Active test preparation is important to help not only raise your grades but also raise your confidence and help you not panic or worry when test day arrives.  As the test date approaches, use this timeline to help you make sure you are using your time wisely and have put in the effort needed to succeed.

A WEEK BEFORE THE TEST

Determine the content and format of the exam.

1. What chapters/information are being covered by the exam?
2. What is the format (T/F, Multiple Choice, Essay, etc.)?
3. What percentage of the total grade involves essay questions?
4. Find out about grading:  does spelling count?
5. Specific information you need to know (dates, names, etc.)

Make a study schedule considering “how much time to study” at the end of this guide.

Begin gathering all materials (notes, articles, handouts, quizzes, etc)

Finish all assignments not yet completed as these will help you study.

Read over all of your notes, and be sure that you have caught up on any reading assignments you have missed. Take this opportunity to get notes from someone else in class for any class meeting you missed—perhaps they were absent when you were there, and so you can have a notes swap.

Complete questions on the study guide or review sheet as soon as you receive it.  This way you can take advantage of any time available to discuss your answers with others. If a review sheet is not given, make up your own review sheet or work with other students to split up the responsibility to make up a review sheet.

Answer sample essay questions (if provided) or make up your own and answer them using the guidelines outlined in the test taking section of this handout.

Use all of the above to make study notes instead of flash-cards: use law-ruled paper or fold regular notebook paper in half.  Write questions on the left and answers on the right.  These are easier to carry with you.

If the test is “open-book” and/or “open-note” create an outline of the information covered. In the outline, summarize the key concepts and issues discussed for each topic, and note what pages of the book, supplemental readings,  and dates of notes you might want to turn to if a question related to that topic appears.  Using Post-It flags, perhaps even color-coded ones, flag key pages of the text and of your notes so that you can find them quickly if you need to do so during the exam.

TWO TO THREE DAYS BEFORE THE TEST

At School:

1. Take notes on the in-class or small group review.
2. Consider going to your teacher’s tutorial or office hours to review any material you feel unsure of, particularly material you may have missed in class.
3. Take ALL materials home so you can study

At Home

1. Set aside enough time to study (see below)
2. Study the review sheets, any handouts, and notes
   • Read over information
   • Rewrite information
   • Make up your own test questions and answer them
   • Have someone call out questions to you

THE DAY BEFORE THE TEST

Come to the last class meeting before the exam with any remaining questions you have.

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE TEST

1. Set aside enough time to study (see below)
2. Review your notes for the last time right before you go to bed
3. Get plenty of sleep

THE DAY OF THE TEST

1. Eat a protein breakfast
2. Psyche yourself up
3. Make sure you pack all supplies you need
4. Wear a watch
5. Arrive on time (or even early)
6. Sit away from friends (to resist cheating, talking and avoid distractions)
7. Control your tenseness
   • Breathe
   • Stretch
8. Use active test taking strategies
9. Think about the reward (a good grade!)

*How Much Time to Study?

How much time you should study depends on three factors:

1. Your current grade in the class.
2. The grade you want to get in the class.
3. The test itself (length, time allowed for the test, amount of material covered)

For chapter tests, you should spend enough time to go through your notes from the book, notes from class, quizzes, and homework.  If you have an A in the class and the test covers one chapter, you should plan to spend at least two hours studying.  For each letter grade below this, add 30 minutes.

For comprehensive tests, use this chart as a guide for the amount of time to spend studying:

Need help applying these concepts?  Call 817.421.8780 to learn about Student Success!

© 2009, flexiture, monte w. davenport, ph.d