Top 10 Test Taking Tips
By:Jennifer Berry
Test Taking day is the most dreaded day of school. It is the moment in which your skills and knowledge are assessed against other classmates. Testing may not be ideal, but it is essential when gauging material comprehension. Some students excel during testing situations. Other students, however, become nervous and frazzled. This causes them to perform poorly. To minimize anxiety and maximize performance, there are 10 basic test taking tips one should follow.
Read Instructions
The first thing all students should do before beginning a test is read the directions. Tests may seem self explanatory. Failure to read the instructions, however, could force students to miss important directions that could cost several points.
Process of Elimination
During matching and multiple choice test worksheets, it is important to understand the process of elimination. Slowly weeding out the answers known to be incorrect is the best way to come to the correct conclusions. It minimizes the risk of testing error.
Answer Review
Every student should review questions and answers after he/she has completed the test. Instructions should be reviewed as well. The worst thing you could do on a test is lose points for carelessness.
Eat Breakfast
If you don't already eat breakfast everyday, make sure you have a full meal on test day. If the test is in the afternoon, make sure you have a balanced lunch as well. Eating does two things for your brain. First, it keeps your mind functioning at peak levels during your test. Second, your mind is allowed to concentrate on the task at hand, rather than your growling belly.
Pre-Test Stretch
Many tests take up an entire class period. This means you will be unable to stand up and stretch for an hour or more. Immediately before the test, stand up and stretch your body. This will get the blood pumping, which will increase performance.
Skip Hard Questions
When working through an exam, many strategies can be implemented. The one that is most effective, however, is skipping difficult questions. As you work through your worksheet, skip over the questions that you know will take longer to answer. After you have answered the easy questions, you can go back and work through the more difficult ones.
Read Questions Twice
One of the most important aspects of test taking is question comprehension. You must know what each question is asking before you can answer correctly. Be sure you read each question twice before making your selection. Failing to do so could result in a missed word that changes the whole meaning of the question.
Sit in Same Spot
Experts have found that testing memory is jogged by familiar surroundings and objects. You will perform better on an exam if you are seated in the same spot as you were when you learned the material. If this is not possible, try sitting in the general vicinity.
Arrive Early
You never want to feel rushed during a test. For this reason, make sure you arrive early to class. This allows your mind to focus on the task at hand.
Relaxation
Difficult tests and hard questions raise stress and anxiety levels. Some students don't perform well under pressure. If you feel you are becoming stressed during your test, practice relaxation techniques. Slowly put down your pencil, close your eyes momentarily, and take a couple deep breaths.
Not all students thrive in a testing environment. Whether you are a phenomenal test taker, or one which can use some help, these 10 tips will help increase your testing performance.
Kindergarten through Grade Six Teacher Printable worksheets are available at the author's main web site Worksheet Library. Jennifer Berry is a veteran elementary teacher. Jennifer has taught at every elementary grade level in a career spanning more than 20 years. Jennifer devotes here outside of the classroom time to her thriving elementary teacher web site. You will find printable worksheets that can be sorted by grade level, subject, and National Teaching Standard.