Test-Taking Tips
A test is coming up…
Have a Positive Attitude
Just like a giant jigsaw puzzle, it may be
hard, but you can do it!
The night before the test…
Sleep is Important
Your brain and body need sleep to function
well, so don’t stay up late!
The morning of the test…
Brain Food
Eat a good breakfast of something that
you are used to. You will think better on a
full stomach.
Be Positive
Tell your family that you will do great.
Turn Your Brain On
Look over your material before the test to
make sure that your brain is turned on and
tuned in.
Time for the test…
Be Prepared
Make sure that you have everything that
you’ll need - scratch paper, extra pencils,
calculator.
Understand how the test is scored. Ask
your teachers if it is best to guess or will
you lose points.
Read the Instructions
You want to make sure that you are
marking answers correctly.
Getting started…
Sit Comfortably
Don’t hunch over or stiffen up. Sit in a
relaxed way and keep your posture loose.
Neatness Counts
Fill in your answers carefully so that you
don’t lose credit when the answer is
actually right.
Pace Yourself
Scan through the test quickly before
starting. Know how many questions there
are and how much time you have.
Getting started…
Read the Directions
This will keep you from making simple mistakes
and guarantee that you won’t have to go back and
redo any work.
Manage Your Time
Answer the easy questions first so that you can
save your time to focus on the hard questions.
Don’t Rush
Keep and good pace but don’t rush through the
questions. Make sure you understand what is
being asked and read every possible answer.
While you’re working…
Don’t Get Distracted
Keep your eyes on your paper unless you need to
glance at the clock. Don’t look at students around
you because they may distract you.
Focus On What You Know
If you come across a question that absolutely
stumps you, pass and come back if you have time.
Use All Your time
Go back and look over your work when you have
finished.
Multiple Choice Tips
Read the question before you look at the
answers.
Come up with the answer in your head before
looking at possible answers.
Eliminate answers you know are wrong.
Read ALL the choices before choosing.
Don’t keep on changing your answers, usually
your first choice is the right one, unless you
misread the question.
More Multiple Choice Tips
In “none of the above” questions, if you are
certain that one of the statements is true,
don’t choose “none of the above.”
In “all of the above” questions, if you are
certain that one of the statements is false,
don’t choose “all of the above.”
If two answers are correct, then “all of the
above” is most likely the answer.
True-False Tips
Read through each statement carefully, and
pay attention to the keywords.
Qualifiers like “never,” “always,” and “every”
mean that the statement must be true all of
the time. If you can think of a time when the
statement is not true, put FALSE.
Qualifiers like “usually,” “sometimes,” and
“generally” mean that the statement can be
considered true or false depending on
circumstances.
Short Answer Tips
Try to anticipate questions that will be asked on
the test and prepare for them. Usually what
your instructor emphasizes in class will be on
the test.
Try not to leave the answer blank. Show your
work/thoughts, you may get partial credit.
If you don’t know the answer, finish the test
and come back to make an educated guess.
Other parts of the test may give you clues or
help you remember the answer may be.
Essay Tips
As always, read the directions carefully.
Pay attention to whether you are
supposed to answer all the questions or
only a certain amount.
Make sure that you write down
everything that is asked of you and
more. The more detailed your answer,
the higher your grade will be.
More Essay Tips
Budget your time. Don’t spend the entire test
time on one essay.
If the essay asks for facts, don’t give
personal opinions.
Make an outline before writing your essay.
This way your essay will be more organized.
Be as neat as possible so that you get credit
for everything that you write.
If you make a mistake just put one line though it, it
is neater and quicker.
More Essay Tips
Don’t write long introductions and
conclusions, the bulk of your time should be
spent on answering the questions asked.
Focus on one main idea per paragraph.
If you have time left at the end, proofread
your work and correct any errors.
If you aren’t sure about an exact date or
number, approximate.
For example: “approximately 500” or “in the late
17th century”
Don’t Stress Out
Expect and Accept Some Stress
Don’t panic if you feel some stress when you start,
everyone does. You will begin to feel better after
you start working.
Stay Focused and Relaxed
Keep your mind on the test but don’t tighten up.
Don’t Get Distracted
Don’t look at other students around you. If they are
nervous, it may make you feel more anxious
yourself. Focus on your work.
Don’t Stress Out
Don’t Hold Your Breath
Take a deep breath in and then breathe out
slowly. Deep breathing is an excellent stress
reducer.
Stretch
Stretch your arms and fingers while sitting at your
desk. Ask your teacher if you can get up and
stretch your legs as well.
Release Tension
Grab your chair tightly and clench all the muscles
of your body, then slowly tell each muscle to relax
one by one.