Are You Ready?

We all know its coming. We avoid it like the plague, but soon the day will come. Two words with a combined 9-letters we dread seeing on the calendar. FINAL EXAM. Worrying about it and procrastinating are not the answers. You've worked hard so far this year. Now it all comes down to one test. Before you get flustered, think about how you have constantly persevered in your life. As a baby, you've learned to walk and/ or speak. As a child, you've made the sports team and/ or band. As a teenager, you’ve made friends. As a young adult, you’ve graduated high school. You are just taking another step in the success story that is YOU. Joining TKE was a great next step, but now you must put all these applications into studying for the big test. This is it - let's ace it! 

1. Have a Positive Attitude
   Approach the big test as you'd approach a potential new member. It might be tough, but he could be the next President of the United States, titan of industry or your new best friend. You can do it! A positive attitude goes a long way toward success.
    
2. Make a Plan
   The week before the test, ask your teacher what the test is going to cover. Ideally, you will get a study guide, but if not this information is vital. Ask him or her, is it from the textbook only? Class notes? Can you use your calculator? Make a list of the most important topics to be covered and use that as a guide when you study. Circle items that you know will require extra time. Be sure to plan extra time to study the most challenging topics.
    
3. The Night Before
   Cramming doesn't work. If you've followed a study plan, the night before the test you should do a quick review and get to bed early. Remember, your brain and body need sleep to function well, so don't stay up late.
    
4. The Morning of the Test
   Did you know that you think better when you have a full stomach? So don't skip breakfast the morning of the test. Get to school early and do a ten-minute power study right before the test, so your brain is turned on and tuned up.
    
5. Test Time
   Before the test begins, make sure you have everything you'll need - scratch paper, extra pencils, your calculator (if you're allowed to use it). Understand how the test is scored: Do you lose points for incorrect answers? Or is it better to make guesses when you're not sure of the answer? Read the instructions. You want to make sure you are marking answers correctly.
    
6. Manage Your Time
   Scan through the test quickly before starting. Answering the easy questions first can be a time saver and a confidence builder. Plus, it saves more time in the end for you to focus on the hard stuff.
    
7. I'm Stuck!
   Those tricky problems can knock you off balance. Don't get worried or frustrated. Re-read the question to make sure you understand it, and then try to solve it the best way you know how. If you're still stuck, circle it and move on. You can come back to it later. What if you have no idea about the answer? Review your options and make the best guess you can, but only if you don't lose points for wrong answers.
    
8. Multiple-Choice Questions
   The process of elimination can help you choose the correct answer in a multiple-choice question. Start by crossing off the answers that couldn't be right. Then spend your time focusing on the possible correct choices before selecting your answer.
    
9. Neatness Counts
   If your 4s look like 9s, it could be a problem. Be sure that your writing is legible and that you erase your mistakes. For machine-scored tests, fill in the spaces carefully.
    
10. I'm Done!
    Not so fast - when you complete the last item on the test, remember that you're not done yet. First, check the clock and go back to review your answers, making sure that you didn't make any careless mistakes (such as putting the right answer in the wrong place or skipping a question). Spend the last remaining minutes going over the hardest problems before you turn in your test.

For more tips, take a look at what TKE has online. If you need additional assistance, head to your student services building on campus. Follow these test tips, and you'll know you did your best.

Be sure to follow the latest TKE News with the RSS Feed, on Twitter or the official TKE Facebook Fan Page (Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity). Submit your news today.   

 Share  

 Tweet