Before

Before you start writing ...

• 1. Always arrive early and take a moment to relax and reduce your anxiety. Make sure you have all of your materials with you. This brief time period will boost your confidence. Use this time to focus your mind and think positive thoughts.

  2. Listen attentively to last minute instructions given by the teacher. Teachers often make last minute changes. Missing instructions can cause extreme anxiety.

  3. Do a brain dump: on the back of the exam or rough paper write down all of the formulas or little facts that you are afraid you will forget.

  4. Glance over the whole exam. This does two things for you: It gives you a “set” on the exam: what it covers, where the emphasis lies, what the main ideas seem to be. Many exams are composed of a series of short questions all related to one particular aspect of the subject, and then a longer question developing some ideas from another area. It may relax you because if you read carefully all the way through it, you are bound to find something you feel competent to answer.

  5. Underline or highlight all significant words in the directions. Many students have penalized themselves because they did not see the word “or” (example: “Answer 1, 2, OR 3”). You do not get extra credit for answering three questions if the directions said to answer ONE. In fact, you will probably lose points for not fully developing your answer. ASK the teacher if you do not clearly understand the directions. 

  6. Plan how you will use the allotted time. Look at the mark-value of the questions and then figure out a rough time allowance. If the total point value for the test if 100, then a 50-point question is worth about half of your time regardless of how many questions there are. Determine a pace which will ensure completing the whole test on time.

Sources:

• • Modified from Test-Taking Strategies: Preparing for Tests Taking Tests Reducing Test Anxiety from Pellissippi State Community College's Student Support Center

  • With points from Test-taking Strategies from Brigham Young University's Academic Success Center