Test Taking Strategies

Introduction

The best way to beat test anxiety is to make use of proven, time-tested test taking strategies. There are effective strategies that work both before, and during your upcoming test that can add many points to your overall score.

Before the Test

• Before the test, make sure that you study in small intervals. Some studies show that taking a break every 20 minutes actually improves retention. Avoid cramming at all costs, it increases anxiety and retention rates from cramming are very low. Make sure to work in a well-ordered study environment, and ask your teacher or professor to give as much information about the format of the test as possible. If you can find copies of old exams given by that professor or teacher, study them carefully. You will learn the topics that are his or her “hot buttons’ this way. Be sure to eat right and get plenty of sleep the night before the exam as well.
• Another great way to make sure that you have really assimilated the information is to teach it to someone. Form a study group, and help tutor those in the class who are less prepared. Or find a friend who is willing to act interested for an hour or two, and teach the material to him or her. 

Attempting the Test

• In multiple choice tests, work quickly at first and eliminate all obvious wrong answers. Answering the ones you are sure of first build confidence, you can always go back to the harder ones later if you work quickly. This strategy also works for multiple choice IQ tests or performance tests.
• For essay tests, read over each question first and ask yourself what is specifically being asked. Many students read part of the question and start to answer without really understanding it fully. Look for key words that help you in determining what is required, and make an outline on scratch paper first. Then write your essays, being sure to keep careful track of time.
• Math tests often create the most anxiety, but have the simplest strategies to handle. Read over the test carefully, and then tackle quickly the problems you know first – being sure to SHOW ALL YOUR STEPS. Now, you can tackle the problems you are not sure of. Don’t let the overall complexity of the problems intimidate you, but work step by step, showing all your steps along the way. Even if you don’t come up with a right answer, most math teachers will give you credit for every correct step you fill in. NEVER leave a problem blank, but always work for that partial credit.