HOW CAN I DO MY BEST ON A TEST?

Mrs. Gonzalez, School Counselor

If the thought of taking a test causes you distress, you are not alone. Many students suffer from test anxiety. It is normal to feel anxious as a test approaches. You may get nervous or may even find your mind going blank on test day. Again, this is normal and you do have the power to overcome this. Below are 10 strategies to take the worries away by helping you prepare for a test day:

1. BE THERE.

Don’t miss school unless you are sick. Arrive on time everyday so that you are a part of the class announcements, discussions and activities from the start. Coming in late gives you no time to settle into your day and you don’t want to start off by having to catch up.

2. PAY ATTENTION.

Listen in class when information is being presented. Write down in your Binder Reminder your homework assignments. It is the only way to stay organized, know what is expected of you and when to start preparing for a test.

3. ASK FOR HELP.

It is important you ask for clarification if you don’t understand something. You are often not alone and other students may have the same question. You can also ask your teacher for help before and after class but do not procrastinate and wait until the day before a test.

4. TURN YOUR WORK IN ON TIME.

Having late work will only add stress. You will be behind and often teachers will not accept late assignments unless you were out sick. The work will pile up and it will affect your grade in a class. If you get behind, talk with your teacher to come up with a plan on how to catch up. Remember, homework is a way to prepare you for a test.

5. TALK TO AN ADULT.

If something or someone is bothering you, talk to your parents, teacher, school counselor, or the principal. They are here to help you with problems that may be too big for you to handle on your own. An unresolved problem may affect your test performance.

6. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

When you know what is expected, it becomes easier to deal with. Ask your teacher for important details to know about the test. Ask if there will be a study guide or outline given, what kind of test it will be (Essay, Fill in the blank, Open notes/book, Multiple choice, Matching, True-false). This way, there will be no surprises.

7. PLAN YOUR STUDY TIME.

Cramming for a test will not work and it is a poor way to prepare for a test. It is much better to have shorter study sessions then one long last minute session where you will most likely forget everything. Make a plan days before the test to decide how much time you will review everyday, breakdown the material into smaller segments to study and study in the early afternoon rather than late at night when you are tired. Pick a comfortable place free of distractions, maybe have a study group – only with those who are serious about studying and reward yourself with a 5 minute break every so often instead of long stretches of review. Don’t stay up late the night before a test. If you have prepared with smaller review sessions, it is better to get a good night’s rest so you are not fuzzy-headed at test time.

8. HAVE SOME ATTITUDE.

Thoughts do have power. Go into the test with confidence. Knowing that you have done your best to prepare will give you confidence and make test taking less stressful. Say to yourself, “I’m going to do my best.” Visualize yourself taking the test, staying calm and answering with confidence. Remember, keep each test in perspective by realizing that you have done your best and one test is not a measure of how good of a student you are.

9. DURING THE TEST.

Listen, read and follow directions. Answer carefully making sure the answer # matches the question #. Read all the choices first, and then choose the BEST answer. If you get stuck on a question, move on and return to it later. Sometimes you may find the answer to the question later in the test. If you have time, recheck your work. Don’t change answers unless you are sure they are wrong. Your first choice is likely the right answer. Make the best use of your time by deciding how much time you can spend on each question. Answer the easy questions first to build your confidence. Once you’re on a roll, the test becomes easier.

10. STAY FOCUSED.

Keep your focus on the test by ignoring other student’s coughing, tapping or page turning. You can block out noise if needed by using earplugs. You can also keep your focus by narrowing your vision with a blank piece of paper or your hand to cover problems that you are not working on.

YOU CAN NOW DO YOUR BEST ON A TEST!