BRAVE
To overcome nervousness when taking a test.
Breathe deeply
* Take long, slow deep breaths throughout the test.
* Focus your attention on your breathing to make it steady.
Relax
* When you feel your muscles tightening, try to slowly relax each muscle one at a time. Tell yourself mentally that you are relaxing each muscle. For example relax your leg muscles by telling yourself, "I am now relaxing my leg muscles."
* Start relaxing your muscles from the top of your body and go down. Especially focus on relaxing your neck muscles.
Attitude is everything!
* Maintain a positive attitude throughout the entire test.
* During the test, tell yourself that "I can do it!"
* Put a star next to the answers that you are sure you got right to show that you can do it!
Visualize yourself in your favorite place.
* When you find yourself becoming very anxious, close your eyes for a few seconds and imagine yourself in your favorite place (e.g., at the beach, at the mall, watching television, playing sports.)
End is in sight!
* Even if you feel that the test will last forever, remember that it will be over before you know it and your anxiety will fade!
FLEAS
To help me complete tests on time
First read the directions.
* Read the directions and put them in your own words.
* If you do not understand a certain part of the directions, ask the teacher for help before you begin the test. If this is not possible, try to figure out the meanings of particular words by analyzing the context, or the words around it.
Look over the test and decide how much time you should spend on each test item.
* First, figure out how much time you have to finish the entire test. (example: 30 questions)
* Then divide the total time (60 minutes) by the total number of questions (30 questions): 60/30=2. You have 2 minutes to spend on each test question.
* If you can't figure out how much exact time to spend on each question, just estimate. This will keep you aware of time and move you along so that you don't spend too much time on one question.
Easiest questions should be answered first.
* Answer the items that you feel are easiest for you first and then answer the remaining questions.
Answer questions that are worth more points first.
* It is very important to determine how many points questions are worth and answer the questions that are worth more points first.
Skip a question if you are stumped (just make sure to come back to it later)
* If you find yourself spending a long time answering a particular question, stop and move on to the next question.
* Try to return to the question after you have answered the other questions. However, if you do not get back to that question, chances are you will have answered many other questions instead of spending so much time on one particular question.
RAINS
To help me read directions and questions carefully
Read the entire question and ALL choices before answering.
* Always reread the entire question and all choices.
* You may think the question is asking one thing, but after you read the complete question, it may actually be asking something else.
Analyze the context and figure out words that you do not know.
* Identify unknown words.
* Try to remember where you have seen these words before. Maybe you saw them in your textbooks or in your notes.
* Analyze the context by trying to use the words you do know in the sentences that surrounds the unknown words. By analyzing the surrounding words, you may be able to figure out the unknown word.
Identify the key words in the question and answer choices.
* These words are; often, most, all, some, equal, good, and sometimes.
Notice the negatives
* These words are; no, not, none, never, and the prefix un (unimportant) or in (incomplete) in each question and answer.
* Negatives can completely change the meaning of a question or an answer so watch carefully for these words.
Search for grammatical clues.
* All questions follow the rules of grammar. Narrow your choices by eliminating possible answers that do not produce grammatically correct sentences.
CRAM
To help me with multiple choice tests
Cover the answers
* Use a blank note card or your hand to cover the choices.
Read the question carefully.
* Highlight the important words.
* Put the question in your own words.
* Remember where you saw the answer in your text or notes.
Answer the question without looking at the choices.
Match your answer to one of the given choices.
* Select the choice that matches your answer?
* If no choice matches your answer, try to eliminate some of the choices.
* Look for key words to help you select the best answer.
SQUID
To help me with True/False tests.
Statements that are absolute are usually false.
* Words such as these represent absolutes: all, every, never, and no are usually FALSE.
* Examples: All animals are reptiles: Every person in the Congress is a man.
Qualified statements are usually true.
* Words such as these represent qualifiers: some, most, and sometimes are usually TRUE.
* Examples: Some animals are reptiles. Most of the persons in the Congress are men.
Underline the negatives.
* Words such as these are negatives: not, cannot, do not, no, the prefix in (incomplete) or the prefix un (unimportant) in each statement.
* Examples: Washington D.C. is not the capital of the United States. 365 days is an incomplete year.
If a statement has 2 negatives, cross out both negatives.
* Cross out both of the negatives and read the sentence without them. This will clearly show the meaning.
* Examples: People will buy luxury goods if they have disposable income. People will not have disposable income.
Decide that a statement is TRUE only if EVERYTHING about the statement is true.
* Items on a test often include information that is true, except for a detail, so pay close attention to the complete statement.
* Examples: Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania were all part of the original 13 colonies (true because all 3 were part of the original 13 colonies).
Massachusetts, Virginia, and Montana were all part of the original 13 colonies (not true because Montana was not one of the original 13 colonies)
RULE WE
To help me with essay tests.
Read the question.
* Read all parts of the question. Many essay exams include multiple parts. Be sure to answer all parts.
Underline key words.
* Key words for essay test are: analyze, categorize, classify, compare, contrast, criticize, evaluate, defend, define, discuss, describe, enumerate, evaluate, explain, illustrate, justify, prove, relate, summarize and trace.
* Define the key word to yourself before answering the question.
List or outline the major points.
* Write of the major points you studied related to this question.
Emphasize the details for each of the points.
* Under each of the points, write at least two details.
Write the answer.
* First read over your outline and organize the major points and details.
* Write an introduction to the major points.
* Check off each of the major points and details as you include them in your answer.
* Write complete sentences for each of your major points and details.
* Write an ending that summarizes or wraps up the ideas from your outline.
Evaluate your answer.
* Re-read the question and then read your answer to make sure that your answer matches the question.
* Add information to clarify points that were not adequately explained.
* Correct any grammatical or spelling errors.
SPORT
To help me remember what I studied when I take a test.
Say to yourself, "Where did I see this information when I was studying?"
* When you find yourself forgetting important information, think back to when you were studying.
* Try to think of where the information was located in a certain book or on a certain page of the book or your lecture notes or your note cards.
Picture in your head what you read or wrote that might help.
* Close your eyes and picture yourself just as you studied for the test.
* Try to visualize the information just as you saw it in your book or your notes when you were studying. Try to remember what you said aloud when you studied.
Organize in your mind all of the study aids that you used.
* Study aids include memory strategies such as mnemonics and any other strategies used to memorize important information.
* Think about any note cards that you made.
* Think about any key words and pictures that you created.
Remember to "dump" all the information as you recall it.
* As you take the test, write everything you studied. Write this in the margins or on the back of the test.
Tell yourself that you need to go back and look at the "dumped" information.
* As you answer the questions, go back and look at everything you wrote in the margins or on the back of the test.
* As you look at each thing in the margin, ask if you included it in your answer and if not, do you want to include it.