Standardized Tests

Tips for Taking Standardized Tests

At some point in your life, you’ll probably have to take a standardized test. If you’re a high-schooler preparing for college, you might take the SAT or The ACT Standardized Test . If you’re applying for grad school, you could take the GRE. And if you’re trying to join the U.S. military, you’ll take the ASVAB.

No matter which standardized test you’re preparing to take, these tips will help you do your best. You’ll need to start working a few weeks (or more) before the test date: that way, you won’t feel as much stress or pressure.

• Find a study guide that’s made specifically for your test. Take the practice test that comes with the guide and evaluate your scores. Spend extra time on your weakest subjects.
  

• Study a little every day. You should try to spend an hour or two with the study guide. This gives your mind time to absorb the material. Relax the day before the test: give your mind a break so that it’ll be refreshed and ready on test day.
  

• Take your study aids with you. If you’re struggling with vocabulary words, make flashcards and keep them in your pocket. You can review while you’re standing in line, riding the bus or waiting for class to begin.
  

• Put together a study group. If you know other people who are preparing for the same test, you can get together for study time. This helps because your friends will be able to explain some of the things you don’t understand – and you can do the same for them.
  

• Register for the test as early as possible. Putting off this crucial step will only add to your stress. The sooner you’ve reserved your spot and paid the testing fees, the sooner you can relax and not worry about it.

• Go to bed early the night before the test. Give your brain as much rest as possible so that it will perform at its best when you’re at the testing center.
  

Remember these test taking tips on exam day.

They’ll help you do your best, maintain your confidence level and remember what you’ve studied over the last few weeks.

• When you wake up on test day, you should eat a light breakfast. If your stomach is growling, you won’t be able to concentrate. If you’re full of heavy food, you’ll be sluggish.
  

• Leave your cell phone, MP3 player and other electronics at home or locked inside your car. Most testing centers don’t let you bring in these things: leaving them outside saves you the hassle of checking them in with the test administrators.
  

• Bring everything that is on the list of required – and suggested – items. If you’re allowed to use a calculator, make sure that it’s compliant. (For some exams, you may have only a four-function model.) Don’t forget a backup pencil – just in case your first one breaks.
  

• Show up early. If something goes wrong (a flat tire, for example), you have a better chance of making it to the testing center on time. Even if the trip does not give you any problems, showing up early is still an advantage. You’ll have time to find the exact location, check in and get a “feel” for the place.
  

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most test administrators will let you ask before you begin. This is the perfect time to ask about anything that isn’t clear. This is a good time to ask questions like, “Will I be penalized for guessing an answer that I don’t know?” and “How much time do I have for each section?”
  

• When the test begins, start by answering the questions that you already know. Make sure that you fill in the correct space on the answer sheet. Putting an answer one space above or below the correct line will throw off the rest of the test.
  

• For the rest of the questions, eliminate the answers that cannot be correct. This often leaves you with just one answer.
  

• What you should do when you eliminate all but two correct answers depends on how the test is scored. If you’re penalized for leaving a question blank, make an educated guess. If you’re penalized for guessing, do your best to figure out which answer is correct. That usually helps you find the right answer: if you’re totally lost, it might be best to leave that answer blank.
  

• Take your time. Read each question carefully. Think about the possible answers. Rushing through the test is a good way to miss questions that you could have correctly answered.
  

• When you finish with each section, go back and review your answers. Sometimes answering a later question on the test triggers something in your brain: you might remember the answer to an earlier question that you could not answer. While you’re reviewing, you should also make sure that all of your answers are on the correct lines.
  

After the test, go out and do something fun to relax. Treat yourself to a milkshake, rent a DVD or spend some time listening to your favorite CD. You’ve earned a small break from the daily routine, so go celebrate your accomplishment.

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