It’s exam day. You’ve studied so much, you’re practically
dreaming algebra and Shakespeare. Read on for the five steps you need to take
to do your best on The Big One.
Step 1: Stop freaking
out
Deep breath. Repeat after me: You can do this. You can do this. And you’re gonna do this.
OK, exhale. Use whatever de-stress skills you have in your arsenal—rubber band
on your wrist, deep breathing, meditation—to stay calm. Focus on the material
you’re being tested on instead of your grade.
Step 2: Write your
name at the top. Yes, really.
Stupidest reason for doing poorly on a test? Turning in a
paper without a name. Yes, it’s happened to us. And don’t say it won’t happen
to you. Just write your name on that paper.
Step 3: Do a
once-over
Take the first 60 seconds—and just the first 60 seconds,
time yourself—to glance through your test. Note the types of questions and the
content. Consider which areas you can breeze through and which will take you
the longest. Flip over every sheet of
paper to make sure you aren’t missing anything.
Step 4: Make a plan
After your once-over, it’s time to figure out your plan of
attack. Some folks like to start with the hardest sections first, while others
warm up by breezing through the easier sections. Take whichever route is best
for you and create a timeline. Decide, based on the total time left in the
testing period, how many minutes you want to spend answering a particular group
of questions. Check the clock periodically and move on if you need to.
Remember, you can always come back.
Step 5: Follow
through
Pick up your pencil and get to it, girl! Make sure you read
the directions completely, and understand what they are asking for. If you’re
not sure, ask your teacher for clarification.
On multiple choice-type Qs, read through the question and
see if you can come up with an answer yourself before looking at the choices.
Then, go with your gut—chances are it’s right. Stuck? Skip it and come back
later, or use your ace deductive reasoning skills to eliminate unlikely
choices.
For short answer and essay questions, take a minute to
brainstorm a complete answer that addresses the entire question. Use scrap
paper to scribble down a quick outline if you need to.
If you have absolutely no idea, save that Q for last and see
what you can puzzle out from the rest of the test. Other questions and answers
might give ya a hint as to what exactly the tricky question is asking for. You
might not get it all right, but you should at least get partial credit. Better
than nothing, right?
Last of all, leave yourself a few minutes at the end of the
period to check your work. Make sure you answered every single
question—remember, guessing in most cases than leaving it blank. Make sure your
writing is tidy and you didn’t make any careless math or grammar mistakes. Then
turn it in and forget about it, babe. You did the best you could—and that’s
just great.
BY BRITTANY TAYLOR ON 5/23/2012 8:09:00 PM
POSTED IN studying secrets, ace final exams, smart girl secrets