• Develop a study plan which allows plenty of time for reviewing all material.
• Organize material so that the most important material will be given the greatest amount of time.
• If you have any questions, check with either the instructor or an associate instructor. Their job is to help you learn.
• Keep a steady rather than a crash pace. Rushing, either while studying or while taking a test, will work against you.
• Study with another person or with a small group but rule out doing so with people who raise your anxiety level and/or aren't serious about working.
• Take a 10 minute break approximately once an hour. Move away from the physical location where you are studying.
• Adopt a "sportsman's attitude" - "win if you can, lose if you must, but do the best you can."
• Plan a reward for yourself after the test no matter how well you feel you did.
• Eat right. Get enough sleep. Build in time for relaxation.

The Day before the Test

• Review major concepts. Attempting to crash learn new material may interfere with your recall of material you have already learned.
• If you feel tense or anxious, take some time for physical exercise. Swimming or jogging may be the most useful way to "burn off" some excess energy.
• If you completed your study plan, go to a movie or watch some "light" television. This form of mental relaxation will not interfere with your performance.
• Get a good night's sleep. The better rested you are, the more likely you will be to perform at your maximum.
• Again, remind yourself of a "sportsman's attitude" - "win if you can, lose if you must, but do the best you can."
• Avoid any friends who you know from the past to be "anxiety generators."

The Day on the Test

• Engage in relaxed "non-thinking" activity the hour before the exam.
• Get to the test on time.
• When the exam is distributed, take time to read the directions twice.

Hints for Particular Types of Test Questions

• On multiple choice items, read all options first. Eliminate the obviously wrong alternatives first. Choose the "better" or "best" of the remaining alternatives.
• On short answer and essay tests, do exactly what is asked. " overkill " is usually a waste of time and annoying to the person who grades the paper.
• On long essay questions, begin with an outline of your answer. Make sure all the important points in your outline are included in your response.
• On "True-False" items, check for tricky words such as "only," "always," "most," etc.

After Test

• Don't hash over what you might have done or mistakes you might have made.
• Follow through on the reward you have promised yourself.
• Regardless of what grade you received, review the test carefully.
• If you don't understand your grade or the grader's comments, make an appointment to discuss them.
• Evaluate your study program. Consider ways you might want to alter it for the future.