Test Taking Strategies & Study Tools

1. The most important step is to change how you listen in class- it is a good idea to listen actively to your teacher, and it helps to take notes and try to internalize the concepts. Then as you study, all you need to do is refresh the information.

2. You won't always have time to make a study guide or your own Quizlet, so take advantage of preexisting resources- search up Quizlets or online study guides

3. Using mixed medias is a great way to review for any test. Some great resources for science include:

• review videos on Youtube- Bozeman Science, CrashCourse, Amoeba Sisters, The Organic Chemistry Tutor

• online practice tests (find by searching subject and chapter)

• textbook

• Quizlet

4. If you have trouble concentrating alone, study with peers- you can cover each other's gaps in learning. Once you can explain a topic to someone else, you know that you have mastered the information. 

Math is not a subject you can cram for! With math, it is important to remember that everything is cumulative. If you don’t understand one topic, chances are that you won’t fully understand the next. 

One of the best things you can do to study for a big math test is to look over old tests. Look over every single question that you got wrong. Try to note any patterns — do polynomials trip you up? are you always forgetting a specific theorem? One great thing to do is write out the questions you got wrong on a blank sheet of paper and redo all of the questions.

Another great thing to do is go over your homework! Look at questions you got wrong or ones you had starred/ were confused on. This is also a great time to catch up on any missed homework assignments… even if you won’t get credit back, it is important to go through everything — it will pay off on the midterm!

Use your textbook to your advantage. Try taking the chapter tests and review sections. If you need to check your answers, ask your teachers — they have the textbook answer keys.

There are a ton of resources online! If you materials from class aren’t enough, Khan Academy in particular has great videos and explanations, as well as practice quizzes. Deltamath is also a great resource — if your teacher assigns homework on deltamath, there are unlimited amount of practice problems with detailed explanations, as well as tutorial videos for each type of question. 

Many teachers will allow you to have a notecard on the test. If you get one on your test use it wisely. 

1. Look over your notes — highlight the things you often forget or confuse you

2. Don’t waste space with things you are confident you already know

3. You may be tempted to write extremely tiny and squeeze as much as you can — don’t! Just write things you absolutely need. It will be easier to read and will be more useful on test day

4. Leave some extra space on the card — write down the things you mess up while studying 

5. Use colors — you want to make it as organized as possible

If you get a calculator on your test, make sure you fully understand how to complete all the functions! You don’t want to get stuck not knowing how to graph during your test. Also, make sure it is fully charged on the morning of the test — your teacher might not have extras if yours dies or you forget it!

Just remember — a big part of math is confidence. Believe in yourself! Stay calm and do your best. Everyone just wants you to do the best you can. 

Checklist for Studying

• Have you eaten enough today?

  • Breakfast

  • Lunch

• Have you gotten adequate sleep?

  • Set an alarm to get ready for bed

  • You need 7+ hours!

  • Take a 20 minute nap

• Completed practice problems

• Rewritten notes

• Annotated notes

• Watch review videos

• Complete teacher provided study guide

• Go to extra help

• Go to x-block

Tips for Taking Tests

• Skip questions you don't know and come back to them

• Trust your gut and first instinct

• You don't have to take the test in order

• Do process of elimination - cancel at least 1 choice for a better guess

• They will take the test away from you when time is called - be prepared

• Wear a watch

• Don't get emotionally attached to a question

• If you get stressed try counting backwards from 100

• Lower the stakes - remember that this one test does not determine any major outcomes for you

• Keep a water bottle

• Don't pay attention to what other people are doing (turning pages, erasing, etc.)

• Keep peppermints! It is shown to stimulate the brain.

• Chew gum to help your concentration

• Partial credit goes a long way! 

• Annotate - writing notes in the margins and underlining keeps you engaged in the question even if you don't use it later.

• Star questions you are unsure of and need to rethink - come back to later.

• Blank space: write down things you think you might forget as soon as you get your test.

• Look over the entire test before you start to figure out how you want to proceed

LINK TO GOOGLE DOC VERSION