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Tests are a necessary part of school life—at some point, you'll have to prove how much you've learned. If you tend to stress out about tests and feverishly cram, you're not alone—but there are better ways to prepare for a test. Here, we've gathered some tips on how to study for your next test, including scheduling regular study sessions, finding different ways to study the material, and taking care of yourself the night before and day of the test.

Study Tips to Prepare for a Test

Turn in your homework on time, review your notes every day, and study in small increments to retain more information. Get a good night’s sleep before your test and eat a healthy breakfast in the morning. Arrive at your test location early and perform breathing exercises to reduce stress.

1

Start studying several weeks before the exam.

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  1. Plan on having 2-3 study sessions each week for at least a couple of weeks before the exam, if your schedule allows it. If your exams are too close together, shorten the period of time before the exam.
    • For example, if you have a test on April 30, you might plan study sessions on the 29th, 28th, 25th, 22nd, 18th, and 15th. Notice that the dates are going backward from the exam date, so your first study session is on the 15th, 2 weeks before the exam.
    • If you haven't yet covered all the material that will be on the exam by your first study session, don't worry about it! Just focus on what you have covered and add the other material in as you get to it.
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3

Set specific goals for each study session.

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  1. Having a specific goal for each study session keeps you focused. If you already know what you're going to do before you even sit down to study, you won't have to waste precious study time figuring out where to start or what to cover.[2]
    • For example, if you planned 6 study sessions, you might take a practice test the first session, then spend the next 2 sessions on the material you had problems with in the practice test. Then, you could take another practice test and reassess your knowledge to plan the rest of your sessions.
    • It may be helpful to start each study session with the topics that you struggle with the most—then move onto easier subjects that you feel more confident in.
    • Reader Poll: We asked 426 wikiHow readers about how they organize their studying, and 47% of them said that they tackle the most difficult topics first, while they have the most energy. [Take Poll]
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4

Study in a quiet area.

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  1. Choose a place where you can concentrate the best. Keep all your study materials and the supplies you'll need (such as paper, index cards, and pens) handy. Create an environment that allows your brain to instantly go into "study mode" as soon as you sit down.
    • If there's not a good place to study at home, you might study in the library instead. Many libraries have study carrels or rooms you can sign up to use.
    • Take regular study breaks during each session and do something relaxing. This allows your brain to take a rest.[3]
6

Take practice tests to assess your knowledge.

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  1. If you take a practice test "cold" before you're really started studying, you'll have a better idea of what you need to focus on. Taking practice tests later helps you see your progress and figure out what you still need to work on.[5]
    • Don't neglect areas you're strong in! You still need to review those areas—you just don't need to spend as much time on them.
    • Try to take your test under simulated test conditions. For example, if you only have an hour to complete the test, set a timer for one hour before you begin. You might even get a friend or family member to "proctor" your practice test for you.
    EXPERT TIP
    Joseph Meyer

    Joseph Meyer

    Math Teacher
    Joseph Meyer is a High School Math Teacher based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is an educator at City Charter High School, where he has been teaching for over 7 years. Joseph is also the founder of Sandbox Math, an online learning community dedicated to helping students succeed in Algebra. His site is set apart by its focus on fostering genuine comprehension through step-by-step understanding (instead of just getting the correct final answer), enabling learners to identify and overcome misunderstandings and confidently take on any test they face. He received his MA in Physics from Case Western Reserve University and his BA in Physics from Baldwin Wallace University.
    Joseph Meyer
    Joseph Meyer
    Math Teacher

    Review basic concepts before diving into advanced topics. Identifying the gaps in your knowledge helps you avoid difficulties later on. Take an assessment or get your teacher's advice on where you can improve. Practice targeted exercises to build a strong foundation so you can confidently tackle new lessons.

7

Create flashcards for quick review.

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8

Make a mind map if you're a visual learner.

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10

Teach the subject to someone else.

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11

Make up your own test questions.

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  1. Think about the most important points first—the things you're guaranteed to be tested on. Try to come up with the trickiest questions you can to challenge your knowledge of the concepts you're studying.[8]
    • For example, if you have a history test on the French Revolution, one of your questions might be "What motivated the people who originally revolted against the French king?"
    • As another example, if you have a math test, you might create your own math problems to solve based on the formulas introduced in your class.
    • If you have access to your teacher's old tests, use those to get an idea of the types of questions your teacher typically asks. That'll make it easier to come up with your own questions.
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13

Attend review sessions offered by your teacher.

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14

Get at least 8 hours of sleep the night before.

