Preparing for a Test
September 8, 2009 by K12Genie Staff
Find a place to study
Some students need to be alone in silence with no distractions while studying. Others may find it more beneficial to study with other students or while listening to music. No matter what type of environment you need to study, make sure to find a comfortable place whether it’s at home, at the library, or even at a park. Just make sure to have everything that you need, and if you do study with others, try to stay focused on preparing for the test.
Stay organized
In order to do your best on a test, it is important not to wait until the last minute to cram. Keep a planner with the dates of all your assignments and tests so that you can schedule your time accordingly. Having a calendar at home with important dates on it can also help because it lets your parents know when you have tests coming up. This is a useful tool because they can remind you that you have to study and can even plan a time to help you prepare.
Make review sheets
Taking good notes and highlighting important information during class will help you in the long-run because you will be able to easily make review sheets and flashcards. It is best to make them ahead of time so that the night before the test you can just study from them without fumbling through your notebook, textbook, worksheets, etc. If you have to study from a textbook, it is a good idea to see if there is a website that goes along with it in order to take advantage of practice quizzes, chapter summaries, and other study aids.
Know the test format
Ask your teacher in advance what the format will be (multiple choice, short answer, essay, etc.). If you know what type of test to expect, it will make it easier to prepare for it. Try making a sample test of your own so that you can take it and see how much information you actually know, as well as what areas you need to spend more time focusing on. Depending on how much time you have to take a test, you may want to develop a strategy based on which type of questions to answer first according to their value and how long they take to answer.
Be prepared
Being ready for a test does not only mean studying. Make sure to get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy breakfast in the morning. Have everything you will need (#2 pencil, calculator, textbook, notes, etc.) and be sure to dress comfortably so that you are not distracted by what you are wearing. If possible, get to the classroom early so that you can relax and study from your review sheets.
Keep your test as a reference
When a test is graded and handed back, many students make the mistake of getting rid of the test and review sheets. Instead, it is a good idea to keep these papers on file because they can be used as a resource later in the semester and are great study tools for midterm and final exams. If the teacher tends to follow the same layout for all exams, old tests can also help you to remember what format and types of questions to expect for next time. Sometimes teachers collect tests after showing you your grade, but it’s most likely to prevent cheating. Speak with them and explain that you would like to look over the test to learn from your mistakes, and they will most likely let you refer back to it.
