A student’s life is full of exams and tests. And of course, you will get a little nervous about it. Here are a few test-taking tips that might help you.

Positive attitude

Approach the big test as you’d approach a giant jigsaw puzzle. It might be tough, but you can do it! A positive attitude goes a long way toward success.

Make a plan

The week before the test, ask your teacher what the test is going to cover. Is it from the textbook only? Class notes? If you’ve been absent, talk to friends about material you may have missed. Make a list of the most important topics to be covered and use that as a guide when you study.

The night before

If you’ve followed a study plan, the night before the test you should do a quick review and get to bed early. Your brain and body need sleep to function well.

Morning of the test

Did you know that you think better when you have a full stomach? So don’t skip breakfast. Get to school early and do a 10-minute power study right before the test.

Test time

Make sure you have everything you need. Understand how the test is scored: Do you lose points for incorrect answers? Or is it better to make guesses? Read the instructions!

Manage your time

Scan through the test quickly before starting. Answering easy questions fir-st can be a time saver and a confidence builder. It saves more time in the end for you to focus on hard stuff.

Don’t get stuck

Those tricky problems can knock you off balance. Don’t worry. Reread to make sure you understand it, and try to solve it. If you’re still stuck, move on.

Multiple-choice

The process of elimination can help you choose the correct answer in a multiple-choice question. Start by crossing off answers that can’t be right.

Neatness counts

If your 4s look like 9s, it could be a problem. Be sure that your writing is legible and that you erase your mistakes.

Revise

When you complete the last item on the test, remember you’re not done yet. First, check the clock and review your answers, making sure you didn’t make any careless mistakes (such as putting the right answer in the wrong place). Spend the last remaining minutes going over the hardest problems.