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December 2018

How to Become a Confident Test-Taker

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Taking tests is one of the more stressful parts of being a student. Not only do you need to know the material, but you need to have your mind steady and calm so that you can perform your best. To do this, you should have a plan so that you feel confident when tests and quizzes are administered. Here are three things that you can do to make test taking less stressful and feel more prepared.

Take Practice Exams Regularly

One of the best ways to feel more comfortable is to take the practice tests and quizzes. There’s also plenty of research that backs up how and why practice tests are useful. By doing this, you’ll gain an understanding of how the tests are formatted and what kinds of questions are on the exams. You’ll learn how to pace yourself, too. Many textbooks have practice tests at the end of the chapter or in the back of the book. There are also many teachers that offer practice tests or extra work so that their students are able to do their best when the real test is administered.

Put Together a Study Plan

Studying regularly is important for retention of material. Too many students try to cram studying into a couple of days before a major exam. This is not the best strategy. Instead, you should make the habit of studying for each class at least a few hours each week. By reviewing regularly, you’ll remember more and be able to come up with the information more quickly when it’s time to take the test. Establishing your study schedule will also help you improve your GPA and time management skills, so carve out a few extra hours each week for review.

Stay Engaged in Class

Attending class isn’t a passive activity, and idly listening while the teacher talks is a missed opportunity. To remain engaged during a lecture, make sure that you are up to date on the reading material. Most teachers design their lessons to augment and add greater understanding to the concepts that are presented in the assigned chapters. Also, you’ll be able to take notes in greater detail so that you understand the material better. To stay engaged, you should also participate in class discussions when appropriate.

Taking tests can be many students’ worst nightmare, but if you prepare, you can have a fairly calm experience. Take every opportunity possible to review material and understand the test format so that when test day comes, you feel confident.

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