Begin studying for your first test on the very first day of class--there's no substitute for having the information, and the longer you work with it, the more you'll retain.
Know exactly what's covered on the test--if your instructor hasn't made it clear, ASK!
Don't try to cram the night before a test--research shows that little of the "crammed" information is really retained the next day. (Thorough review is a lot better!)
Look over every part of the test as soon as you receive it--you'll be able to proceed systematically and budget your time if you know where the harder parts are.
Read the directions for each section carefully--if you know exactly what you're supposed to do, you'll be able to accomplish it faster.
Do the easiest, "sure-thing" questions first--they'll help boost your confidence!
Attack the hardest parts next--you can return to them later if you start to get bogged down.
Complete the rest of the test before starting a second run-through--it's easy to forget something when you're under time pressure.
Put down an answer for everything--in some cases you'll receive credit for being on the right track.
Read questions and fill-ins carefully--they usually contain essential and helpful clues.
Write helpful notes in the margins, like equations, rules, diagrams, etc. , particularly if you've worked hard to memorize them--it reduces the load on your memory.
Do calculations or analysis mechanically, reciting the steps to yourself as you go--you'll often catch simple errors right away.
Show your work where it's appropriate--sometimes the steps leading to an answer are just as important as the final result.
If in doubt, go with your first impression--you can change it later upon more reflection.
With multiple-choice questions, eliminate obviously wrong options right way and choose among the remaining ones--your odds are better!
Use the test itself as a source of hints--information in one section can help you in another.
Check each section of the test after you've completely finished--often you'll catch simple mistakes or better answers will occur to you after you've seen the whole test.
Relax--it's only a test! (You'll actually do better if you're not worrying about the outcome... )
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