Study Skills and Test Taking tips Tips and review

A few things to be mindful of the night before and day of the test… Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test. Most people need about eight hours. Avoid caffeinated or sugary drinks before taking the test as they can make you jittery. Eat a balanced meal. Wear comfortable clothing. Read/listen to the directions carefully. If something is unclear, ask for clarification.

Wear a watch and budget your time. Find out the rules of the test Wear a watch and budget your time. Find out the rules of the test. Will you be penalized for answering something incorrectly? For leaving something blank? Will partial credit be given? If you get stuck on a question, mark it and move on. You can come back to it later. If the test permits, do a memory check. Jot down important formulas or information on a piece of scrap paper. Use mnemonic devices to jog your memory.

Pay attention in class. This seems like a no-brainer, but actually paying attention while you're in class will help you immensely once exam time comes. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you'll just "absorb" knowledge; be an active learner. Listen carefully, because teachers often give hints like "The most important thing about this topic is...". Or they may just place emphasis on certain words and issues. This is the real key to testing well. The more you absorb the information early on, the less studying you'll need to do.

Take good notes. This is easier said than done, but learning how to take good notes will help you immensely once it comes time to study. Write down everything your teacher writes on the board or puts up in slides. Try to record as much of what the teacher says as possible, but don't allow taking notes to distract you so much that you forget to listen. Review your notes daily, right after class. This will help reinforce the information you just learned.   Make studying a part of your habits. Too often, it's easy to view studying as something that only gets done at the last minute in a huge overnight cram session. Instead, try setting aside some time every day to study. Scheduling it just like another appointment or class may help you stay motivated to continue the habit.

Study in a clean, quiet and orderly room.   Study in a clean, quiet and orderly room.  Keep anything and everything away from where you are that may cause you to get distracted. Jumping up to read a text message on your phone or periodically checking social media is ill-advised while studying.

Turn on the light. Studying in a dark room is not recommended Turn on the light! Studying in a dark room is not recommended. Add lamps at night, or in the daytime, open the window coverings (open the window a little, too). People tend to study and focus better in a brighter, oxygenated room with little noise.

While many students believe that they're good at multitasking, such as studying with the TV on or while chatting online with friends, research suggests that this is not true for the vast majority of people. For better studying performance, eliminate distractions such as TV and loud music with lyrics. Rapidly swapping attention between studying and watching TV makes it more difficult for your brain to prioritize information acquisition.

Decide if music is right for you Decide if music is right for you. Music's effect on memory performance varies between individuals. Some studies have found music to aid the memory performance of individuals with ADD/ADHD, while reducing it in individuals without the disorder. Classical music appears to be the most effective in enhancing studying

Focus on your work objectives Focus on your work objectives. What do you intend to accomplish during this session? Setting a concrete study goal may help you. Creating study plans is also a good idea. If 3 out of 5 lessons are easy and can be finished fast, finish them first, so you can spend quality time on the difficult lessons without fretting.

During Test • Read and pay careful attention to all directions. • Read each passage and accompanying questions. • Read every possible answer--the best one could be last. • Read and respond to items one at a time rather than thinking about the whole test.

Usually the answer is “all of the above” if this answer is a choice. In general… You may find the answer to questions in previous questions on the test. Usually the answer is “all of the above” if this answer is a choice. Sometimes it may be the longest answer. Eliminate answers you know cannot be right! This gives you a better chance of selecting the right one.

During test Continued • Reread, when necessary, the parts of a passage needed for selecting the correct answer. • Don't expect to find a pattern in the positions of the correct answers. • Don't make uneducated guesses. Try to get the correct answer by reasoning and eliminating wrong answers.

Decide exactly what the question is asking; one response is clearly best. • Don't spend too much time on any one question.

Skip difficult questions (click the red check) until all other questions have been answered. On scrap paper, keep a record of the unanswered items to return to, if time permits. • Make sure to record the answer in the correct place on the answer You may change or go back to questions until you click “END”

Only change an answer if you are sure the first one you picked was wrong. Continued

COntinued • Work as rapidly as possible with accuracy. • After completion of the test, use any remaining time to check your answers. • Keep a good attitude. Think positively!

Test Anxiety- Everyone gets it! Student Strategies for Reducing Test Anxiety • Share your feelings of anxiety with parents and teachers. • Think of the test as an opportunity to show what you know. Test Anxiety- Everyone gets it!

DO your best! • Review homework and review materials which pertain to the test topics. Study in 10 minute increments (at a time) Study your materials every night • Relax, breathe deeply and stay focused on the test. • Remember the test is only one way your academic performance is measured.