5 Skills Every Student Needs to Master Test-Taking

5 Skills Every Student Needs to Master Test-Taking

It’s a fact of life.

Whether in school or life in general, taking tests will always be a part of being human. From childhood to adulthood, there are different kinds of tests that one has to take. Sometimes it is graded – as in academics – but most often, it is a test of character that measures how people fare in everyday living.

Hitting the books

As a student, you’d wish that tests would just go away. However, these examinations are needed not only to test your comprehension of the things you study but also to see if there are areas that you need to improve on.

Some students may think that tests exist as a form of torture, but exaggeration aside, tests help to gauge your aptitude in the subjects you take in school or guide you towards the appropriate course to take in college.

You need to see the value in taking tests so you do not have to cower in fear every time you hear the word. If you have listened in class, took notes of each lesson that was discussed, and made the effort to study, then there is nothing to fear.

To make life much easier for you, here are some simple tips on how to be a master test-taker:

1. Prepare well

You need to prepare ahead in order to be ready for the looming examinations.

  • Attend every class. Do not miss out on lessons as much as possible.
  • Review your lessons every day. Do not wait for test announcements for a reason to study.
  • Have a study schedule. Study with purpose in a place free from distractions. Aim to study in one-hour blocks but take 15 to 20-minute brain breaks.

If you have good study habits such as the ones mentioned above, the pre-exam study session will then be a simple review of the materials you have already studied.

2. Create effective review tools

Arm yourself with good study tools; develop a strategy.

Be a good note-taker in class. Writing down your notes will make you remember lessons better. You can also record the class on your voice recorder.

Make use of index cards to help you focus on specific details. An excellent memorization tool, it is also convenient to bring with you around as a reviewer instead of lugging your notes and books.

You can also create a mind map where you put the main topic in the middle and the supporting topics branching off from it to have a clear picture of the lesson. Another option is to outline the chapter as you read it.

3. Familiarize yourself with test questions

If you go to a learning center for after-school study sessions, you can also ask your instructor on what to expect especially for standardized tests.

Ask questions like the following:

  • What are the usual types of test questions?
  • Is it typically objective (e.g. multiple choice, fill in the blanks, or true or false) or will it be essay-type?
  • What areas should you concentrate on?

Instructors have gone through the exams themselves and have seen what are usually covered in these tests so they can give you pointers.

4. Predict test questions

While studying, you should also try to predict the questions that will pop up during the exam. You can get clues on what these questions are based on the following:

  • Specific points that the teacher emphasized during the lecture or had written on the board.
  • Questions that were raised by your classmates (or yourself) in class.
  • Questions that were asked by the teacher during recitations or pop quizzes.
  • Questions from handouts or homework.

5. Take simulated tests

Make a sample questionnaire on the topics you have covered and simulate taking an exam. You can also check online if there are sample tests that you can download. Practice every day so you will get used to answering the questions that are relevant to the material you have reviewed.

Time yourself and check your answers by going through your notes and reference materials. This is also a good way to reinforce what you have previously studied.

Accept a helping hand

If you really want to get an edge and ensure that you get high marks on crucial exams like the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), it would help if you can enroll in a premier learning center. You can benefit from the experience and expertise of directors and academicians hailing from top-notch institutes around the globe.

A premier learning center can help you prepare for standardized tests like the American College Test (ACT), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and GMAT test preparations. With a bespoke study plan that gives you individualized attention and pinpoints areas where you need immediate focus, the highly-qualified team of instructors at a premier learning academy can raise your chances of acing the exam you’re taking.

Learn from the masters and grab the helping hands they extend to pull you up from your exam anxieties. With their help and your hard work, you will surely enjoy the view from the top.

AUTHOR BIO

Maloy Burman is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Premier Genie FZ LLC. He is responsible for driving Premier Genie into a leadership position in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education space in Asia, Middle East and Africa and building a solid brand value. Premier Genie is currently running 5 centers in Dubai and 5 centers in India with a goal to multiply that over the next 5 years.