Test Taking Tips

Test Taking Tips
Physical Readiness
• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Eat a nourishing breakfast.
• Wear comfortable clothing, and dress for the temperature of the room you will be
taking the test in.
• Do not take tranquilizers or stimulants.
• If you are supposed to wear glasses, wear them. This is no time for vanity.
• If required,take your admission ticket and picture identification with you.
Reduce Anxiety
• Be on time.
• Don’t rush through the test, but don’t dally either.
• Don’t worry about the whole test at once—tackle questions one at a time.
• Don’t "score" yourself as you take the test.
• Don’t look for letter patterns of correct answers.
• Don’t panic if you have a memory lapse or mental block. This is a normal
occurrence. Go on to the next item and come back to the trouble spot later.
• Don’t expect to know the answer to every question. Expect some items to be too
hard. Just do your best.
• Avoid unnecessary clock-watching, but do be aware of the time.
• Ignore other test takers.
• Don’t sit near your friends.
• Think positively.
• Don’t give up!
Follow Directions
• Read all directions carefully.
• Do the sample questions even though you think you understand.
• If you don’t completely understand what to do, don’t hesitate to ask for
clarification.
• Sometimes you will need to reread the directions or the questions to be sure you
are answering what is being asked.
• Don’t assume that all the questions in the same section follow the same pattern.
One question may ask for a true statement, the next may ask which statement is
not true.
• Don’t guess wildly on a question. Try to eliminate one or two choices to a
question. If you guess, make an "educated guess."
• Make sure that your answers are on the answer document.
Test Tips
• For reading comprehension, read the questions first, then read the paragraph.
• Understand that reading to answer specific questions is a different task than

eading for content mastery.
• Answer the easiest questions first.
• Skip over the more difficult items and come back to them later. List these
numbers on scratch paper and be sure to skip that row on your answer sheet.
Test Preparation Tips
When a test is to be given,you can help by making sure your child…
• Gets plenty of sleep the night before the test
• Has breakfast on the morning of the test;
• Goes to school on the day of the test; and
• Knows you think he/she will do well on the test
.
Other things you can do to help your child learn at home:
In general:
• Be interested. Ask what happened today at school.
• Ask to see your child’s school papers.
• Talk with and listen to your child. Ask each other questions and share
experiences.
• Visit stores, museums, festivals, etc., with your child and discuss what your child
learned.
• Go to parent-teacher conferences.
• Let your child know that education is a priority.
• Get to know your child’s teacher.
• Encourage your child to ask the teacher questions.
Homework:
• When your child has homework to do, make sure it gets done.
• Plan a time and a place in your home for your child to study.
• Have your child sit at a table or desk with good light when he/she studies, not in
front of the television.
• If your child never brings work home, find out why. High school courses require
study.
Books:
• Encourage your child to bring books home from school to read.
• Take your child to the public library.

• Ask your child to read aloud to you.
Television:
• Know how long your child watches television. Don’t be afraid to limit the number
of hours watched.
• Know what your child watches on television. Discuss the programs together.
(What was the show about? What are the characters’ names? What happened
first? How did the show end? What might have happened instead? Could it
happen in real life? etc.)
• Make dinner time a time to talk by not watching television.
Computer:
• Investigate programs to encourage interests and aid in learning.
• Use the Internet as a research tool for completing assignments.