answers, make sure you’ve followed all the directions, and haven’t skipped any pages.

Look elsewhere on the test for answers. Sometimes the answer to one question may be found on another section or question of the test worded differently.

Pace yourself. Being able to take a test quickly yet carefully is essential. If necessary, wear a watch or periodically keep your eye on the clock so you are aware of your time left. Also, don’t get anxious if you hear other students finishing their tests early.

Ask questions. If you’re confused about the wording or meaning of a question, ask your professor. Don’t risk getting a question wrong because you misunderstood it.

Carefully read all of the directions. Most students get a lot of points taken off because they were careless and didn’t fully read all of the directions.

Follow your gut instinct. Most of the times when students second guess themselves, they choose the wrong answer.

Relax. It is important to keep your head during a test. There can be a lot of pressure on you to succeed, but remember that stressing out works against you. You risk panicking and/or forgetting information you’ve studied.