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Explanation of how to be good at taking tests in school - Tricks for Good Grades: Strategies to Succeed in School. Also refer to study, exams, quiz, performance, preparation, education, self-improvement, excellence, training, motivation, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Be Good at Taking Tests

by Ron Kurtus (revised 14 July 2006)

To get good grades in school, you have to be skillful in taking tests. This goes beyond simply being smart or knowing the subject matter. It is gaining skill in test-taking by practicing, thorough preparation, and producing positive results.

Questions you may have include:

• How do you practice for a test?
• What preparations are necessary?
• How do you produce good results?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

Practice taking tests

When you take a test in school, you are usually working under the pressure of finishing the test in within a certain time limit. Also, you usually cannot look in your textbook or notes for information or an answer. Since this can be a pressure-packed situation, it is a good idea to practice taking tests or to practice working under such conditions, so that you become adept at it.

One method is to practice doing homework exercises as if it was a test, setting a time limit for doing the homework exercises and you not using notes or your textbook to help you with the answers.

(See Practice Taking Tests for details on this concept.)

Prepare for test

Since the test is a special situation, it is good to make preparations ahead of time. This is similar to what an athlete would do before a big game or a professional musician would do before a performance or show.

You must prepare yourself mentally or psychologically, such that you are confident and ready to perform. You obviously must prepare yourself with knowledge of the subject, such that you understand the material and remember the facts. Finally, you should be physically and mentally prepared, so that you will be alert and at your best when taking the test.

(See Preparation Needed to Excel in Tests for details on this concept.)

Produce and celebrate

Once you have become good working under the pressures of time constraints, and you have prepared your psyche, knowledge and physical condition, you are ready to produce. Go in there with an attitude of calm confidence, take the test and do it well.

Then celebrate your high score or good grade. If you don't do as well as you have expected, vow to do better the next time.

Summary

Being good at tests is important. You can improve your test-taking abilities by practicing taking tests, knowing how to prepare for a test and then applying your skills and knowledge in the test.

Answers to Readers' Questions

Become confident in being able to perform under the pressure of a test

Resources

The following are resources on this subject.

Websites

Good Grades Resources

Books

Top-rated books on Taking Tests

Miscellaneous

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. How can you practice taking tests?

2. What is an important part of preparing for a test?

3. What should you do after you get a good grade in a test?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in School studies. If you had problems, look over the material again.

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