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Know the what the test covers.
Be sure you know just what material
will be covered on the test. Ask the teacher to be specific about this.
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Ask your teacher.
Ask the teacher how he or she would
prepare for the test if they had to take their own test. Listen carefully
to the answer to this question!
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Study old and practice tests.
For exams, study previous tests. For ACT-type tests, there are books and
computer software available that allows you to take practice tests. You
may not have the same questions or problems on your test, but you will
be aware of how the questions are formulated. Try to talk to someone who
has taken this course from your instructor before. Get to know what type
of
questions are asked.
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Attend review sessions if available.
Try setting up study sessions with your friends.
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Start your preparation early!
You should actually start the first day of class. Keep up so you are not
faced with a mountain of material to consider for the first time during
the evening before the test.
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Get a good night's sleep. Those
"all-nighters" that everybody talks about are seldom helpful for classes
like physics where a lot of reasoning ability is required.
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Get up early. Get up at least
two hours before test time. Have a good breakfast. Take a long shower.
Be fully alert and at your best as the test begins.
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Do the easy ones first! As you
take the test, if a problem seems difficult ... mark it and skip to the
next one. When you've done the easier ones, you can go back and do the
questions or problems in increasing order of difficulty.
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Keep your eyes on your own paper.
Don't
give the instructor any reason to think you are copying. If you think that
they think you are cheating, this may be unnerving. Also, you may become
distracted. Stay focused. Tend to business. This is serious.
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Pace yourself! Try to complete
the entire test with at least 4 or 5 minutes to spare. Then look back over
the whole test. If you use a "scan-tron" like answer sheet, be sure to
check all your markings! If you leave out an answer this may cause you
to "get the wrong answer" to many questions that you knew cold.
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Stay calm. If you find yourself
becoming nervous or anxious, lean back, close your eyes and take a deep
breath. Hold it for a few seconds and then get back to work. Remember,
you are well prepared for the test. There is no reason to become anxious.
Give the test your best effort so there will be future occasion to look
back on this experience with regret.
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