Tips To Become A Better Test Taker
Tests are an integral component of the academic experience. Tests assess how well students have absorbed lessons in the classroom. A two-year study conducted by the Council of Great City Schools examined testing practices in 66 public, urban school districts across the country. Findings indicated students take about 112 standardized tests between pre-K and 12th grade. This number doesn’t factor in the other tests that students take as part of the general curriculum. Testing varies based on school district and whether or not a school is public or private.
Taking tests can be a source of stress for students, particularly when they do not do as well as they would like. Pop quizzes, exams and standardized tests likely aren’t going away anytime soon, but students can look to various methods to become better test takers. Mastering some test-prep skills also can relieve anxiety and reduce stress.
The following testtaking tips, courtesy of the University of Arkansas, Huntington Learning Center and Harvard Summer School, might help students perform better on their exams.
• Develop good study habits. The more effectively one studies, the greater the propensity to do well on a test. Students should review notes daily, write their own study guides, and take advantage of any practice tests the teacher offers.
• Read all instructions carefully. Some students know the subject matter but get confused because they do not read all the directions thoroughly. Students should read every word of every question and pay attention to details before attempting to answer.
• Stop cramming. Cramming for a test is not productive. One is less likely to retain the information, and cramming can increase stress and adversely affect a student’s ability to sleep.
• Begin practicing pacing. Another area some students struggle with is running out of time on the test, or finishing too soon. Tests are timed, and that means that students need to work efficiently. Practice enables students to learn how long they spend on each question, and how they can cut down that time to finish in a more timely fashion.
• Hire a tutor. Some students can benefit from some extra assistance through a tutor. Professional tutors are skilled in conveying test-taking tips, like identifying which questions to guess on and how to narrow down multiple choice options.
• Read over the entire test. If possible, students should review the whole test before getting started. Doing so will help them understand the structure and identify areas that may require more or less time.
• Write out formulas. Particularly on math and science exams, using a scrap piece of paper to write out any memorized formulas or data at the start of the test can be helpful.
• Don’t agonize. Students should move on from questions they don’t know instead of getting locked on one question.
• Go back and review. Students who finish early can be encouraged to go back over the test and check their answers.
• Learn from mistakes. When the test is graded and returned, students should look over the questions they missed and compare them to the right answers. This will show whether mistakes were careless errors or reflective of a lack of knowledge of the material.
Mastering test-taking strategies can help students feel more confident and perform better on their exams.
