Ten Test Taking Tips

Here are some of the best test taking tips for students facing an exam. They cover memorizing the material, getting ready, and what to do while taking the exam. Develop a routine that works for you using one or more tip from each category.

1. Better test scores start with good comprehension of the material you are supposed to learn. This often includes memorizing specific facts and information, which can be done using repetition over time. Just expose yourself to the relevant material repeatedly - it's how we typically learn to use a computer, for example, or even remember a name. You can schedule periodic reviews of the material at the intervals suggested here (if you have time before the test):

- Look at or think about the information again after 15 minutes or so..
- Study the information the following day.
- Cover it again six to eight days later.
- Look it all over after a month.

The bulk of these test taking tips are about preparation. Once you know the material well enough, you have to be ready for the day of the exam. Try some of the following:

2. Eat well, especially in the days just before the test. Avoid sugary foods the day of the exam.

3. Get good quality sleep the night before, but try to avoid getting too much sleep.

4. Arrive early, so you do not have to rush or worry about time, which can affect stress levels and performance.

5. Have a little bit of coffee if you don't have problems with caffeine. As little as a half cup has been shown to raise test scores.

6. Use safe supplements. These include vitamins in the week prior, and perhaps fish oil and ginkgo biloba on the morning of the exam.

Perhaps just as important as the pre-exam preparation are the test taking tips for during the exam. Try some of these techniques:

7. Take several deep breaths, and let the tension drain from your body. This can help you relax,concentrate better, and get more oxygen to your brain.

8. Get involved in one question at a time. This kind of focus reduces feelings of anxiety, You're not anticipating and worrying about the next one.

9. Take notes. Writing - if allowed - can trigger memory of material. You can also quickly write down crucial points when you first get the test - the ones that may slip your mind if you wait.

10. Go over the questions and your answers again when you are done. Use up the time allowed to find any possible mistakes and correct them.

Use the test taking tips above that work best for you, and create a routine you can follow each time, starting with study skills, continuing with appropriate preparation, and then using the skills and exam habits that prove themselves effective.