Wondering how you can be a better test taker?
Tests of any subject can be difficult to prepare for and take, but did you know there are ways to do better on them that don’t just involve studying harder? Learning how to be a better test taker goes deeper than looking over your flashcard set an extra time; it actually has much more to do with how you prepare your mind and body in the time before the test.
So, wondering what you should be doing in the time before the test to ensure your best results? Check out this blog!
The Week Before the Test
• Get eight hours of sleep each night:
Remember, sleep makes you smart. Studies have shown strong links between inadequate sleep and many aspects of test-taking, including attention span, emotional intelligence, attention to detail, and oral recall.
• Eat lots of complex carbohydrates and healthy protein:
Bread, pasta, and other complex carbs give you the energy you will need for the five-hour marathon ahead of you.
• Visualize carefully the test you are about to take:
Top performers (including athletes, actors, and dancers) often use visualization to create a mental image of success. In your mind, create a detailed picture of the test—from section to section. Visualize yourself achieving your targets in each part of the test. As you do this, try to anticipate potential distractions (stress, a loud classmate, an overly watchful proctor, etc.) and then visualize yourself proceeding calmly and confidently through all such distractions.
The Night Before the Test
• No studying past 9:00 PM:
Last-minute cramming leads to last-minute jitters, and it can keep your brain whirring long past the time you stop studying—which will keep you from falling asleep. Read a book for school, go for a run, or watch a movie. Do something fun that doesn’t keep you up late. The idea is to be completely relaxed on test day.
• Lay out your pencils, appropriate calculator, ID, Admission ticket, watch (with no beeps!), and snack.
Check the batteries on your calculator. Granola bars and PB&J sandwiches are good snacks. Starbucks bottled beverages can give some people a nice mid-test boost.
• Go to bed!
If you can’t fall asleep, don’t worry. Just lying in bed can be very restful. Read a boring book, if you like. That might help put you to sleep.
Test Day
• Wake up early:
Studies show that it takes the average person about three hours (after waking up) to function at peak capacity. The ACT begins around 8:00 in the morning, so try to wake up at least two or 2.5 hours before the test.
• Get some aerobic exercise:
Because of the length of the test (including filling out forms and breaks, the ACT can last up to 4.5–5 hours), you can feel quite exhausted toward the end. Aerobic exercise oxygenates your blood and can help you focus for longer amounts of time.
• Get a big, healthy breakfast with some protein:
Try not to eat heavy foods that can be difficult to digest. Eggs and toast, cereal, bagels with cheese, and such foods generally work well. Remember, standardized testing is a stressful, draining process.
• Dress in Layers.:
Test centers can be very warm (the A/C is not working) or very cool (the A/C is cranked up!). If you wear several layers, you can adjust your clothing according to the room’s temperature.
• Breathe:
Deep breathing is a great relaxation technique and helps with blood circulation. During the test, remember to stretch and breathe deeply often.
• Fifteen minutes of Reading or Math in the morning:
Often, students find that they are not completely awake for the first section of the test. Reading a passage on the morning of the test can help wake you up.
• Test-day checklist:
Snacks, Pencils, Photo ID, Watch (no beeps), Admission ticket, Appropriate Calculator (e.g., a TI–84).
