Test Taking Strategies

1. Get a good night's sleep prior to the big day. A well-rested person is calm, confident, and ready.
2. Dress comfortably.
3. Be prepared well before you intend to start the exam and take a moment to relax and reduce your anxiety.
4. Pay careful attention to the instructions.
5. Read the questions carefully.
6. Be very careful and make sure you're on the right number.
7. Please mark your answers carefully.
8. Be careful not to transpose numbers when selecting your answer.
9. When appropriate, always try to guess what the answer is BEFORE you look at the choices.
10. Read and consider all of the answer choices before you choose the one that best answers the question.
11. If you are unsure of an answer, eliminate what it CAN'T be. Eliminate two alternatives quickly and then make the decision between the remaining options.
12. Keep a steady pace and do not let more difficult questions affect your attitude or disrupt your pace.
13. Answer every question. There is no penalty for guessing, so it is to your advantage to answer every question during the time allowed for each section of the test.
14. You are not penalized for wrong answers.
15. Change answers only when you are certain. The answer which comes to mind first is often correct. Reviewing with an anxious mind and changing answers when you are not certain can do more harm than good.
16. When you have completed your test, try to remain calm despite how you might feel about your performance.