How to score well on any exam

Testing is the old, reliable tool that schools and teachers use to measure how well students are learning or how well instruction is being delivered. Whether it’s a national exam to identify weak schools in a regional area, or a test for college entrance, the key is to prepare.

What to do before that exam?

Whether you’re a parent, teacher or student taking the exam, we all know that testing can cause anxiety. Nerves can be short when the professor, teacher, or administrator announces that Friday’s test will determine whether they get the job they want, the big promotion at work, it they will get into the private school or University they have their heart set on, or if they get to pass to the next grade level.

Worrying won’t help your performance. In fact, anxiety can be a distraction or make you avoid hitting the books. If a learning disability is present, then you need to be sure you get the accommodations you need. For example, you may need more time than what is allotted for answering questions. You may need frequent breaks or the information needs to be divided into chunks or sections. You might have to jot notes on scrap paper or use a calculator. Some students with a disability will score better if the test is administered in a smaller group or one on one. The directions may need to be read out loud to you. Depending on the disability, the accommodation is determined. Consult with a Special Education consultant who has an understanding of learning differences and the best strategies to differentiate the test for your success.

Before any test or exam there are things you can do to prepare.

Here’s a list of suggestions to consider before the big testing day:

• Sleep; be sure you get adequate rest before the big exam. Studies show that if you are overly tired you may make a careless mistake, have difficulty with memory recall or show a level of confusion that wouldn’t be present if you had enough sleep the night before. Be sure to get enough Zzzzzzzzzzzzz’s!
• Nutrition; “fuel” up before the test. Don’t skip breakfast or go for a long period without a snack, drink or meal. A car needs gas to run well and your body needs proper nutrition.
• Never Cram; if you wait until the evening before to begin your studies, you’ve set yourself up for stress and possible failure. Your brain can soak only so much information at one time. To study over a week’s period, a little at time and then reviewing more during the week, will help you retain what you need to know.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for help with studying. Invite the help of another student or look into finding a tutor. For some people, studying with a partner works better and helps them focus on what is important. “Hearing” the information recited may help an auditory learner remember vocabulary better. Information can be explained if you are confused. These are only a few benefits of finding a “study buddy” before the test.
• Make a schedule for yourself, a week or two before and stick to it. If you plan to study from 10 am to 11:00 am every morning, then make sure you do! If you have a short attention span, then break study sessions into smaller chunks of time. Maybe studying from 10 to 10:30 and again in the afternoon when you have time, from 1 to 1:30 as an example, will work better for you.
• Use Visual Cues; use a highlighter to point out the points you want to remember or help you locate the major points faster in your note book or text. Visual Learners also might make “drawings” or “sketches” that serve as a cue to recall a fact, similar to Rebus Writing, the visual stimuli serves as another tool to help you remember.
• Write the information out in a notebook. Sometimes a form of copying or re-writing helps someone recall the tested information, especially if you are a kinesthetic learner.
• Sing; Sound crazy? It’s not! Teacher’s if they are creative and think outside the box, have been known to use songs or singing in the classroom to teach. Who can forget “School House Rock”, Saturday morning cartoon in the seventies, singing “jingles” to recite rules for grammar? This method is great if you are a creative type or get bored and distracted easily. It might help make the study session more fun by providing a good laugh if your study buddy sings off key. Kids with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) usually respond well to this method, as well as using bright colors on post it pads or writing with different colored markers.
• Relax; the day of the test, it’s important to take a deep breath and avoid worry as it will only get in your way of performing well. If you prepared to your best ability, then pat yourself on the back and after the test, reward yourself with something! Be it a dinner with a friend or rent a movie, tell yourself you did your best and be proud of that!

No matter what score you receive after the testing,

Remember this important point:

The score is just that, a score, and not a true measure of who you are or what you can achieve and become. It doesn’t define you and it may not even be a true indication of what you really do know. If you have a cold, you may not test as well, but regardless, aim high and shoot for the stars!

Give it your best shot by preparing well and success is sure to find you!

Good luck!

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