Testing is one of the most reliable aspects of high school. With the promise of winter break or summer vacation, the promise of exams and tests comes too. It can be hard not to get swept up in a whirlwind of anticipation and nerves, so here is a guide to the five ways that will improve your mental and physical health during test season, while increasing scores as well.
Get good sleep and nutrition
Although numerous teachers will say that the most important thing to success is having a good night’s sleep, I’ll say it again. Studying can help prepare you for a test, but having a good night of rest and a healthy and energy-inducing breakfast an hour or two before the exam will help you perform well on the exam. Some options for healthy breakfasts on exam days could be granola and yogurt, avocado toast, eggs, or a bagel. Just as you should study material to prepare your mind for a test, you need to fuel your body as well to optimize your exam results and feel your best under pressure.
Prioritize answering questions
One of the best and most important test-taking strategies is to know the importance of answering what you can and moving on when you are stumped. If every answer seems like the right one, or none of the solutions make sense, skip the question. By moving at a fast pace, you’ll be able to spend less time on questions you’re confident in, and chances are that there will be plenty of review time to look back on the harder questions.
However, if the time is slowly ticking down, remember that any answer is better than no answer at all. Now, for some tests, it might actually be better to leave the question blank than get it wrong, but this isn’t the case in most tests. It’s important to know the format of the test you’re taking and whether making an educated guess is worth it or not.
Trust yourself
Your first gut reaction to a question is likely going to be the best one. Through months of class, homework, tests, and quizzes, you’ve become familiar with the terms and content of the subject. Read the question and the choices carefully, and then trust yourself and go with your gut reaction. Chances are, you will likely have a correct first answer, and doubt can creep in if you reread and reevaluate your answer. This can burn valuable test time, so it’s crucial to pick your answer and move on.
Drink water
Similar to eating a nutritious breakfast, it’s important to stay hydrated before and during the test. Up to 48 hours before the exam, make sure that you drink enough water, and if it’s permitted, bring a water bottle into the exam in order to stay hydrated or to help clear your mind. Dehydration will not help anyone while taking a test, so make sure you’ve drunk enough water before the test.
Have a routine
Having a routine for studying and the days leading up to the test is one of the most helpful things that I have done to help improve my test taking. For instance, if you decide to have a hard studying stop at 10:30 each night, and go to bed to make sure you don’t overwork yourself, or if you allow yourself half an hour of relaxing directly after school, before you start your work at 3:30. No matter what your routine is, make sure that it’s consistent and something that works for you–if you’re someone who works well in bright light, working in your bed with the lights off may not work for you.
No matter what class or test you need to prepare for, these five study techniques will be extremely helpful to get your mind and body in the right place before taking the test. Above all else, make sure you breathe and feel confident going into the testing room. Good luck!
