Q&A for How to Ace a Test

If you have trouble understanding a problem, ask your teacher to explain it or try asking another classmate.

You should start reviewing and studying material as soon as you find out about the test so you have time to prepare.

If you have a test, you could study really hard to get your grades up. But if that's not the case, make sure to bring in your homework every day because teachers can give you bad grades for not bringing homework. Behave well, as some teachers bring down your grades for misbehaving in class. Do everything you can to get on your teacher's good side and try hard in every class.

To study for a timed test, it's really important to do timed practice questions so you know what it's like to work under pressure. Set a timer for 30 minutes and answer as many practice questions as you can. Keep repeating until you get faster and faster and you can get all the practice questions right in 30 minutes. It will probably feel difficult and stressful at first, but the more you practice, the more confident you'll be during the test.

Start. That is sometimes the thing that gets lost beneath the worry! Clear a space in a quiet area, get all of the relevant notes and books and get to it. Write down more notes, quiz yourself out loud, use flashcards, read more and do a practice test or two. If you've listened in class and done the work to this point, a few days is plenty of time for revision.

Look through your papers, and try not to be anxious. Don't stay up too late studying, because your brain creates memories while you sleep. It's best to study through everything 2 or 3 times, then go to sleep, and let your brain make memories to remember during the test!

Listening to instrumental music (music without words) will be less likely to distract you. Often, listening music with words will distract you, so it's not ideal. Even instrumental music can distract some people, so the best answer is to give it a try, see what works for you, and go with that.

Take some running notes and revise them, find a quiet place to study and start with the toughest chapter first, then finish with the easiest and most unfamiliar chapter last. Take 10 minutes break. Eat fruits and avoid junk foods. Don't let your friends call you more often. Write down your doubts and clear them by doing research from the web or ask to a parent, teacher, sibling or friend. Start studying at least a week before the test.

If you don't remember anything about the topic of the question, leave that one behind and continue the test. In the end, return to that question and try again. If you still don't know how to answer it, respond to it in a logical way. Don't leave the question blank, you can get some points by simply answer the obvious. If you have any documents or images related to that question, use their content in your answer. Normally, in those situations, part of the correct answer (or even the complete answer) is on the documents and/or images.

Make revision cards/ On one side, have the question and on the second side, the answer. Writing revision cards does not only make you remember things whilst you're writing but it also gives you an opportunity to have a self-test, you can hold them up by yourself or ask a friend of family member to test you. They're quick and easy to make and most importantly, they're effective. Another way is to just ask a friend, teacher or family member to just ask you exam related questions.

Tell him or her that you're taking your time because you want a good grade on the test. They will probably understand.

For some people it can be calming and take away the stress, but for some it can be distracting. Try it while studying and see if it affects your performance.

Figure out the main topics of each chapter. Use notes and/or flashcards to study those main points.

You should always choose somebody you are comfortable with, maybe a friend. Always study in a quiet place with no distractions like a library. Take 5-minute breaks to talk but do not talk about the test. Remember to always think positive during the test.

It would be a good idea to study using both. If you have any classwork or past quizzes, it would be an even better idea to include those as well. Unit tests often include information from everything in the unit. This includes textbook information as well as past assignments.

Gather your materials, highlight key facts/concepts, create flashcards and both quiz yourself and have others quiz you. If applicable, reread/skim chapters in your textbook.

Think positive thoughts and say to yourself, "I will pass." If you end up being put into tutoring, just know that it is for the better, because you're probably there for a reason.

You can revise last minute if you make flashcards and you review them in your head or in real life. Have a study guide for test revision, and write all the things that you need to know on your study guide. You could always review your study guide last minute. Another study technique would be acronyms. An example would be, Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge, which is the treble clef musical notes. You can review that acronym in your head any time to remind you of what you have learned.

Make sure you've got all your materials. Review book chapters, if relevant. Go over notes that you have written during class. Memorize key terms and have someone quiz you.

Start studying. If you have eight subjects, make a planner. Make mind maps and flashcards. Just cover the main topics.

Look at the number of marks for each question, then try to split up the time have for your test into equal amounts for each mark. For example if you have an hour for a 60 mark test then try and spend a minute on each mark, this will mean spending 15 minutes on a 15 mark question and only 1 minute on a 1 mark question. (this may vary if some of the lower marked questions are really quick to answer in which case you can spend more time on the higher markers.)

Do your best to work hard and memorize them anyway. It might be boring or annoying to study but if you focus for 30 minutes and memorize your notes, it will pay off. Turn off electronics for a certain amount of time and be productive as possible.

Avoid looking at the person beside you, have a great meal before taking the test, remain calm and take deep breaths, and focus on one question at a time.

You should look for practices and questions about that material, solve as much as you can. Discover what you think is tough for you, then solve practices on it after you study it.

Many schools provide accommodations. Talk to your teacher as soon as possible so they can come up with things that can help you do your best on your exam.

Always talk to your teacher. Sometimes it helps to let a teacher know if he or she is going to fast. You can also ask for tutoring for what you learned that day after school or at lunch. If your school has a study hall period, see if you can talk to your teacher then.

Take slow, deep breaths. Avoid caffeine before a test. It wears off quickly and will make you cranky and foggy once it does. Don't look at the clock. Focus on your paper and don't obsess about the time. Get good sleep and eat a good breakfast before any test.

There isn't really a way to do that other than talking to your teacher and letting them know that you always check your work before you turn it in. Most teachers will just want to remind you though.

Make a checklist to organize your points of study. Go through your notes. Get to understand the subject matter and get a good night's rest. Revise your notes in your mind before going to sleep, as it will be processed better and will be easily memorized.

Go through the questions you know and skip the ones you don't know, to make sure you've got some material that can be marked immediately. Come back to the others later. In the case of a multi-answer question, eliminate the unlikely answers.