The best thing you can do before, and during a test: relax and trust yourself.

Preparation is Key!

• Get enough sleep the night before and eat something before you go.
• Do practice questions ahead of time. Some professors hand them out in review sessions.
• On test day, be early to go over information in your head.
• Know if you need to bring your own Scantron or “blue book” to the test, and bring extra #2 pencils, student ID, scrap paper, and/or extra pens.
• Always carry your Student ID, it's sometimes required to take a test.
• Get to class on time. Some professors won’t let student take the test if they’re late.
• Relax.

Taking the Test

• Read ALL the directions first.
• Read through the entire question before answering.
• Budget your time. If you’re stuck on something, move on and go back to it later. Mark the questions you want to come back to.
• Make sure to answer questions worth the most points.
• Relax.

Essay/Short Answer

• Answer the entire question, some questions have "parts."
• Spend the most time on questions worth the most points.
• Always restate the question.
• Keep your answer on topic—no tangents.
• Write down what you do know, even if you can’t answer the entire question. You might get partial credit. You might remind yourself while writing.
• If you’re stuck, brainstorm or make an outline. But don’t lose track of time.
• Relax.

Multiple Choice

• Trust your instincts.
• Read the entire question carefully.
• Look for hints.
• Watch for qualifiers: all of the above, a and b, none of the above.
• You can usually find clues to answers you don’t know in other questions.
• If a question’s wording is tricky, re-word it in your head.
• Relax