Eight Test-Taking Tips to Share with Students

1. Work on getting “in the zone.” There will always be distractions, but students must learn how to tune them out. This takes some trial and error, but encourage your students to figure out what works for them. That could include some positive self-talk, a snack before a test to curb hunger and earplugs to tune out any noise.
2. Jot down formulas or key information. As the test begins, it’s a good idea for students to write down any formulas or mnemonic devices they’ve memorized. This way students don’t have to recall the information for every question. They can glance at their notes, which will also help save time.
3. Become skilled at pacing. One of the simplest tips you can share with your students is how to pace themselves. Some test-takers like to scan all questions first. Some like to answer the easiest questions first. Help students identify an approach that keeps them moving. Students should estimate the number of minutes per question (and section) they can spend and do this quick calculation before starting any test.
4. Mark the tough questions. Once students have a time budget in mind, they can keep themselves on track. If they encounter a difficult question, they should circle it and move on, rather than waste time struggling. They can go back to those harder questions if they have any remaining time to try again.
5. Read the directions. Students should always remember that reading directions is a must—on any test or assignment. If time allows, they should read the directions twice to make sure they understand what is being asked. They should also pay attention to whether directions change from section to section.
6. Read questions carefully. Doing so is the best way to eliminate obvious wrong answers and use time efficiently. Teach students to read confusing questions more than once to ensure they understand them. And even though they need to pay attention to their pacing, remind students that reading through questions too quickly can cause them to make mistakes.
7. Practice stress management. Tests can be very stressful for some students. Teach your students simple strategies to calm down and clear their heads, like deep breathing, stretching/standing, and positive visualization techniques.
8. Allow for time at the end to review. It’s always good practice for students to review tests when finished to ensure that no questions were overlooked, and to double-check or complete any problems about which they weren’t certain about.

Remind your students of these tips and strategies for any kind of test—from basic quizzes to standardized test to the SAT or ACT. These test-taking practices will help them improve their test-taking abilities and confidence.

If your students need help with content or test-taking strategies, Huntington can help! We have individualized in-person and online test prep programs that can help build students’ test-taking confidence and develop strategies to increase their test scores. Call 1-800 CAN LEARN today.