Do you suffer from anxiety before school tests or are you not very good at handling these situations? Passing a difficult exam requires preparation, follow some of the tips in this article to succeed.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Studying for the Exam
Step 1. Give yourself enough time to study
Know the date of the exam, so as not to be taken by surprise; make a plan to have time to study. If the topic is simple, you don't need as much time as is needed for more complex subjects. Evaluate how long it will take you to study and pass the exam in the best possible way.
Step 2. Study before the test
One of the best ways to overcome this is to study the information every day. Studying a whole text at the last minute is not a good technique and in all likelihood leads to bad results. Instead, try to spend 30-60 minutes each day reviewing the topics that were discussed in class.
- If you don't want to study every day, spend the 2-3 weeks before the test preparing yourself every day. This way, you can review concepts you didn't understand immediately and have a way to internalize the information.
- By studying in advance you will have the opportunity to ask the teacher for clarification, in case you have not understood something.
- Prepare questions to be drawn at random to test yourself on topics that might be part of the exam.
Step 3. Review previous exams
Look at the class assignments you have completed during the year. What mistakes have you made? What are the answers the teacher expected? By identifying these details you can study better and improve your results; It also examines the type of questions the teacher asks: do they focus mainly on broad, generic concepts or on specific examples? By doing this, you can study more effectively.
- Ask the teacher about the exam simulations. Some teachers provide students with test examples. If you have to pass a standardized test, it is essential to have simulations to understand how the exam is structured.
- Also look at previous homework. Teachers often use the questions in these exercises to prepare for exams or to formulate questions in a similar way.
Step 4. Use different study techniques
Instead of applying yourself to books the same way every night, change the way you learn. One evening you read the textbook, on another occasion you learn the terms and definitions, during a further study session use flashcards and on another occasion you do simulation exercises.
Step 5. Identify the main concepts
As you study, read the textbook and lesson notes. Look for the most important information: generally, it is what is reiterated over and over again, the concepts that are explained in detail and all the other topics that the teacher has defined as fundamental.
Listen carefully to the teacher during the lessons. He may make suggestions regarding the topics that will be covered in the exam. Mark these topics in your notes in case you forget them
Step 6. Get help
If you're having trouble with a subject, take advantage of a mentoring service. The teacher or teacher themselves could help you with the more complex steps or the school could provide a support service. You can also ask classmates who understand the topics best to help you.
Step 7. Prepare a review sheet
Although you need to go through all the notes and chapters in the textbook, you should also prepare a review sheet. This is a diagram that summarizes the most important terms, concepts and information that may appear in the test. Think of this sheet as a summary of the highlights of the subject. By classifying them all on one page, you can go through and remember them more easily.
Step 8. Read all the handouts
If the teacher provides this type of material, you must be sure that you have studied it all, because it offers the possibility to review the various topics. The professors often formulate or copy the questions of the exams taking their cue from the handouts.
Handouts are useful for focusing efforts on the correct topics
Step 9. Form a study group
Find opportunities to meet some classmates and study together. Ask each other questions, evaluate the possible questions you might find in the test and use the respective notes to fill in the various gaps. You can also explain to each other the various topics that are not clear to you.
Part 2 of 3: Taking the Exam
Step 1. Talk to the teacher or professor
Before the deadline, find out about the exam structure. Many teachers let their pupils know if it is a multiple choice test, "true or false", involving discursive answers or filling in missing parts. Knowing the exam format allows you to understand how to study the information.
- Ask the lecture notes professor. If they are not available, ask if they can give you any suggestions or advice on how to study in preparation for the test.
- Ask about the chapters in the textbook that will be the subject of the exam, or ask them to tell you which ones you should review.
- Try to get tips on how to prepare for the test.
Step 2. Get a good night's sleep
Make sure you enjoy a good, restful sleep before the exam; don't stay awake studying. If you are sleepy, you will not be able to concentrate well and you will run the risk of forgetting concepts. Please arrive fresh and rested to take the exam.
Step 3. Eat a healthy breakfast
Don't skip the exam morning meal. Make sure your breakfast is high in protein and fiber instead of sugar-rich foods. These nutrients make you feel more focused, stronger, and provide you with all the energy you need, rather than crashing you after your blood sugar spike.
Eat eggs, yogurt, and granola instead of sugary cereals or donuts
Step 4. Show up early at the exam venue
Prepare all the materials you need the night before. Leave the house in order to arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time for the exam; if you go to middle school or high school, don't waste time in the hallways with friends. Make sure you have everything you need with you, such as pens, pencils, study guide, paper and calculator.
