Smart students know that test-taking is a skill all its own. You can know your stuff inside out and backwards, but if you haven't prepared for the kind of test you'll face, you won't necessarily get the grade you deserve. Testing is a flawed process, but there are ways to prepare for tests that up your chances of success.

Want to become an A+ test-taker? Use these strategies to do better.

How Regular Studying Helps You Take Tests

  1. Review your notes every night. Even before the test is announced, smart students have been reviewing their notes. Seriously. Research shows that when students take even five minutes every night to just review their class notes and think about what they learned that day, they do better on tests. Why? Because all that review helps your brain store information in your long-term memory where it's locked in for future reference. It's like training for a big race. You don't just run around the track a few times the night before and figure you'll win the 200 m sprint. You've got to log a lot of hours in the gym to get in shape. It's the same for taking a test. You have to train for it.
  2. Take notes from assigned readings. This is a classic two-fer. When you take notes from your assigned readings (see Take Better Notes from Textbooks) you learn more. The process of organizing and paraphrasing what you read helps store more information in your long-term memory. So, when it comes time for the test, you've got a better chance of recalling it. Plus, as you review specifically for the unit test or your final exam, you've already got notes to review!

Tried and True Study Techniques

  1. Make up a test for yourself. Think about the kinds of questions the teacher could put on the test. Write them up and take the test yourself. Yes, it's like playing checkers against yourself...but actually writing out the answers helps you prepare for the real deal.
  2. Use mnemonic devices to remember specifics. Mnemoic devices are memorization tricks that use word association, acronyms or humour to lock new information in your long-term memory. For instance, say you have to remember the name of the guy who said, "I think, therefore I am." and the French title of his book for your philosophy course.  The guy's name is René Descartes and the book is "Le discours de la méthode."  Hmmm. Perhaps you have a friend named Renée. Picture her (René) pushing a cart of calendars down a hall (day-cart). As for the book title, picture Renée playing frisbee golf (disc-course) in May and then stepping on a toad while she runs. (may-toad...not exact pronunciation but close enough!) It's ridiculous, but that's why it would work! Check out this Wikipedia article on mnemonic verses. From there you can link to other examples.
  3. Overstudy. If it's a big test and you're nervous, learning the material so well that you feel super, super, super prepared can calm you. It takes more time, but to have a clear head and less anxiety, it might be worth the effort.

How to Be Test Wise

Test wise students know how to adapt their studying and test-taking behaviors to get better grades. To truly own a test, you have to know and use a few tricks of the trade.

  1. Find out what's on the test. Ask your teacher to review what you're expected to know. Listen carefully for hints in the days leading up to the test. Teachers often stress and review information that will be worth big points on the test.
  2. Ask for a break down of the question formats. Will there be multiple choice questions? Essays? Will you have to draw a diagram? Apply what you've learned in a new way? Different kinds of questions require different kinds of answers. Change your studying accordingly. If you're not sure, assume you have to write an essay. Research shows that by pulling together all of the information you need to write an essay on a test, you're likely to get a better grade - even if you don't end up having to write the essay at all.
  3. Ask for copies of old tests that you can review. Sometimes, teachers have old tests on file that cover the same content. Find out if your teacher has any that you can use for practice.
  4. How important is the test? Not all tests are created equal. If it's a mini quiz worth .5% of your final grade, should you really spend 10 hours pouring over your notes? Not really. Set priorities based on each test's value.
  5. Bring everything you need to the test. This seems obvious, but if you need a calculator, don't depend on your best buddy, Sam, to have an extra.
  6. Read test directions carefully. Again, this seems obvious but you'd be shocked to know how many students do poorly on tests because they simply didn't do what the question asked. What does the question ask you to do? Compare and contrast? Show all your work? Give examples? Stick to what the question requires, no more, no less. To be sure you're following the directions, re-read every question then ask yourself "What do I have to do, exactly?" before you start any answer.
  7. Answer easy questions first. This is a timing strategy. Get the easy stuff out of the way. Your confidence will be up and you can use that momentum boost to focus on the harder questions.
  8. Ask for help. If you're not sure what a test question is asking, don't hesitate to ask for help. Your teacher may be able to direct your thinking in a way that will get you back on track.

 

Review Study Skills Tips

 

Source:

Gall, M.D., Gall, J.P., Jacobsen, D.R. & Bullock, T.L. (1990) "Tools for learning: A guide to teaching study skills." Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.