As the end of the school year approaches, most students, especially high school students, face final exams. Regardless of the time of year, these suggestions are helpful to succeed on tests.
- Study Notes, Don’t Cram: Instead of waiting until the last minute to prepare for the exam, review your notes and problems nightly. Doing homework also reinforces the concepts that you are learning. These two steps can increase your chances of scoring well on your exams.
- Breathe: Taking 3-5 slow, deep breaths before putting pen to paper will help settle the nerves so you can focus.
- Relax Your Muscles: Tightening and relaxing the muscles in your hands can help you relax. Simply put your hands in your lap. Tighten your hand into a fist and hold it for 5 seconds before relaxing your hand. Try this 2 or 3 times before beginning the exam.
- Answer the questions you know first: No law says questions must be answered in order. However, completing the questions you know can build confidence in your ability to complete the test. Lastly, review the answers before submitting your test to guarantee you have answered all the questions.