Blog #10 Test Preparation

1. 10 ways to reduce test anxiety:

1. Being well prepared for the test is the best way to reduce test anxiety.
2. Space out your studying over a few days and continually review class material.
3. Try to maintain a positive attitude while preparing for the test and during the test.
4. Exercising for a few days before the test will help reduce stress.
5. Get a good night's sleep before the test.
6. Show up to class early so you won't have to worry about being late.
7. Stay relaxed, if you begin to get nervous take a few deep breaths slowly to relax yourself.
8. Read the directions slowly and carefully.
9. Skim through the test so that you have a good idea how to pace yourself.
10. Don't worry about how fast other people finish their test, concentrate of your own test.

2. 10 great ways to prepare for a college exam:
1. Start studying early.
2. Organize
3. Outline
4. Make Flashcards
5. Get help if stuck
6. Good nights sleep
7. Stay calm and relaxed
8. Don't rush during the exam
9. Study with a group
10. Relax - post exam

3. 5 good strategies if you are forced to guess on a MC exam question:
1. Eliminate the choices you know are incorrect
2. Eliminate choice that are totally unfamiliar to you
3. Eliminate choices that don't go with the question
4. If two choices are opposite each other, chances are one of them is correct
5. If two alternatives seem correct, compare them for differences then refer to the stem to find your best answer.

4. 5 good strategies if you are forced to guess on a true/false question:
1. Read through each statement carefully, and pay attention to the qualifiers and keywords.
2. qualifiers like never, always, and every mean that the statement must be true, and all of the time. usually these type of qualifiers lead to a false answer.
3. Qualifiers like usually, sometimes, and generally mean that if the statement can be considered true or false depending on the circumstances. Usually these type of qualifiers lead to an answer of true.
4. Usually there are more true answers than false on most tests.
5. If any part of the question is false, then the entire statement is false.

5. Cramming can be a great refresher a way to shock your brain into quickly retrieving what it already knows. Cramming for tests may yield short-term success. Cramming is mainly usefil in memorization examis in which you are offering memorized data. Cramming stores the information in short-term memory where is it readily accessible to the short-term.

6. Generalized anxiety disorder is a common condition. The cause of GAD is not know, but biological and psychological factors play a role. Stressful life situations or behavior developed through learning may also contribute to GAD. Some symptoms are difficulty concentrating, difficulty controlling worry, irritability, and muscle tension. If they have shown those symptoms they can take cognitive behavorial therapy, and medications which are the mainstays of treatment.

7. Article on test anxiety:
http://www.how-to-study.com/study-skills/en/taking-tests/47/test-anxiety/

Article on GAD:
http://helpguide.org/mental/generalized_anxiety_disorder.htm

8. Article on Test Preparation:
http://www.studygs.net/tstprp1.htm