Test-taking Strategies (Psychology Examples)

Test-taking, unlike writing, has always been one of my strong points. Although thoroughly understanding the material assigned is necessary, there are a few tips and tricks that never fail to help boost my grade on even the longest, most demanding tests.
Doing well on a test begins with studying effectively. Break up any reading over several days, and highlight the material or take notes. Then when the test day is fast approaching, you can review your own take on the material, (which you will probably best remember), and avoid frantically trying to read a hundred pages the night before an exam. This is what I do for Psychology, which meets only twice a week, often assigns two chapters of reading, and also often has a test after the two meetings. Play to your learning style strengths; if you are a visual learner, try to visualize a scenario in which the concepts in the reading play out or draw a picture that will help you remember the information. Also use mnemonic devoices when studying. I almost always remember parts of key concepts through acronyms; for example, on today's Psychology test I remembered that sleep protects, restores and repairs, aids in remembering, and aids childrens' growth. Instead of trying to remember those long phrases, the acronym "PRRRG" was used to jolt my memory.
On test day, try to be relaxed. Know that you did your best, and try to visualize yourself succeeding. Do not panic if you do not immediately remember the answers to every single question on the assessment. Calmly answer the questions you know first, then take the rest of the test question by question. I try to eliminate answers that I know are false immediately; however, if I am still stuck, I will put a star next to the question and move on to try and glean bits of information from the other questions and answers to help me with the more difficult questions. I make sure I have read the intial questions and various options carefully before selecting an answer for multiple choice tests; for short answer or essay tests I write the key points quickly out on the margins before I begin so that the stress that inevitably kicks in when I see the first few people turning in their tests doesn't rob me of my answer. In today's Psychology test, I did not know several of the short answers at the beginning, but after I calmed down I was able to remember pertinent bits of information that might have saved my grade. The absolute best thing you can do to prepare for a test other than actually study is believe that you are capable of making the grade you want. Once you believe in yourself, the rest is easy.