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  1. [10] On the day of the test, you want to be on top of your game. The best way to do this is to make sure you have plenty of sleep the night before. Stressing over the exam or trying to get in one last cram session is more likely to hurt than help your performance.[11]
    • It's a good idea to try to go to bed a little earlier than you normally do the night before the test. Do something relaxing before bed, such as taking a bath.
    • You might find it hard to fall asleep, especially if you're nervous about the test—and that's normal! But avoid taking a sleeping pill, which could make you groggy the next day.
15

Eat a nutritious breakfast the morning of the test.

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  1. These types of food will fill you up and keep you feeling full for longer, so you don't have to worry about hunger pangs in the middle of the test. Fruits and vegetables also improve your attention and thinking speed.[12]
    • If you normally have a cup of coffee in the morning, don't skip it before the test—you don't want caffeine withdrawal to hamper your performance. At the same time, don't over-indulge. Too much caffeine can make you jittery and unfocused, so limit yourself to a single cup.
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17

Do deep breathing exercises right before the test.

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  1. Sit on the edge of a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Roll your shoulders back so that your shoulder blades tuck in along either side of your spine, then place one hand on your abdomen and the other on your chest. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, allowing your abdomen to expand as your lungs fill. Pause, then exhale through your mouth at the same rate you inhaled, deflating your abdomen.
    • Continue breathing this way for 3 to 5 minutes, keeping your focus solely on your breath. If you find that your mind wanders or you start worrying about the test, gently pull your mind back to your breath.
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Join the Discussion...

WikiOwlRunner750
29
I have a big psych test coming up and I need your studying tips! I've never been good at studying, I always lose focus or get too anxious about a... Read More
WikiCloudWatcher412
3
1. If you're having trouble focusing it's important to study somewhere your mind won't wander. The library is my go-to.

2. Be selective ab... Read More
Ted Coopersmith, MBA
4
Ted Coopersmith, MBA
Academic Tutor
Good advice. I'll add to the library one: as someone who has spent a lot of time in university libraries, it is best to choose a day and time tha... Read More

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I ease my anxiety before a test?
    Jai Flicker
    Jai Flicker
    Academic Tutor
    Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.
    Jai Flicker
    Academic Tutor
    Expert Answer
    Anxiety before a test is considered a physiological response, which means your fight or flight response has been triggered. The most effective way to deal with that is through resetting the nervous system. Try breathing in for four counts and out for eight counts. If you breathe out twice as long as you breathe in, even for two or three cycles, it resets the nervous system and can bring you a sense of peace and calm.
  • Question
    How do I analyze a mock or practice test?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Start by marking your answers to figure out what you got right and what you got wrong. For the questions you got wrong, figure out why you got them wrong and take notes on what you don't understand. That way, you'll know what you need to focus on when you study. Even for questions that you got right, if you weren't confident about your answer or got the right answer for the wrong reason, you might want to go back over that material again.
  • Question
    How many minutes should I study every day?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    It really depends on what you're studying as well as the material covered on the test you're studying for. If you're taking a cumulative final exam, for example, you'll do best by reviewing for 10-15 minutes every day with an additional 20-30 minute study session each week to synthesize everything you've learned. For a smaller test that only covers a limited amount of material, you might do fine with 2-3 20-minute sessions the week of the test. Taking a practice test early on can help you hone in on how well you grasp the material and what you need to work on so you can plan appropriate study sessions.
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Tips

  • Schedule a meeting with your teacher to go over your graded test. They can help you understand where you went wrong so you know how to better prepare in the future.[14]
  • After your test, reward yourself for a job well done! Doing something fun, such as going shopping or watching a movie, will also keep you from worrying about how you did on the test.
  • Search online for videos or podcasts about the material you're studying. They can help engage you and reinforce what you learned in class.
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Warnings

  • Avoid cramming, which can increase your anxiety levels. If you haven't studied adequately, just focus on the main concepts of the class and try to understand the big picture.[15]
  • Don't consume alcohol or other drugs the night before the test. While it might be tempting to "take the edge off," these substances will cloud your thinking and make it hard to focus.
  • Change negative self-talk, which can increase your anxiety and make the test more difficult. For example, instead of saying "I'm going to fail this test," you could say "I've worked hard to prepare for this test. I'm going to do okay."
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About This Article

Jai Flicker
Co-authored by:
Academic Tutor
This article was co-authored by Jai Flicker and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego. This article has been viewed 195,503 times.
28 votes - 79%
Co-authors: 85
Updated: August 5, 2024
Views: 195,503
Categories: Test Preparation
Article SummaryX

To prepare for a test, review your notes every day after school, focusing on the main concepts for each topic. After each study session, review what you’ve learned by using flashcards or the questions at the end of each chapter. Additionally, try sticking notes with important concepts where you’ll see them often, like the bathroom mirror or the inside of your locker, to reinforce what you’re studying throughout the day. Once you’ve studied all the information, try taking a practice test to see what you still need to work on. To learn more, like how to deal with stress and anxiety the night before a test, read on!

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