<p>I’m a Junior right now and so far, I guess, I’ve done decent on test, but not great. Mostly B-. I’m so annoyed though. Tests usually count 60-85 Percent for most of my advanced classes and usually my GPA reflects that (3.3 UW/B average). I want to pull up my GPA by doing well on test so I was wondering if you guys had any advice. I think my biggest problem is time management (I usually run out of time on most of my tests). I don’t believe that I’m not smart enough to handle the material, its just that I don’t like being put on the spot in a time crunch. I also want to do well with upcoming standardized tests (like AP Exams, PSAT, SAT, ACT). So anyways, any help would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Here are several tips I have:</p>
<p>1) Never cram for a test. Cramming is useless. Each day, review a small portion of what the overall test will be. It accumulates, and by the time you need to take the test, you’ll easily remember these things because you’ve routinely reviewed them and can recall from memory. By constantly reviewing them each day and little by little rather than a huge chunk at a time, it stays in your head longer. Studies show that you need at least 24 hours for something to be ingrained into your memory. Hence, don’t cram.</p>
<p>2) Drink plenty of water. Water helps your brain work. </p>
<p>3) Use a watch. Set checkpoints for parts of your test, but don’t take too long doing this, or it’ll just be counterproductive. Check your watch at the checkpoints, and it’ll give you a gauge for how you’re doing. If you’re behind, speed it up a notch. If you’re ahead, keep up the pace.</p>
<p>4) If this is possible, like for writing essays or such, then do it: Limit yourself. Limit the time that you have. Now, this may sound counterproductive, as your original problem is that you are rushing to finish. But as you get used to limited time slots, you’ll learn to not only use your time more efficiently, but work your brain more efficiently in the shorter amount of time. This is what we did for AP English. We reduced the amount of time we had to write essays with by around 10 minutes or so. Of course, we failed miserably during the first 2 tests or so. But eventually we got used to it as we learned how to write more effectively, and soon the 10 minute penalty was an ok thing for almost all of us. Come the AP test, about 90% of people finished with more than 10 minutes to spare, simply because we managed our time more effectively and were used to less time. So that’s always an option for things like AP, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and perhaps some of your class tests.</p>
<p>5) Spend less time on the harder problems and more time on the easier ones. For tests that use multiple choice, obviously some questions are going to be harder than others, and yet they have the same point value. If a question stumbles you for more than, say, 20-30 seconds or so (estimate), then move on and spend your time on the easier ones. Then, when you have time left, come back and tackle the harder ones. Trying to figure out the harder ones before you solve the easier ones is detrimental to your score. It wastes time and you’ll find yourself rushing when solving the easier ones.</p>
<p>6) Actively take the test. This means underlining key points, carefully paying attention to little details, and constantly crossing out choices that you know are wrong and can’t be the answer. This way, you spend less time looking at the clutter, or the choices that can’t work, and more time observing the possibly correct ones. Think of the test as a fluffy sheep, and yourself as a hunter. What do you want more, the wool or the meat? Chances are, you want the meat. By crossing out choices - active test taking - you take away all the fluff. </p>
<p>Can’t think of much else. Hope this helped!</p>
<p>Thank you so much, HeWhoPwnz. It really did help. :)</p>