- Take a few minutes to relax. Take deep breaths, think positively, try to relax and feel comfortable.
- Go to the bathroom before the test begins. In this way, you do not run the risk of being distracted during the examination and having to concentrate on physiological needs.
Step 5. Find out about the test evaluation criterion
Knowing the score that the teacher assigns to each question helps you to tackle the various questions. Will you lose points for wrong answers? If you leave some questions blank, do you lower your score or should you still try to write a solution? Does the teacher also assign partial scores? These factors help you decide how to answer some questions you have doubts about.
Step 6. Read the instructions carefully
Before you start answering the questions, take a few seconds to read the tracks. This way you eliminate possible errors, as there are often questions with multiple sections or specific tasks to complete. Read the instructions carefully to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
For example, some questions may have more than one correct answer. If you need to provide descriptive solutions or write an essay, you may have three or four questions to answer
Step 7. Maintain a positive attitude
Try to be optimistic during the exam. Don't indulge in negative thoughts, even if you get stuck. If you start feeling too anxious, take a short break; relax, breathe deeply and remind yourself that you can do it.
Don't pay attention to classmates. It makes no sense if they took the exam faster or delivered the test before you. Everyone works at their own pace, finishing an exam quickly does not indicate absolute knowledge: your peers may not know anything and have only sketched out some answers
Step 8. Take deep breaths to stay calm
Inhale for a count of 4, then slowly exhale for a count of 8. Repeat this type of breathing 2-3 times or more until you feel calm.
Breathe out slowly, taking twice as long as you breathe in, to reset your nervous system and will help you feel better
Part 3 of 3: Answering the Questions
Step 1. Plan your time
Read the entire text of the exam and decide how to approach the various questions. Evaluate how many minutes you have available for each section. Set a pace so that you have enough time to answer the questions and complete the test.
- Start with the simplest parts; this method not only allows you to finish them quickly, but helps you to increase your confidence.
- Then tackle the questions that have a higher score. Make sure you have plenty of time to complete them.
Step 2. Delete the wrong answers
If the test includes multiple choice questions, discard the incorrect ones. Take a few seconds to find options that may not be the right ones. Afterward, try searching for clues among the remaining answers to find the incorrect ones. If the question has only one correct answer, you will find a detail that will make you understand which is the wrong one.
- Don't get confused by questions that contain the words never, no, less, none or except. These terms provide you with important clues to understand the question and to eliminate clearly wrong answers. If you are somewhat perplexed and have to choose between "true" and "false", remember that when a sentence includes categorical terms such as "always" and "never" it is generally false.
- You should formulate the answer after reading the question, but before reading the possible solutions. This way you avoid the various possibilities pointing you in the wrong direction.
Step 3. Organize descriptive responses
Themes are used to demonstrate your knowledge. Read the track carefully and underline the keywords, especially the terms as you define, compare or explain. Create a draft of the topics you want to include in your answer so you don't risk forgetting concepts as soon as you start writing. The track gives you a "map" to follow.
- Respond directly by citing the keywords or topic in question.
- Provide examples in addition to general information. Use any terms you have learned in class.
- Write legibly. The teacher cannot judge something he cannot read. If you find it difficult to write clearly, try to improve your handwriting as much as possible in the weeks leading up to the exam.
Step 4. Skip the questions you don't know the answer to
Instead of wasting time stressing yourself over questions that are beyond your knowledge, move on to other sections of the test. Circle them to deal with them later if you have the time. Answer any questions you know before taking too many minutes to guess what you don't know.
- Read the rest of the tracks looking for clues that can help you answer questions you don't know.
- Ask the teacher to clarify steps for you if you don't understand the core of the question.
Step 5. Review the solutions
When finished, re-read all the work and check the answers. Spend a few more minutes on questions you have some doubts about. Check that you have not missed some answers and that you have not misread some questions.
Trust your first instinct. The answer suggested by instinct is the correct one; however, you need to be sure that this is a thoughtful decision and not a "gut" reaction
Advice
- The day before the exam you should take some time to review, but not spend hours on books. Read the notes several times and then relax before reviewing them again.
- Always check the answers you have written; While it can be a tedious step, it's really important to double-check what you've written, especially if you have time left over at the end of the exam.
- Don't overthink a question, as it will only make the test more complicated. Pay attention to the content of the question; try your best and study before the exam.
- In the morning, take a warm and relaxing shower, brush your teeth and put on nice clothes. You need to feel confident.
