Try College 101

One of the most important strategies for ensuring your college success is to develop a plan for how you will prepare for quizzes, tests, and exams. If you do not already have a basic plan, now is the time to create one. Pull out your planner or calendar, your course syllabus, and your course notes and other materials. Note all your upcoming quizzes, tests, and exams in your planner.

Also be sure to:

1. Schedule time on your calendar for reviewing your course notes. Divide the notes into manageable chunks and schedule time every day between now and the next upcoming exam to review these notes.
2. Attend extra study sessions. Make sure all your group study sessions, recitations, review sessions, and tutoring appointments are on your calendar. Don't wait too long to try to find a tutor if you need one. The closer to the exam you are, the harder it will be to find someone who has time to help you.
3. Plan as if you have a critically important meeting the night before the exam. How can you have all your studying completed well beforehand?
4. Eat, sleep, and exercise. Don't forget to eat properly, exercise, and get a good night's sleep before the exam. Make sure you have a good breakfast and/or snack before the test.
5. Relax during the exam. What are three things you can do while taking the exam to help you relax and to calm your nerves? Share your answers on the "Try College 101 Discussion Board.”
6. Review test-taking tips. Make note of effective test-taking strategies based on your readings in your College Success textbook. Share strategies that work for you on the "Try College 101 Discussion Board.”
7. It's not over yet. Once you have completed your exam, read through it one last time to make sure you have not missed any questions before you turn it in.

When the graded exam is returned to you, be sure to review it. Focus on any parts of the exam in which you performed poorly, and use the test as a resource to prepare yourself for future exams. Receiving your first test grade is a good time to schedule an appointment with your instructor to discuss anything you do not understand.

Wash, Rinse, and Repeat

Effective test-taking is an important part of learning and is a skill that you will continue to develop over time. As you continue to improve the studying and test-taking skills that you have learned in this course, you will find that they will continue to pay dividends throughout your college career.