USE TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES

Arrive on Time		Arriving on time will help to avoid the "brain pickers," other students who ask you a question right before the test to which you may or may not know the answer.  This can create needless anxiety.
Do a Memory Dump		If you believe there will be a discrete amount of information that you will most likely need to know on the test and your fear you may forget it, write it down on the test as soon as the test is distributed.  Then if you need this information, you have it available and do not need to rely on your memory.
Read Directions Carefully		It may be obvious what you are to do on some test questions but for others, there may be valuable information in the directions.  Read the directions carefully to insure that you understand what you are being asked to do as you respond to the questions.
Budget Time Wisely		Quickly review the test before you begin and decide how much time you will spend on each part of the test.  Pay attention to the weight of each section on your grade and make sure you allow enough time for sections that may take more time or are weighted more heavily in the final grade.  It's never fun to arrive at the last page of the test only to find an essay question worth 25 percent of your grade with only a few minutes remaining to complete the test.
Feeling Anxious; Practice Relaxation		A number of autogenic relaxation techniques can be useful during a test is you find that anxiety is interfering with your performance.  Some anxiety is good because it helps us perform better but at some point, the anxiety can reduce performance.  If you are unfamiliar with autogenic relaxation techniques, you may wish to talk with a counselor in your counseling center to find out more about these techniques.
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