Preparing for the test.

If you have diligently taken notes, read your assignments, done your homework, and attended class, then preparation for the test has already begun. At this point you are putting everything together. Ask your instructor what the exam will entail. Your preparation will depend on whether the test is true/false, multiple choice, essay, etc.

• Some instructors will actually give you study guides for your tests. If this is the case, answer any questions that it contains without looking at your notes. Compare your answers with your notes/book. If you are missing a lot of information, then you have some work to do. Reread your notes and the chapters of your book if time allows. Try to answer the questions again.
• If you have not been given any kind of guide, then studying your notes and rereading the chapters for that section will be the route for you to take. Repetition is vital for remembering.
• Study groups can help, but make sure you get together with others who are serious about studying. Working in a group of no more than five people is best.

Try and be finished with studying the day before the test. Get a good nights rest, don’t go into the test hungry, and make sure you stop by the restroom before going into class. Try to reduce the number of distractions.

Go to class prepared with two pencils with erasers, calculator, scantron, or any other resource your professor requires or allows. Try not to rush into class at the last moment. Get there a little early and try and relax. Look over your notes or just close your eyes and focus on possible test questions and answers.

Listen to any oral instructions given by the instructor. Read any written instructions. Place your name or any other kind of identifying information on the test. Make sure you keep your eyes on your own paper, even if looking at someone else is done in innocence, you don’t want to appear as if you are cheating.

• As soon as you receive your test write down any formulas, lists, or anything else that you are afraid you will forget in the margins or on the back of the test.
• Read each question carefully, and be sure that you know what is being asked. Don’t assume you know after reading half of it.
• Try not to spend too much time on any one question. Skip it and go on.
• Always read the entire question. If it is a multiple choice question, then try and answer it before looking at the answers. If you can’t, then look at your choices and try to eliminate at least two of the answers, then try and eliminate further until you have one answer left. For true/false questions remember if any of the sentence is false, then the whole sentence is false. For math problems, show your work. Even if you don’t have the correct answer, partial credit is a possibility.
• If you don’t know the answer, place a small pencil mark beside the question and move on. If you are not penalized for guessing then go back and answer any questions that you skipped. Narrow down the answer as best you can. Don’t leave any questions unanswered. While moving through the rest of the test you may run across an answer to a previous question or at least something that triggers a response.
• Try and stay relaxed and don’t panic.
• If others start leaving, remind yourself that this is not a race. If you need the entire time allotted, then use it.
• If a question doesn’t make sense, ask the instructor. It’s possible that there is a typo.
• Make sure that your answers are legible. After finishing the test, look it over to make sure everything is complete.