Test Taking: Day Of

It is the day of the test. You have studied the material, reviewed class notes, arrived at class early for the test and are ready for that test. Here are some tips to help you during the test.

1. Listen closely to all of the instructions. As the professor is handing out the test, they will usually give you instructions. They may tell you things like what to write your name on and what not to or where to place the test when your done. The professor may also tell you where there are typos or if there is anything out of the ordinary. Just make sure that you are listening to what they are saying.

2. Write your name on the test. This may seem silly but when you have your mind focused on the material you stand a chance at forgetting to put your name on the test. However, make sure you listen for what the professor wants you to do. They may want your name on one sheet but not another. They may not want your name at all but want you to place your student ID number on it instead. Just do whatever the professor told you in regards to this.

3. Read all of the instructions. Even if the instructions are a page long and seem to be repetitive, read them. There may be something out of the ordinary in there. They may say that there are three essays but you only should answer two. The possibilities are endless. They may even tell you to put a smiley face after your name for 4 extra credit points. Make sure that you read all of the directions thoroughly.

4. Use these tips as you go through the test:

• Answer the easy questions first. This helps you get a chunk of the test done quickly.
• Next, answer any questions that are worth more points than other portions. This helps you in case you run out of time and don't have time to answer every question.
• As you take the test, if you come across any that you do not know the answer for, put a star next to it and move on. This keeps you from spending ten minutes on question #4 when you still have another 46 questions to do. Once you have answered the other questions, come back to the star and answer the question then.
• If you really do not know the answer, put something down anyways. If it is an essay, you may still get partial credit. If it is multiple choice, you have a 1 in 4 chance at getting it correct.
• In the case of multiple choice, try to supply your own answer before looking at the provided options. Sometimes the provide options can confuse you even if it is something that you know!
• On essays, pay attention to words like list, compare, define, etc. This tells you what the professor wants you to do with the answers you are providing.
• If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, put down the pencil and stop and stretch for a moment or two. When you get frustrated, you begin to forget information you already know. This moment of stopping helps you collect your thoughts and become focused again.

5. When you are done, look over the test to make sure that you answered every question, look over any that you were unsure of the answer for and to catch possible mistakes.

Combine these tips with proper studying and you will be ready to ace any test you come up against. Good luck!