6 TIPS to Improve
Test-Taking
Performance
from Ernie Mendes,
Ph.D.
6 TIPS to Improve Test-Taking Performance6 TIPS to Improve Test-Taking Perfor
Tip One
Tip one: Weeks and days prior to major tests, take practice tests.
Actually taking tests may help student remember the content better than a review (Roediger and
Karpicke, 2006). The key is that students must get feedback on the incorrect answers. Otherwise, they
may not benefit from practice tests (Pashler, et al., 2005). You can give them an assignment to dissect the
incorrect answers. They describe what steps they took to arrive at the answer and what they would do
differently next time. If you are grading the practice tests, you can give students partial credit for doing
their reflective analysis of incorrect answers.
Tip Two
Tip two: Teach students a few simple relaxation strategies and practice them during the practice tests.
Several long, slow, deep breaths, followed by a positive affirmation: Just relax I can do this. By giving
them something to say to themselves, they substitute this for an otherwise panicky or negative thought
like: I don't know this, Oh X#$%^ which puts them in an un-resourceful state.
Tip Three
Tip three: Give anxious students (most will have some anxiety on testing day) 5-10 minutes to write down their
anxieties and worries.
A recent study that came out from the University of Chicago showing that prior to a high-stakes test
students who wrote down their worries improved their results over those who did not write. This is a
good example of emptying the cup...before you fill it up, creating mental and emotional space for
thinking and recalling.
6 TIPS to Improve
Test-Taking
Performance
from Ernie Mendes,
Ph.D.
6 TIPS to Improve Test-Taking Performance6 TIPS to Improve Test-Taking Perfor
Tip Four
Tip four: Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter and a prime fuel for working memory.
Strengthening or elevating dopamine levels before engaging in a highly cognitive task (i.e. test-taking)
seems to be a good idea. Celebrations, physical activity, marching, or energizers can do the trick. Are you
able to do a few of these before students have to sit and concentrate for 3 hours? I think it would be worth
it. Also, use a stretch break at least at the half-way point. The brain uses glucose for energy.
Exercise/movement stimulates the release of glucose stored as glycogen in the liver.
Tip Five
Tip five: Encourage your students to eat a breakfast of complex, slow-burning carbs like oatmeal, whole grain toast,
with a protein like yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, bacon, or sausage.
These kinds of food can provide the fuel necessary to perform well. Have kids avoid foods like fruit or
toast (without a companion protein), and avoid a sugar rush from sugary cereals, and donuts. They need a
steady supply of brain fuel for the duration of the test. Have students practice this nutritional intake
before testing day if possible. Sleep patterns are also important. Sleepy brains are poor at using glucose.
Encourage students to build up some hours in their sleep bank prior to testing day, in case they don't sleep
very well the night of the test.
Tip Six
Tip six: is from an earlier article about research on state-dependent memory and location memory.
It suggests that when we create a similar state in learners for assessing learning as the original state they were in
when the learning occurred, they will recall more. Also, certain elements and cues are associated in the
location that the material was learned (episodic memory). If possible, use the same location in which
6 TIPS to Improve
Test-Taking
Performance
from Ernie Mendes,
Ph.D.
6 TIPS to Improve Test-Taking Performance6 TIPS to Improve Test-Taking Perfor
students learned the content to take their tests. If that is not possible, then at least conduct a review in the
same room. Furthermore, the novelty of a new location may increase stress. There is probably enough of
that on testing day, so no need for more.
Good luck with testing!