Test Taking Strategies

1. Get lots of sleep the night before the test. Tests are easier when you are mentally sharp.  

2. Read each question before you look at the answers. Come up with the answer in your head first.  

3. Eliminate answers you know are incorrect. Read all your choices before making a decision.  

4. Don’t keep changing your answers; usually your first choice is the right one. 

5.  Go back to difficult questions. While looking over the rest of the test and doing easy questions, your mind will have been thinking on the answers for the difficult questions.  

6. If you have time at the end of the test, check your answers. Did you answer each one completely?  

7. Check each answer. Does it look reasonable? Check your calculations.  

8. Don’t talk to other students just before a test. Anxiety is contagious.  

9. Decide on and adopt study practices that worked best for you and use them in the future.  

10. Proofread your answers for mistakes. (legible, number placement, etc.)  

11. Express difficult questions in your own words. Rephrasing can make it clear to you, but be sure you don’t change the meaning of the question.  

12. When studying for a test, use your textbooks example problems to review difficult or problem areas.  

13. If you don’t understand a problem, ask the instructor to explain it to you.  

14. Know how to distinguish between the various types of problems. This is often the hardest part.  

15. Don’t leave preparing for a test to the last minute. Make sure you leave time to ask questions in class after you have studied.