With thanks to the Tarrant County College Libraries, here's a link to their "5 Day Test Preparation Plan".
Test preparation begins on the first day of class.
Test anxiety manifests in physical symptoms and in negative thoughts. You can reduce test anxiety by being adequately prepared for the test, reducing negative self-talk, and dealing with the physical reactions.
TIPS FOR MANAGING TEST ANXIETY
A little nervousness when taking a test is normal and can have a positive influence on test taking performance. If anxiety is too high, it can negatively impact one’s performance. What to do? Here are some suggestions:
Do you know the material well enough to explain it to someone? This is recall.
Can you recognize the correct answer when you see it even though you can't pull it up on your own? This is recognition.
Find out what kind of test you will be taking.
Concentrate. Do not talk or distract others.
Listen carefully to the directions. Ask questions if they are not clear.
Pace yourself. Keep your eye on the time, but do not worry too much about not finishing.
Work through all of the questions in order. If you do not think you know an answer to a problem, skip it and come back to it when you have finished the test.
Read all of the possible answers for each question before choosing an answer.
Eliminate any answers that are clearly wrong, and choose from the others. Words like “always” and “never” often signal that an answer is false.
If questions are based on a reading passage, read the questions first and then the passage. Then go back and try to answer the questions. Scan through the passage one last time to make sure the answers are correct.
When you finish the test, go back through and check your answers for careless mistakes. Change answers only if you are sure they are wrong or you have a very strong feeling they are wrong. Often your first response is correct.
Do not be afraid to guess at a question. If you have a hunch you know the answer, you probably do!
Use all of the time allotted to check and recheck your test.
Research Guides by Egan Library | University of Alaska Southeast are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0