Students who struggle with attention, learning, and executive functioning challenges can have trouble successfully finishing their tests in the time allotted.
Try these strategies taught in Student Success to improve your student’s success!
A Week or Two Before the Test
Starting a week or two before the test, students need to make and implement a structured test prep plan that includes plenty of time for gathering and organizing information, memorizing facts, studying, and dealing with any anxiety or negative self-talk they might have.
Students are encouraged to try these active strategies on the day of the test.
Right Before the Test
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Eat a good healthy breakfast and lunch!
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Arrive early and take a moment to get settled and relaxed.
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Deal with any nervousness right before the test: breathe deeply and try self-calming and other techniques to “fight-off” any anxiety you have.
Getting Off to a Good Start
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Listen attentively to last-minute instructions from the teacher. Teachers often make these announcements as they hand out the test so pay close attention during this time.
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When it is time to start, take a few minutes to jot down important information and formulas memorized on the back of the test itself.
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Read all directions CAREFULLY and watch for DETAILS.
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Quickly skim the entire test and plan how to use the allotted time. Quickly estimate how many minutes it will take to complete each test section.
Quickly Move Through the Test
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Complete the easier questions first to get the most points correct and build your confidence.
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Identify and mark keywords in each test question.
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Flag questions that are difficult to answer and continue. Be sure to flag them clearly, and go back to answer them before turning in the exam.
Try Strategies for Answering Different Types of Questions
Use suggestions in these posts to answer different types of test questions:
Before Turning in the Test
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Before turning in the test, return to the flagged questions and answer all the remaining questions.
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Proofread essays, paying attention to grammar and spelling.
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Answer all questions. More than one student has failed to notice questions on the back of the test.
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Rely on first impressions. On True/False and multiple-choice questions, the answer which comes to mind first is often correct. Nervously reviewing questions and changing answers at the end of the testing session can do more harm than good.
Need help applying these concepts?
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This is a sample of what your student can learn in Student Success!
(c) 2009-2019, Monte W. Davenport, Ph.D.
